Licensed to Kill: Hired Guns in the War on Terror

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Robert Young Pelton

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Pages: 368 (Hardcover)

ISBN: 1400097819

Pub: Crown Publishers

Pub date: 2006-08-29

Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 50972

Reader Reviews:

Proxy (0/0 people found this helpful)

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. From the highly trained frontline men to the movers and shakers of this highly profitable enterprise.

Pelton gives the reader the uncommon view of the industry by actually riding alongside and embedding with a Blackwater group that runs the BIAP route (Baghdad International Air Port), commonly regarded as the most dangerous stretch of tarmac on the planet. Rather than most accounts, of this often clandestine world, which are written by people removed from the actual events Pelton speaks directly to the guys on the ground. By 'getting it from the horses mouth' we get a real sense of what these guys feel they are a part of, and what really motivates them to re-use their skills in the private arena.

Although it would have been much more complete if there had been other opinions thrown in. That of the people who they are protecting 'the principle', or NGO's (Non-Governmental Organizations). Concerning the event in Equatorial Guinea I would have liked a sense of what the feeling was on the ground for the people there. Would the coup have been well recieved or would it have been a forced re-constitution, that side of the book, I felt, was lacking.

One small niggle I had with his writing style is the over use of abbreviations. Its sometimes felt like reading a intelligence briefing and really destroyed the flow of reading for me. I'm quite happy to read the word in full thanks.

A recommended read in general, a must for anyone interested in the unreported world of privately hired soldiers.

Bold investigation (7/8 people found this helpful)

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"

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