Eyes wide open, to the bitter end.

And I won't break and I won't bend
But someday soon we'll sail away
To innocence, and the bitter end.

And I won't break and I won't bend
And with the last breath we ever take
We're gonna get back, to the simple life again...

I'm a patriotic American. But I also believe in justice. If it turns out these allegations are indeed true, we shouldn't try to cover them up, but should apologize, provide monetary compensation (not that money can ever compensate), and look to rectify the situations -- whether that means "retraining" Blackwater or pulling them altogether, even if that means nobody out beyond the Green Zone for the time being until another security firm can be found.

Because these are human lives we're talking about -- not something cheap -- and justice denied never goes away quietly. It's not to late to put life over country, and salvage some semblance of the American reputation abroad. Who's with me now?*

Iraq: Blackwater fired unprovoked

By ROBERT H. REID, Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD - Iraqi investigators have a videotape that shows Blackwater USA guards opened fire against civilians without provocation in a shooting last week that left 11 people dead, a senior Iraqi official said Saturday. He said the case was referred to the Iraqi judiciary.

Iraq's president, meanwhile, demanded that the Americans release an Iranian arrested this week on suspicion of smuggling weapons to Shiite militias. The demand adds new strains to U.S.-Iraqi relations only days before a meeting between President Bush and Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Abdul-Karim Khalaf said Iraqi authorities had completed an investigation into the Sept. 16 shooting in Nisoor Square in western Baghdad and concluded that Blackwater guards were responsible for the deaths.

He told The Associated Press that the conclusion was based on witness statements as well as videotape shot by cameras at the nearby headquarters of the national police command. He said eight people were killed at the scene and three of the 15 wounded died in hospitals.

Blackwater, which provides most of the security for U.S. diplomats and civilian officials in Iraq, has insisted that its guards came under fire from armed insurgents and shot back only to defend themselves.

Blackwater spokeswoman Anne Tyrrell said Saturday that she knew nothing about the videotape and was contractually prohibited from discussing details of the shooting.

Khalaf also said the ministry was looking into six other fatal shootings involving the Moyock, N.C.-based company in which 10 Iraqis were killed and 15 wounded. Among the shootings was one Feb. 7 outside Iraqi state television in Baghdad that killed three building guards.

"These six cases will support the case against Blackwater, because they show that it has a criminal record," Khalaf said.

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*Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country. Remember that one? And we thought it was just a mindless practice.