The Whistleblower: Sex Trafficking, Military Contractors, and One Woman's Fight for Justice [Paperback]

Corruption isn't a unique or uncommon thing. It's the same in any country, whether war-torn and chaotic or nominally democratic. It's just easier in some places than others. But you can count on the corruptible to try, no matter what the conditions. It just so happened that the conditions in Bosnia, where ex-police-officer-then-DynCorp-contractor Kathryn Bolkovac was stationed in 1999. Not only was the country a mess, both socially and physically, but by the very nature of DynCorp's organization and function, chaos reigned supreme. Bolkovac, in telling the story of how she uncovered rampant crime, mismanagement, and arrogance among her fellow UN and DynCorp workers, only to be fired on non-existent evidence and then win a lawsuit for it, becoming a whistleblower in the process, gives some hints as to why this was the case.

Bolkovac is clear in thought that the very idea of corporations providing 'policing' is downright stupid. Corporations exist to make a profit, so if cutting corners and cooking the books will work, you can bet it'll be done. With DynCorp, it's no different. After 'winning the bid' to manage personnel in Bosnia after the war, they did everything they could to make money. That meant, skimping on transportation and services offered to their employees, delivering less than they advertised, overstaffing, taking payment on half-finished or never started projects, offering the barest of training. Basically one big racketeering operation. (There's also the speculation, pretty thinly veiled, that they were/are basically a front for covert military ops.)

Worst of all, this 'cost-benefit' approach to 'nation-building' meant that certain requirements were waived when hiring new recruits. As Bolkovac discovered, many had histories that, combined with other factors, were a recipe for disaster. As psychologists Robert Hare and Paul Babiak make clear in their book Snakes in Suits: When Psychopaths Go to Work, organizational chaos attracts corporate psychopaths like moths to the flame. And in a political climate like Bosnia, that was even more true. Then factor in the fact that contractors at the time had full immunity from the law... Additionally, DynCorp would get more money if there no "no incidents", providing the perfect incentive to cover up any. Talk about a perfect breeding ground for psychopathy! But hey, if DynCorp makes a buck, it's cool with them.

So what happened? Well, the Serbian mafia, in league with some of their democratic overseers, were discovered to be engaging in drugs, arms, and human trafficking - luring young women and girls into the country, where they found themselves in slavery, forced into prostitution and drug addiction. And the so-called 'men' taking advantage and raping these women were largely DynCorp contractors, UN workers, and other internationals working there. But don't fear, top officials had it under control. Once 'made aware' of the problem, they did all they could, namely: arresting the girls as 'prostitutes', shipping them back to their countries where many were immediately picked up by the mafia, sold into slavery once again, and turning a blind eye to the fact that so many of their employees were among the perps abusing them. Then there were the death threats to anyone threatening to expose the situation, and files conveniently 'lost'. A paltry few of the criminals were simply sent home, with no record. In other words, in DynCorp's bubble of pseudo-reality, there really were "no incidents".

One dynamic makes itself clear here: you can pretty much bet that those doing the cover-up, vehemently blockading any serious investigation, calling the victims "whores" who were "happy" to be doing what they were doing (and "working in the country illegally"), are engaging in the very crimes they're covering up. Top marks for brazen chutzpah goes to Dennis LaDucer, Bolkovac's deputy commissioner, not only had a history in the states of sexual abuse, he was caught in one of the brothels (one of the few to be dismissed and sent back to the States with no record for his crimes). Then there was local police that blocked one of Bolkovac's inquiries - he too was a regular. Needless to say, Bolkovac's attackers really come across as prime examples of 'corporate psychopaths'. Take J. Michael Stiers, who spearheaded her sacking: not only did he impugn the victims' credibility, but that of Bolkovac as well, demoting her from her position dealing with Human Rights on the grounds that she was "burned out" (for her own protection, you see, although he offered her no professional consultation). He, too, had a history in the States for sexual abuse. Seeing a pattern here? Here's what he said to Bolkovac: "In defense of any accused American monitor, I will most certainly attack the credibility of any person knowingly allowing herself to be illegally smuggled into the country." Somebody pass the vomit bag.

Even Bolkovac's UK tribunal called DynCorp's dealing with her "callous, spiteful and vindictive." As Dr. Andrew Lobaczewski writes in his book Political Ponerology, when psychopaths saturate groups like this, 'high ideals' (like 'democracy-building') become mere catchwords for something far more sinister.

So when you have a company that's prime motive is the mighty dollar, already self-selected for 'corporate' psychopaths, an 'open-door' policy for sexually abusive men, immunity from the law, in a country where corruption is already running strong, what do you think would happen?

Bolkovac should be praised for her part in exposing DynCorp's involvement in human trafficking. The book is well-written and captivating. Do check it out.

Anyone wondering why more wrongdoings aren't brought to light should read the book "The Whistleblower" by Kathryn Bolkovac with Cari Lynn. Methods of suppression by internationally recognized organizations are recounted in alarming detail. The entire gamut of tactics is revealed. Only a dedicated and committed whistleblower like Ms. Bolkovac has a chance of surviving. Yet, she did. If she can, so can others. Come on whistleblowers of the world, unite!

Fantastic book! I also work for the United Nations and this was a very insightful story about the dangers a humanitarian worker faced when she uncovered a prostitution ring and denounced it. You can also check out the DVD movie of the same name which came out in early 2012. I couldn't put the book down!