Civilian Warriors

The Inside Story of Blackwater and the Unsung Heroes of the War on Terror

By: Erik Prince

Narrated by: Jeff Gurner

Length: 13 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's Summary

The founder of Blackwater offers the gripping, previously untold story of the world's most controversial military contractor.

Blackwater is one of the most misunderstood companies of our time. As Erik Prince, its founder and former CEO, writes:

"Hundreds of American citizens employed by private military contractors, or PMCs, would lose their lives helping our government wage wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, only to have their memory tarnished by the unfair and/or ignorant depiction of PMCs as profiteers, jackbooted thugs, or worse."

Because of the secrecy requirements of Blackwater's contracts with the Pentagon, the State Department, and the CIA, Prince was unable to speak out when his company's opponents spread false information. But now he's free to tell the often shocking story of Blackwater's rise and fall.

Blackwater hired Special Forces veterans and others with the skills and courage to take on the riskiest security jobs in the world. As its reputation grew, demand for its services escalated. Its men eventually completed nearly 100,000 missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Prince's narrative includes newly revealed details about many controversial events. It debunks myths that have been spread by TV shows and movies. It honors our armed forces while challenging the Pentagon's top leadership. Above all, it will make people rethink exactly who the "good guys" and "bad guys" have been since 9/11.

©2013 Erik Prince (P)2013 Penguin Audio

Critic Reviews

"Prince’s book belongs on the shelf next to the memoirs of the other Iraq and Afghanistan war chieftains...we need Prince’s story to help us understand the history of the post- 9/11wars and the myriad roles contractors played in these conflicts." (The Washington Post) 

A different look a Security Contractors

If you could sum up Civilian Warriors in three words, what would they be?

Dedicated Patrotic Americans

What about Jeff Gurner’s performance did you like?

Good narrator! I had to check several times to make sure Prince himself was not reading this book. Gurner gave a great performance and took ownership of Prince's voice.

Any additional comments?

I have done 3 tours in Afghanistan and worked with all kinds of civilian contractors. I had an opinion of them ( I am not going to tell you if it was good or bad). After reading this book it gave me a good view of the otherside of the coin. In his book, Prince gave several accounts that one could piece together with a little research and learn all about the facts of the situation. I believe the men and women of Blackwater/Xe/Academi were one of the main reasons we as Americans had as few of casulaties in Iraq as we did (compairing it to other wars). Whether you support the use of civilians as security personnel in combat situations or not this is a good book to read if you can keep an open mind. Once piece of advice if you are going to read this book. There are not always black and while rules in war....as much as I wish there were. Eventually there are times when things turn gray; and that is where the hard decisions are made.

How the truth can be concealed

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I just finished this audio edition and found it very interesting to hear the real side of the Blackwater story. The information is heavily referenced to validate the authenticity. In fact it is bold that Erik Prince mentions that in certain areas he was not allowed to talk about because of a Non-Disclosure agreement, he uses another person's first-hand account (not bound by the NDA) to fill in the missing information. With the recent disgruntlement of the ROE in Afghanistan, and the 2012 Libyan murder of our Ambassador, I wonder how the public would react today versus 2007?

What did you like best about this story?

Hear the opposing view and determine for yourself

Which scene was your favorite?

CASA 212 and the resupply of Camp Tilman

If you could give Civilian Warriors a new subtitle, what would it be?

Why certain people hate our Military

Eyeopening

I enjoyed listening to this book very much. The information was quite informative.

I am not someone who knows a lot about the mechanics of war. I have started becoming involved with learning about wars within the past year. Since then I have listened to quite a few books, both fiction and nonfiction. My interest continues.

Absorbing the information given about Blackwater by Erik Prince provided answers to quite a few questions I had that had no answers. Learning how private sources intervene and insert themselves into areas around the world where conflict is occurring and what these men and women are asked to do and do it, was fascinating to me.

Erik Prince's involvement with wars through his company known as Blackwater, was well worth my listen. I realize that Prince was not blameless in all of his men's interactions while in Iraq and Afghanistan or any other place they may have been involeded but the services Blackwater did provide would have been done whether by Blackwater or another such organization.

People do react differently when they believe that there is a threat to himself and his men. Participants who join these private companies have their own reasons for participating. Their jobs are required and if what needs to be accomplished by private companies not fighting in the war itself and it's the US government wanting their services, payment comes from whom required their services, which was, at times, the US government itself.

Understand that these facts provided in the book were quite new to me and I listened with rapt attention. The book about Blackwater has opened my mind to see inside the kaleidoscope of war.

The narrator was excellent. I'm sure that he was a critical part of why I was able to listen to this book. Even when he was providing statistics, I listened. The credit I used to purchase this book was well worth it. Listen to this book and come away with your own evaluation of its truth or untruths. Either way, it's a well worth read.

The inside story

“Civilian Warriors” is a spirited defense by Eric Prince of his company and himself. But do not let that turn you off from reading this most interesting and exciting story with lots of information for entrepreneurs on how to start and grow a company on a shoestring is a person sees a marketing niche. Prince tells about his early life in Michigan and his time at Annapolis and his time in the Navy SEALs. He also provides the history of the American military use of civilian warriors from the time of General George Washington to the current time. I found this discourse most interesting. Prince goes on to describe how and why he started Blackwater to have a complete and diverse training facility all in one location to train Military, law enforcement, and civilian guards and bodyguards. Prince goes on to explain how he was contacted by DOD and the State Department to provide protection for American Diplomats and military bases. Prince also notes that Blackwater never lost a person they protected. The second half of the book goes into the backlash from Congress about the hiring of civilian contractors that were beginning to match one for one the number of military personnel in the war zones. Prince does admit to making mistakes but also goes on to show how he and his company were scapegoats for providing to the government the services they could not supply themselves. The book is well worth the read and is written in an informative and exciting way. Jeff Garner did an excellent job narrating the book.

Great book

A more than likely true version events spoken right from the horses mouth. Outstanding!!! ( fake news)

An interesting look into Blackwater's history.

Definitely worth a listen if military and paramilitary history is interesting for you.
Is it 100% objektive? Probably not. Unique perspective, though.

Behind the scenes look - eye opener

What did you love best about Civilian Warriors?

It seemed like Erik Prince was very honest about his story. I liked the simple language, the simple truth and the simplicity of being down to earth.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Erik Prince

Any additional comments?

Worth a credit

Enjoyed hearing the other-side of Blackwater

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I recommend this book because the media will never tell you the whole story especially about conservative companies. The media and government has thrown Blackwater under the bus for so long few know what really happened. .

What was one of the most memorable moments of Civilian Warriors?

Its a remarkable story of how the free market can out preform even the military.

Amazing

I'm amazed that people still strive to be the best of the best when I read books such as this. Where the power of jealous politicians, lawyers and the general public clearly show that capitalism and success in America is no longer praised but reviled.

This is a great read/listen and gives some excellent background to what the main stream press never details.

Great book!

Covers the history of Blackwater and how it was started, to every event involving BW you've ever heard of and many you have not (good and bad) to the inner details of how BW operated, the rules it operated under, the bad press, the investigations and the witch hunts.

Best part is everything is backed by verifiable facts, not just wild speculation and conspiracy paranoia.

Truthfully

I had the pleasure of knowing quite a few Blackwater and Triple C guys in Iraq. Always professional always on top of their game

It was great to hear the behind the scenes story, I must applaud the honesty in the telling of this story, not just professional but private life too. That took bravery. Well done. Blackwater will I'm sure, be missed

Brilliant

A brilliant book by a true leader and entrepreneur stitched up by they’re own people ie the government

The other perspective

A great revealing book providing a different perspective on what happened in the Blackwater story. Well written and good narration.

A good account

An interesting account of the post 9/11 world. And sheds a light into the future of contractors and the government.

great book, which gets straight into the action

Fun, exciting and a great argument for the free market. Thank you Eric Prince for what you have achieved and for making the world a better place

Had to be told.

Loved it ! I was so shocked to hear some of the injustices Blackwater dealt with. Truly Eye Opening. 👊🏻

great. interesting. the truth about blackwater.

Inciteful, interesting and mesmerising. The truth about Blackwater. Erik Prince is a great man, hounded for being Brilliant. what a team with such a wonderful ethos he created.

The silent war of the deniable asset

If you could sum up Civilian Warriors in three words, what would they be?

Who have loved to hear the original story before if was filtered buy the agency’s

What was one of the most memorable moments of Civilian Warriors?

The impact and the lost of the first four black water contractors

Which character – as performed by Jeff Gurner – was your favourite?

I would love to have dinner with Eric Price in the Emirates Palace to get his view of the world in 2018

Really good

Gives a really good insight into the workings of private military. I have a new outlook on the stereotype now. Well worth a listen

Interesting insight

Would you consider the audio edition of Civilian Warriors to be better than the print version?

I haven't read the print version

What did you like best about this story?

I loved the steady growth of the Blackwater company and how it relates to world events.

What does Jeff Gurner bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

He reads this perfectly. Right tone and pacing. Superb.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The death of Blackwater contractors and the effects on the family.

Any additional comments?

Wonderful book from an insiders point of view. Clearly the opinions of PMC is a grey area and this is very biased towards the positives. However it's very well written and read and shows the progression and need for such organisations. Mr Price for his faults, really understands his subject. And that comes across.