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Blackwater: The Rise of the World’s Most Powerful Mercenary Army Audiobook
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(3.01) - 2,746 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
On September 16, 2007, machine gun fire erupted in Baghdad’s Nisour Square, leaving seventeen Iraqi civilians dead, among them women and children. The shooting spree, labeled “Baghdad’s Bloody Sunday,” was neither the work of Iraqi insurgents nor US soldiers. The shooters were private forces working for a mercenary company: Blackwater USA, the world’s most secretive, powerful, and fastest growing private army.
A largely untold facet of the war on terror is the widespread outsourcing of military tasks to these mercenary companies. Accountable neither to the citizenry nor to standard military legal codes, these largely unregulated corporate armies are being entrusted with ever-greater responsibilities on behalf of the nation.
Founded by fundamentalist Christian megamillionaire Erik Prince, the scion of a conservative dynasty that bankrolls extreme right-wing causes, this particular company of soldiers is now being sent “to the front lines of a global battle, waged largely on Muslim lands, that an evangelical President whom Prince helped put in the White House has boldly defined as a ‘crusade.’” Ranging their roots in Moyock, North Carolina, to the bloodied streets of Iraq, to hurricane-ravaged New Orleans, to the chambers of power in Washington, DC—where they are hailed as heroes—this is the dark story of Blackwater’s rise to power.
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"This book follows the development of the Blackwater USA, arguably the world's largest private military company. The author looks at the U.S.'s strategy to outsource routine military functions to private agencies from the first Gulf War to the present military action in the Middle East. Democracy and free-market priciples collide as public support falters for our current military efforts, thought to trigger a correlating governmental reduction. Instead, through the use of private contractors the democratic process is skirted as public opinion and voting have a reduced effect on overall military manpower. I found Blackwater's legal immunity shocking as they fall outside military courts yet have argued they cannot be held liable in civilian court because of their relationship in a military campaign."
— Kelly (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“[Scahill’s] book is so scary and so illuminating.”
— Bill Maher, host of HBO’s Real Time -
“Of all the insane Bush privatization efforts, none is more frightening than the corporatizing of military combat forces. Jeremy Scahill admirably exposes a devastating example of this sinister scheme.”
— Michael Moore -
“It should be mandatory reading. It’s very interesting—and scary.”
— Scarlett Johansson, actor -
“A crackling exposé.”
— New York Times Book Review -
“Blackwater being rarely out of the news lately, this is a very useful survey of modern mercenaries—or, as they prefer to be called, ‘private security contractors’ in the ‘peace and stability industry’…Scahill is a sharp investigative writer.”
— Guardian (London) -
“Should our nation enter a period of instability following another terrorist attack on American soil, an economic collapse, or a series of environmental disasters, the tyranny that groups such as Blackwater impose on others could become the tyranny they impose on us. The rise of this unchecked mercenary force, as Jeremy Scahill understands, could presage the final stage in the collapse of American democracy.”
— Chris Hedges, former New York Times Middle East Bureau Chief -
“This engrossing investigative piece exposing, in shocking detail, a US-government-outsourced Frankenstein replete with helicopter gunships may leave you incredulous. But you better believe it, for it poses a grave and gathering danger to the future of our Republic.”
— Ray McGovern, CIA veteran and former intelligence briefer to George H. W. Bush -
“The dark, largely unknown story of Blackwater…is chillingly told in Jeremy Scahill’s exposé…Tom Weiner has precise diction and a rumbling, authoritative delivery.”
— AudioFile -
“Jeremy Scahill’s Blackwater would be a masterpiece of the genre of futuristic sci fi were it not so regrettably real…[A] horrifying but necessary read.”
— Daily Kos
Awards
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A New York Times bestseller
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A San Francisco Chronicle bestseller
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Winner of the George Polk Book Award
Blackwater Listener Reviews
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" Priviate armies are having a corrosive effect on sovereignty. "
— Amelia, 2/12/2014 -
" Quite a story about our mercenaries in Iraq...above the law, but quite neccessary and expedient....... "
— Robert, 2/2/2014 -
" I found this to be a terrifying yet fascinating read about one of many corruptions in the military industrial complex that Dwight D. Eisenhower warned Americans about in 1961. The appalling arrogance of Blackwater, the CIA, and the Bush Administration permeates the book. "
— Katgoyette, 1/31/2014 -
" Wow. ummmm wow. Thank you blackwater "security contractors" for stirring up so much hatred towards America in Iraq. Thank you Paul Bremer for primering the insurgency. Thank you Mr. President, V.P. Dick Cheney, and all you other dastardly fucks out there who are are war-profiteering, may you enjoy all your blood money, and soon perish and burn in hell, that is all. "
— Aaron, 1/30/2014 -
" Overarching liberal bias turned me off from an otherwise good history of how the company came into being. "
— Chris, 1/1/2014 -
" I was a bit disappointed with this -- it was pretty heavy on speculation and fearmongering, which is patently unnecessary given what a dire subject it's addressing. Still, it's really well-researched and informative. "
— Leonard, 1/1/2014 -
" Scary stuff! Lots of interesting facts, accessible writing style but it gets a bit repetitive. "
— Cassandra, 12/25/2013 -
" I just started this last week, and though I am only a couple chapters in, I am appalled by what this company (Blackwater) is able to get away with--all endorsed by our own government. I will update this as I get farther into the book... "
— Jess, 11/13/2013 -
" One of the scariest non fiction books I've ever read - and theu guy is from Michigan!!! "
— Sarah, 11/1/2013 -
" Nothing new. Coincidentally discusses US operations in Georgia circa 2001. Right-wing religious zealot mercenary force embedding into the corridors of power and black operations. "
— Nicko, 5/10/2013 -
" Important book to read. 3 stars is reflection of writing style not content "
— Tom, 3/8/2013 -
" This book paints a clear picture of a web of connections so large that one would get lost within the details of trying to see the whole picture. This book is a fantastic read and i could not put it down at all since i started reading. "
— Matthew, 7/1/2012 -
" As an old lifelong Republican turned Independent, I no longer question the existence of a vast right wing conspiracy. "
— Glen, 11/20/2011 -
" The author is a little to liberal and he undermines some of the good points he makes by going too far. Still, a good account of how greed and Bush administration are damaging US foreign policy. "
— Pat, 6/2/2011 -
" A (terrifying) peak into the world of private armies for hire, and the company that started it all. "
— Amos, 7/21/2010 -
" ug. read this and wake up America! more frightening than any Stephen King- because it's REAL. "
— Books, 6/25/2010 -
" A little investigative journalism never hurt anyone... "
— Noah, 3/2/2010 -
" Other than the story being told from a strong leftwing point of view, it was a pretty good read. "
— Michael, 11/3/2008 -
" This book is very chilling. I know the government uses "contractors" in Iraq and other arenas but I didn't realize the extent to which these private firms have bought their way into policy making at the highest levels, both with money and with religious capital. "
— Mickey, 11/2/2008
About Jeremy Scahill
Jeremy Scahill is a frequent contributor to the Nation and a correspondent for the national radio and television program Democracy Now!, as well as a Puffin Foundation Writing Fellow at the Nation Institute. A two-time winner of the prestigious George Polk Award, he has reported extensively from Iraq, and his exposure of the presence of Blackwater forces in New Orleans in the wake of Katrina sparked a Congressional inquiry and an internal Department of Homeland Security investigation. He lives in Brooklyn.
About Tom Weiner
Tom Weiner, a dialogue director and voice artist best known for his roles in video games and television shows such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Transformers, is the winner of eight Earphones Awards and is an Audie Award finalist. He is a former member of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.