In 1997, Erik Prince founded Blackwater USA, expanding the family's Christian conservative empire into private security and war for hire. Erik is a former U.S. Navy SEAL and son of the late billionaire automotive parts supplier, Edgar. (In a Q&A published by the Virginian-Pilot on July 24, Erik noted some of his father's less successful ideas, including a sock drawer light and an automated ham de-boning device.)

In August 2003, the governing body set up by the U.S. -- the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) -- awarded Blackwater a $21 million contract to provide security for CPA head, Paul Bremer, and other CPA officials in Iraq. (According to the linked UPI report, Blackwater USA has received "$505 million in contracts since 2000, primarily with the State Department.")

On March 31, 2004 in Fallujah, four contractors were killed, and in the aftermath, the company hired the Alexander Strategy Group (ASG) to conduct damage control and improve its image. ASG is notorious for its involvement in the K-Street Project in Washington, D.C. Alexander Strategy spokesman Chris Bertinelli was quoted by the Capitol Hill newspaper, The Hill, saying, "They did not go out looking for the publicity and did not ask for everything that happened to them. We want to do everything we can to educate [the media and Congress] about what Blackwater does."

In the week following the Fallujah massacre, Behrends organized two secret meetings. The first was between Erik and four GOP heavyweights in the House: DeLay, Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-California), chairman of the House Intelligence Committee (and now former CIA Director) Rep. Porter Goss (R-Florida) and Rep. Bill Young (R-Florida), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee.

The second meeting involved GOP senators (and the fearsome foursome): Ted "Totally Tubular" Stevens (R-Alaska) of the Appropriations Committee (chairman), chairman of the Armed Services Committee John Warner (R-Virginia), George "Duke of Hazard" Allen (R-Virginia) and Rick "Man on Dog" Santorum (R-Pennsylvania).