Could you be a little more specific?  I haven't seen anything about Blackwater being in Georgia in a mercenary capacity or otherwise that would hold much water.  I have heard a lot of accusations by all involved governments about who did what to whom and all of that sounded pretty much like propaganda.  Yes, from the Russian, Georgian, and Ossetia govs.  So, at this point I'm a little skeptical of just about anything I hear.  The US has a sizable military assistance presence in Georgia, no denying it, but your own Russian source has a statement from an "unnamed" US State Dept diplomat who says the US has long warned Georgia not to start anything militarily involving Russia. Does this make sense?   From Komersant:

<blackquote>Unnamed U.S. Diplomat Held Georgia Partially Responsible for War in South Ossetia
Georgia is partially responsible for the start of military standoff with Russia in South Ossetia, a top ranked representative of the U.S. Department of State announced August 9 on condition of anonymity.

The United States long urged Georgia to avoid military conflict with the Russians, to avoid any escalation. The standing of Washington was clear from the very beginning, the unnamed diplomat said.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called for immediate cease-fire. "We call on Russia to cease attacks on Georgia by aircraft and missiles, respect Georgia's territorial integrity and withdraw its ground combat forces from Georgian soil," Rice said in a statement.</blackquote>

The Blackwater thing just doesn't ring true to me unless they were acting as advisors of some sort. Can't imagine a good excuse for that at all.  I could be wrong and it certainly wouldn't be the first time.  Georgia could also have it's own non-US based mercenaries, but that's a little odd also.  Black skin and uniforms are not an accurate indicator of nationality or anything else, or do I need to state that here?


I can swear there ain't no heaven but I pray there ain't no hell. _ Blood Sweat & Tears