Today's AP coverage exposes collusion with Blackwater

AP released a report this morning containing Blackwater head Eric Prince's rebuke to the Congressional committee providing oversight on the Blackwater killings.

"Blackwater Chief Defends Actions in Iraq"

WASHINGTON - The founder of Blackwater USA on Tuesday vigorously defended his private security company against charges of covering up Iraqi civilian deaths, saying 30 of its contractors have been killed while protecting U.S. diplomats and no Americans have died while under its watch.

"There is no better evidence of the skill and dedication of these men," Erik Prince said in remarks prepared for a congressional hearing and obtained by The Associated Press. Prince said there has been a "rush to judgment based on inaccurate information."

The article by AP's Richard Lardner was pre-written using Prince's comments and carefully planned for release this morning. It was on my homepage by 10 est, just as the hearing was set to begin. How did Lardner know Prince "vigorously defended" his company's actions if his testimony had not yet taken place?

The AP story will become the "official" version adopted by newspapers and radio and TV stations around the world. The AP story gives only Prince's version. Why is AP spinning for Blackwater? Why is AP taking part in neocon perception management?