What will he do beyond review?

Everybodys favorite bunch of mercenary thugs may be getting a little closer scrutiny regarding their casually common misbehavior.

US Defense Secretary Robert Gates is concerned about possible misconduct in Afghanistan by the private security firm formerly known as Blackwater and has promised to review the issue, the Pentagon said.

Gates made the pledge to lawmakers after receiving a letter from Carl Levin, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, who urged the defense secretary to reconsider awarding a possible one billion dollar contract to the firm, now known as Xe, due to allegations of wrongdoing.

"He is looking into it and he takes it seriously," press secretary Geoff Morrell told reporters Friday.

Sec. Gates may truly be looking to clean house but with years of previous maladjustment and misalignment in the force reduction of the Army it may be impossible to operate with mercenary support.