A local journalist is adding to the international debate concerning the war in Iraq.

It's a war entering its sixth year now, and more than any other in our history, it's being waged in part not by soldiers, marines, sailors, and guardsmen, but by private contractors.

One of the largest and most controversial such firms is Blackwater USA: the subject of Jeremy Scahill's book, Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army.

Scahill is a Milwaukee native and a graduate of Wauwatosa East High School.

He appeared on Live at 12:30 to discuss his book.

Click on the video link to see an interview with Jeremy Scahill.

Jeremy Scahill is speaking Tuesday night at the Milwaukee Public Library downtown. His is the first in what will be an annual series of lectures: the Frank P. Zeidler Memorial Lecture Series.

It’s Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. at the main branch of the library.