Blackwater

Blackwater has been in the news a lot lately. They're the private U.S. security firm that has the contract to escort diplomats around war-torn Iraq. In effect, we've privatized some of our military functions.

They got bad press when some of their guys shot up a car in an I.E.D. incident. Also, a couple of ex-employees stole some guns and might have sold them to bad people.

Some people say they're trigger-happy cowboys. But as soon as I hear the word "cowboy" I get a rush of nostalgia and warm feeling. I grew up in the era when the cowboy was a heroic national symbol.

As for their being trigger-happy, I wonder.
Sometimes a flash of thunder
Saves lives
And gets cowboys home to their wives.