Yes But...

The charge that Blackwater opened unprovoked fire on Iraqis is being supported by a video tape: Iraq: Video Shows Blackwater Overreacted

In the supporting ABC article comes this paragraph:

There are 20,000 to 30,000 private security contractors in Iraq guarding the U.S. embassy and other civilian agencies....

Compare this to the testimony of Jeremy Scahill on May 10 before the House Appropriations Subcommitte on Defense: Outsourcing the War

While tens of thousands of these contractors provide logistical support, thousands are heavily armed private soldiers roaming Iraq. We do know that there are some 48,000 employees of private military companies in Iraq alone.

Many Americans are under the impression that the US currently has about 145,000 active duty troops on the ground in Iraq. What is seldom mentioned is the fact that there are at least 126,000 private personnel deployed alongside the official armed forces. These private forces effectively double the size of the occupation force, largely without the knowledge of the US taxpayers that foot the bill.

Why would a main stream media powerhouse like ABC report that there are 20,000 to 30,000 private security workers in Iraq while the present investigative expert says before the Senate that there are 126,000 private personnel of which 48,000 employees are of private military companies.

Why would they under report the number.