No shortage of troops; Mercenaries in New Orleans

It certainly was reassuring to hear from President Bush that there is no shortage of troops or National Guard to help in the Katrina aftermath, even though 125,000 or so are in Iraq.

There are plenty of people to do what's needed in New Orleans, Bush said. Perhaps, but if that's the case, what are heavily-armed private security people doing on the streets?

This Alternet story reports:

Heavily armed paramilitary mercenaries from the Blackwater private security firm, infamous for their work in Iraq, are openly patrolling the streets of New Orleans. Some of the mercenaries say they have been "deputized" by the Louisiana governor; indeed some are wearing gold Louisiana state law enforcement badges on their chests and Blackwater photo identification cards on their arms. They say they are on contract with the Department of Homeland Security and have been given the authority to use lethal force.

Do you think the governor asked for mercenaries? What are they doing there? What next?