Product Description

Controversial, action-packed account from the Iraqi front line

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6618 in Books
• Published on: 2007-07-05
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

Daily Telegraph
'This diary of death and destruction radiates not just personality
but that elusive, lyrical honesty the existentialists used to call
"authenticity"'

Synopsis
An explosive insider's account of life as a private contractor in Iraq. In September 2003, James Ashcroft, a former British Infantry captain who served in West Belfast and Bosnia, landed in Iraq as a 'gun for hire'. It was the beginning of an 18-month journey into chaos. In "Making a Killing", Ashcroft provides a first-hand view of the secret world of private security where ex-soldiers employed to protect US and British interests can make up to $1000 a day. But he also reveals a new kind of warfare where the rules are still being written. Although hostilities are officially over, the fighting goes on. Scores of US soldiers are dying every day, Coalition Forces are struggling to defend their own bases, let alone bring order and every insurgent killed only recruits a dozen more to fight Western forces.

From the Back Cover
The Lure: $1,000 a day as a hired gun in Iraq
The Reality: For every insurgent killed, a dozen more rise up

In September 2003, James ‘Ash’ Ashcroft, a former British Infantry Captain, arrived in Iraq as a ‘gun for hire’. It was the beginning of an 18-month journey into blood and chaos.

In this action-packed page-turner, Ashcroft reveals the dangers of his adrenalin-fuelled life as a security contractor in Baghdad, where private soldiers outnumber non-US Coalition forces in a war that is slowly being privatised. From blow-by-blow accounts of days under mortar bombardment to revelations about life operating deep within the Iraqi community, Ashcroft shares the real, unsanitised story of the war in Iraq – and its aftermath – direct from the front line.

James Ashcroft is a former British Infantry Captain who served in West Belfast and the former Republic of Yugoslavia. He served as a private security contractor in Iraq from September 2003 until spring 2005.

Customer Reviews

Sensational but thought provoking and 'authentic'
Overall I found it a very readable but there were a few points where I wondered if it was an accurate reflection of what actually happened or the temptation of the publishers to sex up the story to get more sales (as was done with Bravo Two Zero, amongst others). Certainly it isn't a wholesale celebration of war or of the situation in Iraq, and there has been a lot of thought put into why we were there by the author. It certainly came across as being written by someone who had been there and who had taken the opportunity to understand what was going on and why it was going on, that in itself is enough to make it worth reading for all those that wonder what is going on. The news doesn't even come close to giving you the side of the story shown here, and it isn't entirely positive for those prosecuting the war or attempting to rebuild Iraq or maintaining the peace.

As mentioned by another reviewer, the section towards the end where he asks a load of US officers why they are fighting the war is priceless, and possibly the best discussion of the reasons behind the war and the management of its aftermath. Better to spend time reading this book than watching the news.

Awesome!
The book is a well written and covers the dramatic events in a very unassuming style.

The author's opinions and observations of the environment are well balanced and offer a good insight into the life of soldiers and contractors in Iraq.

There is action, there is humour and there is back story on Iraq. It really does have everything and I would recommend it highly - 5 stars!

Thoroughly compelling
Thoroughly enjoyed this books.
Charts the start of the iraq occupation, unfortunatley highlights that Iraq as the author says may take 10,00o years to resolve!