On one hand, the shooting which killed 17 Iraqi civilians, on the other, the investigation of the alleged arms smuggling for PKK. In the last two months, Blackwater, the largest private security company in Iraq, has ended up in the crossfire between Baghdad and Washington. Now another battlefront, one in the west, has been dispatched in the war against the company. Some 850 inhabitants of Potrero, a small town in California where the company wishes to build its new Blackwater West headquarters, have revolted against the land acquisition of the company, saying that its construction would upset the peaceful life of the region.

Blackwater has been pushing to expand its presence in the States for more than a year. The go-ahead for the acquisition of the 325-hectare disused chicken battery where Blackwater West is to be built, in the hills 80 kilometres away from San Diego, came last year on behalf of the Potrero Planning Group (the local assembly whose task it is to approve town planning). Yet at the time many residents were not even informed, and even less heard about the contractor company. During 2007, opposition to construction of the training field increased, and several weeks ago 200 people gathered in Potrero to protest. A petition against the arrival of Blackwater collected hundreds of signatures, and an election to change the structure of the planning group is arranged for 11^th December. The candidates defying those in charge would like another chance to discuss the agreement with the company.

Yet Potrero is divided. Some people are worried about the disruption to the rhythms of life here – the city only has one shop, which also serves as a restaurant – and indeed some are more interested in new trade which would establish itself with the arrival of thousands of people from outside. The new structure would host 11 shooting ranges and a landing pad for helicopters, not to mention accommodation for the hundreds of recruits to train. "This is a small community, can you imagine the traffic and the noise of the shooting here?” said Janet Goode to PeaceReporter over the phone, one of the candidates opposing the Blackwater arrival. "This company trains civilians to make them mercenaries. They need to go to a larger city, with army structures. I don't want them here, and I feel a fool has been made of us because the inhabitants of Potrero only heard about the agreement last December, when the go-ahead had already been given," concluded Goode. Meanwhile, Timothy Hammers, son of the current President of the Planning Group, does not foresee any huge problems. "If the company complies with the law, why make such a fuss?" he asked when speaking to PeaceReporter. "It's true that life in Potrero would change, but at the end of the day many people are already arriving who are establishing themselves here to escape the big cities".

Why Potrero? Critics see an ambitious goal in Blackwater’s decision: to put themselves in charge of controlling the Mexican border. Potrero is right behind the border ("less than three kilometres from my house", says Goode), in an area where clandestine crossings are frequent. At present the management of the controls is in the hands of Border Patrol, in some areas with the help of volunteer watchmen such as the Minutemen. Yet as US Armed Forces gradually leave gaps to contractors due to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, this could be the future of the struggle against clandestine migrants. Brian Bonfiglio, vice president of Blackwater West, has denied chosing Potrero with this in mind. Yet confirmation from President Gary Jackson to the Board in March 2005 seems to say the contrary: "As the private sector is busy transporting goods around the world more efficiently, Blackwater can therefore take care of the new requirements of the Border Police", said Jackson.

Meanwhile, Potrero has had other things to think about in recent weeks. The fires which destroyed South California a month ago also struck here, the region’s woodlands have been reduced to ashes. “Many clandestine immigrants pass through here, but now that everything is burnt they will have less places to hide”, said Hammers ironically. The flames did not take any lives in Potrero, but it took days to secure them. And the aid received, such as water, food, fuel for isolated inhabitants, was provided by Blackwater, among others. Accusations of conflicting interests have targetted the company. It is evident that nothing is illegal, but when discussing the intentions of the company on 11^th December, Potrero’s bidding be that of the popular jury.