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millie_rose_reads's review against another edition
4.0
Fascinating journalistic investigation of the Blackwater group, a mercenary army contracted by governments (the United States specifically in this book) to meddle in international affairs too politically toxic to engage in more official capacities. Reading about the impunity such black-budgeted PMC's operate under is horrific and plainly criminal, and how ineptly the world stage adjudicates their activities with such cynical realpolitik is dispiriting to say the least. However, that doesn't stop Scahill's account from being an engaging excision of its great injustices.
kemet's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
5.0
raingirlpdx's review against another edition
4.0
I learned a lot from this book about the big business of mercenary armies, covert operations, right-wing evangelist zealots with money, and ties between Blackwater and Big Politics. "The more you know, the more you wish you didn't know." Reviews have dinged this book for being "lefty" but stepping outside the bias this is basic stuff every American tax payer should know about how we operate overseas (and sometimes at home).
The book is now quite outdated, as Blackwater has morphed into a least two new companies since 2009.
The book is now quite outdated, as Blackwater has morphed into a least two new companies since 2009.
epersonae's review against another edition
4.0
Wow. Depressing and astonishing. The stories of individual mercenary disasters are actually pretty heartbreaking, even if you think the guys are jerks for getting into it. Prince, on the other hand -- the founder of Blackwater -- gives me the heebie-jeebies. And the guys in DC who were all gung-ho to outsource the military: I got nothing good to say, at all.
breadandmushrooms's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.25