Blackwater USA, the mercenary "private security" company which has been hired by the Bush Administration to provide paramilitary services in Iraq, is just getting its lucrative business into full swing. Contrary to popular belief that the outrage over Blackwater mercenaries killing dozens of innocent Iraqis would somehow stop Blackwater from continuing, owner Erik Prince seems quite confident that his business will continue to grow -- and will continue to build its very own private military base in San Diego County.

Fresh off million-dollar no-bid contracts from the Bush Administration, Blackwater is looking to invest in some new real estate in Potrero -- a plan which faces vigorous opposition from the local community in San Diego County and across California.

If the private military base in Potrero looks anything like Blackwater's other bases, here's what the small town can expect to see and hear:

Blackwater has an airstrip and hangar filled with gleaming helicopters, a manufacturing plant for assembling armored cars, a pound filled with bomb-sniffing dogs and a lake with mock ships for training sailors. An armory is stacked to the ceiling with rifles. Throughout the place are outdoor ranges where military, intelligence and law enforcement authorities from around the country practice shooting handguns and assault rifles at automated metal targets made by the firm. An incessant pop, pop, pop fills the air. There's no other place quite like Blackwater, at least not in private hands.

This description, from the Washington Post, is of Blackwater's "Little Baghdad" training camp in North Carolina. Blackwater West -- the name of the proposed training camp in California -- would likely end up looking very much the same as Little Baghdad.

Some observers have expressed optimism that the huge controversy swirling around Blackwater -- due to the findings of drunken Blackwater employees killing people without any accountability -- would spell the end of the Blackwater corporate empire. Unfortunately, there's no sign that Mr. Prince will do anything except expand Blackwater's reach as far as possible. After all, Blackwater is a private corporation. Blackwater's motivation is profit -- not defending the Constitution and protecting Americans.

You can join in the struggle against Blackwater's plan to build a mercenary base in San Diego County by clicking here and getting involved.