http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/02/24/blackwater.afghanistan/index.html

"We need to know that our contractor personnel are adequately screened, supervised, and held accountable -- because in the end the Afghan people will hold us responsible for their actions."- Sen. Carl Levin

February 24, 2010, many U.S. senators tore into the private contractors of the Blackwater Company. Blackwater was being accused of endangering the U.S. mission and flouting regulations. The main issue that arises here is the fact that most Afghans have a particularly difficult time telling the difference between U.S. Military and U.S. contractors. With this foggy perception, it is a lot harder to gain their trust. Since the contractors are making major mistakes, this definitely puts the relationship between the Afghans and the U.S. in jeopardy. According to many politicians, we will not get anywhere in the war if we don't do something about who we hire as contractors. The screening process must be improved in order for any progress to happen. Senator Carl Levin warned that if “if we don't fix the problems of oversight and make sure contractors like Blackwater play by the rules and live up to their commitments -- we'll be doing a disservice to our troops by making their already difficult and dangerous job even more so." Blackwater, which is now called by the name Xe Services, reported that their company is currently reformed and has admitted to the past mistakes it has made in Afghanistan. However, how is anyone to know that they are actually going to be efficient, and not cause anymore harm? Senators singled out Paravant, which was one of the contractors. Levin cited that December 9, 2008 a Paravant program manager accidentally shot a trainer on his own team with an AK-47 while riding on the back of a truck. He was the only one to get lose his job from the team. This incident didn’t seem to have been actually investigated. Numerous other shootings have also occurred. When it comes down to it, we really need to know who we are hiring as contractors. Until then, it will just be like hitting a brick wall.