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spitzig's review against another edition
3.0
I read this because I apparently already knew most of the information. This is 8 years after the book was released. Maybe it was still not such public news at the time.
Usually I don't consider this for a non-fiction book. But, another reviewer talked about it. Not very interesting. It was too little drama. Maybe also not interesting because I knew most of the information.
Usually I don't consider this for a non-fiction book. But, another reviewer talked about it. Not very interesting. It was too little drama. Maybe also not interesting because I knew most of the information.
silverhawk3799's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting look at the private military forces that are on the upswing since 9/11. I never gave much thought to where these contractors came from or what their goals really were. But after reading this book, I have to think that they are like any other business, in it for the profit. It would appear as though Blackwater will do this even at the cost of lives or moral values. Scahill did a good job of presenting information and talking about it. At times the book would seem to wander off topic, talking about people and companies that don't seem to be attached to Blackwater. In the end, he artfully would weave them into the overall picture of the company. The major irritation for me was when he would use, verbatim, paragraphs over in another part of the book. At times I would find myself wondering if I had picked up the book at the wrong part as I knew I had already read these words. Overall though, I enjoyed the book and it has sparked some good conversations with others that have read it.
astroneatly's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
fast-paced
beingshort's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
iacobus's review against another edition
2.0
I first looked at this book in 2007 and decided to pass after a short flip through. It seemed a bit like a hatchet job. A few years go by and I decided to give it a shot.
It seems like I was right.
The book presents a detailed documentation of all the bad things Blackwater has done or has been accused of doing, even when the proof is in the reader connecting the dots. Scahill has a political and ideological objection to Blackwater and this pervades the book.
The book felt flat as an analysis of Blackwater and the policy that leads to PMC. Is Blackwater/PMC a better solution to national natural disaster than a federal/state response? Is it better for the government to pass the liability and risk for private corporations then assume it themselves in war zones? Is it better/cheaper for the US armed forces to use PMC for logistics/guard tasks and increase the fraction of soldiers that are "soldiers?"
The book never gets into this issues. It's more interested in detailing how everything Blackwater has done has been bad or how all the people are "right wing Christian zealots."
On the surface, I'm sympathetic to Scahill's political views but his ideological stances on war, corporations, profit, anyone who is Christian, etc just left me sour.
On a final note: the writing is terrible. There are words that don't make sense where used (such as a 180 degree scope of fire), some inconsistency in language that highlights Scahill's bias (repeatedly calls an M4 carbine, a rifle, a machine gun) and is generally repetitive. Quotes are trotted out multiple times ("do for the pentagon what FedEx did to the post office" and slight variations seemed to occur ever 30 pages) and whole paragraphs/discussions seem to recur.
I'd recommend passing on this book. The same information would come from a Wikipedia search with much less bias. The book provides no meaningful policy analysis or insight beyond a partisan chronology.
It seems like I was right.
The book presents a detailed documentation of all the bad things Blackwater has done or has been accused of doing, even when the proof is in the reader connecting the dots. Scahill has a political and ideological objection to Blackwater and this pervades the book.
The book felt flat as an analysis of Blackwater and the policy that leads to PMC. Is Blackwater/PMC a better solution to national natural disaster than a federal/state response? Is it better for the government to pass the liability and risk for private corporations then assume it themselves in war zones? Is it better/cheaper for the US armed forces to use PMC for logistics/guard tasks and increase the fraction of soldiers that are "soldiers?"
The book never gets into this issues. It's more interested in detailing how everything Blackwater has done has been bad or how all the people are "right wing Christian zealots."
On the surface, I'm sympathetic to Scahill's political views but his ideological stances on war, corporations, profit, anyone who is Christian, etc just left me sour.
On a final note: the writing is terrible. There are words that don't make sense where used (such as a 180 degree scope of fire), some inconsistency in language that highlights Scahill's bias (repeatedly calls an M4 carbine, a rifle, a machine gun) and is generally repetitive. Quotes are trotted out multiple times ("do for the pentagon what FedEx did to the post office" and slight variations seemed to occur ever 30 pages) and whole paragraphs/discussions seem to recur.
I'd recommend passing on this book. The same information would come from a Wikipedia search with much less bias. The book provides no meaningful policy analysis or insight beyond a partisan chronology.
walden2ite's review against another edition
4.0
This was a truly horrifying and depressing look at the use of private armies by the U.S., their impunity and the myriad problems they have caused. This is a must read for anyone attempting to understand our recent foreign policy, and especially our history in Iraq.
mubeenirfan's review against another edition
4.0
Jeremy Scahill's first investigative journalism piece in book form is about the notorious Blackwater. This mercenary company is currently named Academi, was previously called Xe and was founded as Blackwater till their PR decided a need for re-branding due to reasons noted in detail in this book.
We, the Pakistanis, know about Blackwater because one of their Contractor was involved in a bloody shoot out (?) in Lahore. He killed 3 people who presumably were innocent (per their families) and was later released due to a diplomatic stand off regarding his immunity to crimes committed on Pakistani soil on account of him being a consular staff. As per my current knowledge he has not been charged in US courts for these killings.
But the book is not about Raymond Davis. It is about the rise of military contractors available for hire taking advantage of the US Governments through lobbying and wilful misconduct on part of key government officials in handing them Contracts of billions of dollars to provide training, security, logistics and protection of installations for US DOD and later State Department. Rise of neo-conservatism has resulted in these defence contractors to develop as self-functioning empires that they are today. Jeremy Scahill has dug deep into the roles of prominent functionaries of US Government who facilitated Blackwater to advance their own war agenda or to gain some monetary advantage for their own selves.
The book is heavy on sources and notes but that is what it should be when writing about such an incriminating topic. My only wish is for Mr. Scahill to update it for 2017 so that it is more relevant to current scenario where the famed Eric Prince is selling his services to the Governments of Middle East.
We, the Pakistanis, know about Blackwater because one of their Contractor was involved in a bloody shoot out (?) in Lahore. He killed 3 people who presumably were innocent (per their families) and was later released due to a diplomatic stand off regarding his immunity to crimes committed on Pakistani soil on account of him being a consular staff. As per my current knowledge he has not been charged in US courts for these killings.
But the book is not about Raymond Davis. It is about the rise of military contractors available for hire taking advantage of the US Governments through lobbying and wilful misconduct on part of key government officials in handing them Contracts of billions of dollars to provide training, security, logistics and protection of installations for US DOD and later State Department. Rise of neo-conservatism has resulted in these defence contractors to develop as self-functioning empires that they are today. Jeremy Scahill has dug deep into the roles of prominent functionaries of US Government who facilitated Blackwater to advance their own war agenda or to gain some monetary advantage for their own selves.
The book is heavy on sources and notes but that is what it should be when writing about such an incriminating topic. My only wish is for Mr. Scahill to update it for 2017 so that it is more relevant to current scenario where the famed Eric Prince is selling his services to the Governments of Middle East.
enelvee's review against another edition
4.0
These right wing nazi bastards can't go to jail fast enough.
nickel_is_neat's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
fast-paced
3.0
I just wish that books like this didn't feel immediately out of date. It was a gripping but intense read.