CIA, Blackwater planned assassination

WASHINGTON, Aug. 19 (UPI) -- The CIA hired private contractors at Blackwater USA for a clandestine effort to assassinate al-Qaida operatives, officials said.

Citing current and former government officials, The New York Times reported Wednesday night that executives of Blackwater, which has changed its name to Xe, provided planning, training and surveillance assistance to the CIA program, which did not result in the capture or killing of suspected terrorists.

It was not clear whether the CIA intended for private contractors to capture or kill suspected terrorists, the newspaper said, or simply to provide logistical assistance.

Officials told the Times the CIA had individual contracts with Blackwater personnel, including founder Erik Prince, but did not have a formal contract with the company.

The CIA's use of private contractors for the program was the main reason CIA Director Leon Panetta convened an emergency meeting this summer to inform members of Congress the agency had withheld information about the program for seven years, officials told the Times.

A spokesman at Xe did not return calls seeking comment, the newspaper said.