Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #53735 in Books
• Published on: 2007-08-28
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 368 pages

Customer Reviews

Bold investigation
This book looks into the role of private security operators working in the recently invaded/ liberated countries of Iraq and Afghanistan. It investigates the new companies, which have sprung up to fill this market such as Backwater and Aegis. It documents how these companies developed and more importantly, are seeking to expand.

If you are involved with overseas development or diaster response then you need to read this book, these companies are seeking opportunities to provide humanitarian assistance and peace keeping roles, to countries where the US & UK do not wish to commit serving troops.

I would have given 5 stars if the writer had been able to interveiw the members of the public in the these countrys and how they viewed the involvment of the security contractors.

Looking forward to reading the 6th edition of "worlds most dangerous places"

Very disappointing!
I wondered about the objectively of this book when I read the dedication: 'to the unheralded heroes of the war on terror, the contractors who have scarified their life in service of their client'. At first I though that Mr. Pelton was trying to be sarcastic, but unfortunately after reading the whole book (watch out for the dodgy grammar), it was left with the impression that he actually admirers the likes of Blackwater and DynCorp. The book is filled with references of Blackwater operations (mostly in Iraq), where contractors are portrayed as a little rough, but patriotic and reasonability level headed - rather than overpaid thugs, who have seen an opportunity to line their own pockets in a war zone! Although, I had to laugh a little when he interviewed a ex-Blackwater contractor who survived an attack on his convoy, when he said 'I still have a hole in my ass'. It would seem that there some justice in the world! In summary, reading the other reviews posted here I expected something much better, but was deeply disappointed.

For students and those with a casual interest
I used this book to help me write a mini-dissertation on the use of Private Military Companies (PMCs) and the consequence of this for the foreign policies of different countries.

It is written in a way that would be unpalatable for many academics, but this (for me, at least) is no shortcoming. Many academics, such as D Avant and P Singer, have written extensively on this subject but their works can be criticised for typical academic 'ivory tower' syndrome. Robert Pelton however has been out on the ground, in often dangerous environments, gaining valuable interviews from many colourful characters. Combined with a engaging writing style, this book is both readable and educating.

I'd recommend this book for anyone with a passing interest in PMCs, although for students/academics I'd say it is best used alongside works such as those by Avant and Singer in order to set the context within the academic debate. Also since the publication of this book, PMCs have evolved into a very different beast from what they were at the immediate aftermath of the invasion of Iraq - therefore the picture it paints is a little out of date.