"Private security guards working for Blackwater USA participated in clandestine CIA raids against suspected insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan, the New York Times has reported. Blackwater's role points to a much deeper connection between the company and the spy agency than has been previously disclosed and raises concerns over the legalities of involving contractors in the most sensitive operations conducted by the US government. The "snatch and grab" raids took place regularly between 2004 and 2006, the newspaper reported, when the insurgency in Iraq was escalating and security throughout the country was deteriorating." - Steven Perez from Bookmarklet