George Zimmerman -- Bodyguards Jacked Up Prices On Me

EXCLUSIVE

George Zimmerman fired the security company he hired to protect him -- the company that's now suing him -- because they mysteriously raised their rates ... this according to Zimmerman's lawyer.

As we previously reported ... Associated Investigative Service filed a lawsuit against Zimmerman ... alleging he still owes $27,027 for its services.

However, Zimmerman's attorney tells TMZ his client felt "the billing got out of hand quickly. We trusted them to be efficient with their work and they weren’t." He claims Zimmerman dropped the security team as result of the high bills.

The attorney adds ... the George Zimmerman Legal Defense Fund -- which is funded by his supporters -- was footing the bill and says, "I don’t believe those who have contributed to help George should be taken advantage of by such over-billing.”

We reached out to AIS about Zimmerman's bogus billing claim -- so far, no word back.

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General H. Norman Schwarzkopf Dead at 78

Gen. Schwarzkopf

Stormin' Norman

Dead at 78

General H. Norman Schwarzkopf -- the commander of U.S. forces during the first Iraq conflict -- has died in Tampa, Florida.

Schwarzkopf became popularly known as "Stormin' Norman" during 1991 Gulf War that booted Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's forces out of neighboring Kuwait.

Operation Desert Storm lasted just over a month as Schwarzkopf's international coalition made quick work of the Iraqi troops.

According to the AP, which first reported the death, Schwarzkopf had retired in Tampa where he held his last assignment as commander-in-chief of U.S. Central Command.

Schwarzkopf was 78 years old. Cause of death is unclear, at this point.

Side note about "Stormin' Norman" -- aside from his military success he was also largely responsible for Katie Couric's rise to fame.

Couric was in Kuwait covering the Gulf War for NBC and scored several interviews with Gen. Schwarzkopf -- and she was offered the 'Today' co-anchor position about a month after one of those interviews.