The New York Times reports that personnel from the private security firm Blackwater Worldwide participated in secret CIA raids against suspected insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan on a regular basis between 2004 and 2006. Blackwater personnel played key roles in so-called "snatch and grab" operations according to former employees and current and former intelligence officers.http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/11/us/politics/11blackwater.html

Former Blackwater guards say that they participated in raids nightly, and their involvement became so routine that the lines between CIA, the military and Blackwater became blurred. Not only did Blackwater provide security for CIA officers, but their personnel became partners in missions to capture or kill adversaries in Iraq and Afghanistan, raising questions about the use of mercenaries in military and intelligence operations. Blackwater changed its name to Xe Services LLC in February 2009.http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/11/us/politics/11blackwater.html