Blackwater a Small Business? Receives Millions in Small Business Contracts ...

Too bad it doesn't qualify as a small business. According to a report issued Monday by the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) of the Small Business Administration (SBA), Blackwater was awarded more than $110 million in SBA contracts between 2005 and 2007, most of which were designated for businesses just a tad smaller than Blackwater.

The contracts in question were set aside for companies with annual revenues of $6.5 million or less. According to federal contracting data, Blackwater's revenues exceeded $200 million each of those years. There were 39 total SBA contracts noted, with 32 of them in the above categories.

Just last week, Blackwater said it's on track to reach annual revenues of $1 billion per year by 2010.

That's just the start: the OIG also, according to McClatchy,

found fault with the handling of aviation contracts worth $107 million that the Defense Department awarded Blackwater. The contract was set aside either for a company with less than $25.5 million in annual revenue, or a company with less than 1,500 employees.

The audit was requested in March by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

My only comment would be that Blackwater seems to be becoming the Wal-Mart of mercenary armies.