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Product Description
Product Description
Robert Young Pelton first became aware of the phenomenon of hired guns in the War on Terror when he met a covert team of contractors on the Afghanistan/Pakistan border in the fall of 2003. Pelton soon embarked on a globe-spanning odyssey to penetrate and understand this shadowy world, ultimately delivering stunning insights into the way private soldiers are used.
Enter a blood-soaked world of South African mercenaries and tribal fighters backed by ruthless financiers. Drop into Baghdad’s Green Zone, strap on body armor, and take a daily high-speed ride with a doomed crew of security contractors who dodge car bombs and snipers just to get their charges to the airport. Share a drink in a chic hotel bar with wealthy owners of private armies who debate the best way to stay alive in war zones.
Licensed to Kill spans four continents and three years, taking us inside the CIA’s dirty wars; the brutal contractor murders in Fallujah and the Alamo-like sieges in Najaf and Al Kut; the Deep South contractor training camps where ex–Special Operations soldiers and even small town cops learn the ropes; the contractor conventions where macho attendees swap bullet-punctuated tales and discuss upcoming gigs; and the grim Central African prison where contractors turned failed mercenaries pay a steep price.
The United States has encouraged the use of the private sector in all facets of the War on Terror, placing contractors outside the bounds of functional legal constraints. With the shocking clarity that can come only from firsthand observation, Licensed to Kill painstakingly deconstructs the most controversial events and introduces the pivotal players. Most disturbingly, it shows that there are indeed thousands of contractors—with hundreds more being produced every month—who’ve been given a license to kill, their services available to the highest bidder.
From the Hardcover edition.
Enter a blood-soaked world of South African mercenaries and tribal fighters backed by ruthless financiers. Drop into Baghdad’s Green Zone, strap on body armor, and take a daily high-speed ride with a doomed crew of security contractors who dodge car bombs and snipers just to get their charges to the airport. Share a drink in a chic hotel bar with wealthy owners of private armies who debate the best way to stay alive in war zones.
Licensed to Kill spans four continents and three years, taking us inside the CIA’s dirty wars; the brutal contractor murders in Fallujah and the Alamo-like sieges in Najaf and Al Kut; the Deep South contractor training camps where ex–Special Operations soldiers and even small town cops learn the ropes; the contractor conventions where macho attendees swap bullet-punctuated tales and discuss upcoming gigs; and the grim Central African prison where contractors turned failed mercenaries pay a steep price.
The United States has encouraged the use of the private sector in all facets of the War on Terror, placing contractors outside the bounds of functional legal constraints. With the shocking clarity that can come only from firsthand observation, Licensed to Kill painstakingly deconstructs the most controversial events and introduces the pivotal players. Most disturbingly, it shows that there are indeed thousands of contractors—with hundreds more being produced every month—who’ve been given a license to kill, their services available to the highest bidder.
From the Hardcover edition.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
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.
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.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The role of Private Security Contractors (to their friends) and mercenaries (to their enemies) in the Afghan and Iraqi operations of the 'War of terror' is a complex and controversial one, and Robert Young Pelton gives us a timely and unjudgemental piece of reportage on them in this book. Private companies such as Aegis and Blackwater contracted by governments and corporations to provide security where regular troops and armies are unavailable are having a huge influence upon modern warfare and it is often difficult to find unbiased reportage on their actions and motivations. Pelton spends the first half of this book drawing upon first-hand experience of travelling and living with the contractors in both Afghanistan and Iraq and gives an unblinking view of a world which is inhabited by everyone from honourable ex-servicemen to money-hungry mercenaries to killers and a swathe of people in between. Showing both the positive (bravery and a desire to make the world a better place) and the negative (the killing of civilians and corruption are not glossed over) this is a book which allows the reader to make up their own mind on the role of these new organisations in modern warfare. The second half of the book looks at the growth of the Private Military Company industry from the early days of Sandline and Executive Outcomes in Africa and how these companies can go wrong, as happened in Bougainville and Equatorial Ginuea.
Pelton is an engaging author who must be possessed of remarkable personal charisma to get access to the places and information he does. Whilst he goes over a lot of the same territory covered in both The Worlds Most Dangerous Places and Three Worlds Gone Mad, Licensed to Kill is an excellent read and resource for anyone interested in what is happening in some of the darker corners of Modern Warfare, and a possible look into the future of global conflict.
Pelton is an engaging author who must be possessed of remarkable personal charisma to get access to the places and information he does. Whilst he goes over a lot of the same territory covered in both The Worlds Most Dangerous Places and Three Worlds Gone Mad, Licensed to Kill is an excellent read and resource for anyone interested in what is happening in some of the darker corners of Modern Warfare, and a possible look into the future of global conflict.
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
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"
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"
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Very pleased
I received the product on time and it was in the exact condition stated by the seller. I am very happy with this book and will use amazon.co.uk again.
Published on 2 July 2009 by Mr. Christopher A. Mandella
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... Read more
Published on 10 July 2008 by S. SARPAL
Excellent Work
I'm a big fan of RYP's writing style and this, like his Dangerous Places books, was another 'couldn't put it down' read. Read more
Published on 1 Dec 2007 by Londieone
Proxy
A superb account of the modern soldier for hire. This book gives a great overview of the different elements that make up the 'privateer' chain. Read more
Published on 15 Oct 2007 by J. McGhee
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