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A review by mau_reeny
Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army by Jeremy Scahill
3.0
I wanted more from this book. It's well-written, well-researched, and interesting but left me wanting. I wanted less bias. The author spends a lot of time criticizing right-wing politics in the US and while I'm generally wary of such ideology, heavy-handed references to "conquest" (as an example) distracted from more important points.
I also wish the book had dove deeper into the applicability, or lack thereof, of international law on private security. That is such an important consequence of the privatization of security that was barely touched on.
Lastly, the book is outdated. Obviously this isn't the author's fault, it's mine for only reading the book several years after its publication, but it is worth mentioning since major Blackwater-related events have since transpired, including the Nisour Square incident and the subsequent trial and conviction of the contractors involved and of course the selling of the firm, its re-branding to "Academi," and its merger with formal rival Triple Canopy.
Overall, it's a decent introduction to one particular company but still a small slice of the fascinating pie that is private security.
I also wish the book had dove deeper into the applicability, or lack thereof, of international law on private security. That is such an important consequence of the privatization of security that was barely touched on.
Lastly, the book is outdated. Obviously this isn't the author's fault, it's mine for only reading the book several years after its publication, but it is worth mentioning since major Blackwater-related events have since transpired, including the Nisour Square incident and the subsequent trial and conviction of the contractors involved and of course the selling of the firm, its re-branding to "Academi," and its merger with formal rival Triple Canopy.
Overall, it's a decent introduction to one particular company but still a small slice of the fascinating pie that is private security.