- Hardcover: 480 pages
- Publisher: Basic Books; 1 edition (Feb 23 2007)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1560259795
- ISBN-13: 978-1560259794
- Product Dimensions: 23.1 x 15.2 x 4.3 cm
- Shipping Weight: 771 g
- Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #114,895 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
Scahill, a regular contributor to the Nation, offers a hard-left perspective on Blackwater USA, the self-described private military contractor and security firm. It owes its existence, he shows, to the post–Cold War drawdown of U.S. armed forces, its prosperity to the post-9/11 overextension of those forces and its notoriety to a growing reputation as a mercenary outfit, willing to break the constraints on military systems responsible to state authority. Scahill describes Blackwater's expansion, from an early emphasis on administrative and training functions to what amounts to a combat role as an internal security force in Iraq. He cites company representatives who say Blackwater's capacities can readily be expanded to supplying brigade-sized forces for humanitarian purposes, peacekeeping and low-level conflict. While emphasizing the possibility of an "adventurous President" employing Blackwater's mercenaries covertly, Scahill underestimates the effect of publicity on the deniability he sees as central to such scenarios. Arguably, he also dismisses too lightly Blackwater's growing self-image as the respectable heir to a long and honorable tradition of contract soldiering. Ultimately, Blackwater and its less familiar counterparts thrive not because of a neoconservative conspiracy against democracy, as Scahill claims, but because they provide relatively low-cost alternatives in high-budget environments and flexibility at a time when war is increasingly protean. (Apr. 10)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From AudioFile
The dark, largely unknown, story of Blackwater, the world's most secretive, powerful, and fastest growing private army, is chillingly told in Jeremy Scahill's exposé. Fact by fact, Scahill demonstrates the widespread outsourcing of military tasks to private companies bankrolled by right-wing millionaire Eric Prince, the scion of a conservative dynasty (founded, ironically, on the invention of the lighted car visor and the car cup-holder). Tom Weiner has precise diction and a rumbling, authoritative delivery. Listeners might detect a slight jarring note when his masculine voice attempts women's voices, but nothing detracts from the saga of self-regulated profiteering armies being entrusted with U.S. foreign policy and U.S. lives. A.W. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine
--This text refers to the
Audio CD
edition.
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Most helpful customer reviews
11 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A diligent analysis of a disturbing trend,
By
This review is from: Blackwater: The Rise Of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army (Paperback)
Far more than just a "spin of the week," this book represents the only substantial investigation of the growth of government-sponsored mercenary armies. Blackwater may have made the biggest splash across the headlines, but it is worth noting that the book came out in hardcover before Blackwater was kicked out of Iraq. It would have been nice to see some comparative analysis of other mercenary companies as well, but for the moment, Scahill's analysis of Blackwater will have to stand on its own.
Scahill covers the rise of the Prince family, as well as the growth of the connection between the family and the neo-cons of the Republican party. I don't personally see the menace behind Prince's Christianity - I think this is where Scahill is stretching - but his analyses of specific incidents in Iraq and Afghanistan is detailed and informative. Scahill's book only shows the need for further reporting on the world of soldiers for hire.
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Wealth of Information!,
By
This review is from: Blackwater: The Rise Of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army (Hardcover)
A very informative, well researched book. Very easy to read,understand and digest. It's great deatail and connection of the dots is well laid out by the author. Quite ambitious plans,that the "powers at be in the U.S.A" will go to to enhance the influence of the "Empire" and yet mis-inform, or not inform, the U.S. and world public.
Highly recommend this book for it's content and the entertainment value as well.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Comprehensive!,
By
This review is from: Blackwater: The Rise Of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army (Paperback)
This book will give you nightmares. The author provides an extremely thorough look at the Blackwater empire and the issue of combat contractors in whole. Thoroughly researched (although I recommend the reader consistently refer to the endnotes throughout), this work will make you consider the future of the United States' military-industrial complex and how far it will go. Extremely well-written, entertaining, intriguing, and conducive to critical thought, this comes very highly recommended for both the policy expert and civilian-on-the-sidelines alike.
I hope he publishes an updated version soon, as there have been many important developments since the pressing of this edition.
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