September 22, 2007 (LPAC)--Today's News & Observer of Raleigh, N.C. reports that the U.S. Attorney's office in Raleigh is looking into whether or not Blackwater, the mercenary company which is becoming infamous for its lawlessness in Iraq, and its high level protection at home, shipped weapons and other military goods to Iraq without the required permits. According to the News & Observer, prosecutors obtained guilty pleas from two former Blackwater employees in January for possessing stolen firearms which were shipped in interstate or foreign commerce. The two have not been sentenced because they are cooperating in the current probe.

Alongside the U.S. Attorney's investigation, State Department Inspector General Howard Krongard is targeted by House Oversight Committee chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) over allegations by current and former employees of Krongard's office that he, among other charges, impeded the investigation into Blackwater's alleged weapons smuggling. "I made one of my best investigators available" to federal prosecutors, Krongard said in a statement.

Waxman continues to press ahead with another high profile investigation. On Thursday, Waxman sent a letter to Erik Prince, the head of Blackwater, inviting him to testify at a hearing scheduled for Oct. 2 on the subject of the conduct of private security companies in Iraq and Afghanistan.

For Blackwater's role in the the destruction of the US military, see Rohatyn, Shultz, Cheney "Privatization" Scheme To Wreck U.S. National Security.