The U.S. State Department, led by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, just awarded Blackwater an 18-month contract worth $120 million to guard U.S. consulates in Afghanistan.

Remember, Blackwater was kicked out of Iraq by the Iraqi government after Blackwater mercenaries massacred 17 civilians in Baghdad's al-Nissor Square. And that was simply the most notorious example of Blackwater acting in a manner that respected neither common decency nor American national interest.

When this incident came to light, then-Senator Clinton said, "These private security contractors have been reckless and have compromised our mission in Iraq." She continued, "The time to show these contractors the door is long past due."

Indeed.

It's simply unacceptable that the American government would funnel more money to a company with such a horrific record. And it's troubling that Secretary of State Clinton would permit the State Department to award a contract for private security functions when as a Senator she co-sponsored the Stop Outsourcing Security Act, which would require those functions to be performed by employees of the U.S. government.

Tell Secretary of State Clinton that it's time for the U.S. Department of State to stop doing business with Blackwater.