Rice and Bush stand by Blackwater

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice quashed any idea that the troubled Iraqi Interior Ministry would dictate who would protect US diplomatic personnel in Baghdad.

As Rice praised private security contractor Blackwater USA for its work in Iraq, she announced an inquiry into diplomatic security in that country.

President George W. Bush said he wants to establish the facts about whether or not Blackwater guards broke any rules. Blackwater patrols resumed in Iraq.

"We have needed and received the protection of Blackwater for a number of years now, and they have lost their own people in protecting our people in extremely dangerous circumstances," Secretary Rice told reporters today. She has ordered a probe of diplomatic security in Iraq.

President George W. Bush said that he's saddened by the civilian deaths in the Sunday firefight, but added that he's going to wait for the facts to be established by an Iraqi-US commission. "The folks like Blackwater who provide security for the State Department are under rules of engagement. In other words, they have certain rules. And this commission will determine whether or not they violated those rules," the president said.

"Obviously to the extent innocent life was lost, I'm saddened. Our objective is to protect innocent life," added the president. "I want to find out the facts about exactly what took place there."

A top aide to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki told CBS News that there's likely to be a face-saving way out of the problem.