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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. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Review
"Virginian-Pilot"
"At Blackwater USA, Jeremy Scahill's is the face they love to hate... [He is] perhaps the private military company's most dogged critic."
"At Blackwater USA, Jeremy Scahill's is the face they love to hate... [He is] perhaps the private military company's most dogged critic."
Bill Maher, host of HBO's "Real Time"
"[Scahill's] book is so scary and so illuminating."
"The Guardian" (London)
"Blackwater being rarely out of the news lately, this is a very useful survey of modern mercenaries - or, as they prefer to be called, 'private security contractors' in the 'peace and stability industry'...Scahill is a sharp investigative writer."
Scarlett Johansson, actor
"It should be mandatory reading. It's very interesting - and scary."
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
An eye opener,
By
This review is from: Blackwater: The Rise Of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army (Paperback)
An extremely well-written, eye opening book. Would highly recommend it. It's particularly unsettling that a lot of ordinary people have mutual funds invested in organizations that they would probably never knowlingly support.
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!,
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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.
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