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Blackwater
Book

Blackwater

The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army

Nation Books, 2007 plus...


Editorial Rating

9

Qualities

  • Innovative

Recommendation

The Iraq war has seen a vast expansion in the use of private security contractors to complement the U.S. military. But who are these contractors? Who pays them? And how did one contractor, Blackwater, become so entrenched? Jeremy Scahill answers these questions and more in this provocative, thoroughly reported book about the world’s largest, private mercenary army. Scahill has done a masterful job of researching this secretive organization to disclose its origins, motives, leaders and activities. getAbstract strongly recommends this compelling, disturbing story to anyone interested in the Iraq conflict, and in the larger picture of how private armies reshape warfare.

Take-Aways

  • Blackwater, a defense contractor, has gotten $1 billion in no-bid contracts from the U.S. State Department.
  • It is owned by Erik Prince, a right-wing multimillionaire.
  • Blackwater has been accused of indiscriminate use of force against Iraqi civilians.

About the Author

Jeremy Scahill is a reporter for The Nation and Democracy Now!, and a Puffin Foundation Writing Fellow at The Nation Institute.


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