Blackwater

The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army

By: Jeremy Scahill

Narrated by: Tom Weiner

Length: 14 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

A largely untold facet of the war on terror is the widespread outsourcing of military tasks to private 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.

Meet Blackwater USA, the most secretive, most powerful, and fastest-growing private army on the planet. Founded by fundamentalist Christian mega-millionaire Erik Prince, the scion of a conservative dynasty that bankrolls extreme-right-wing causes, this 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 from the blood-soaked streets of Fallujah to Washington, D.C., where they are hailed as heroes, this is the dark story of Blackwater's rise to power.

©2007 Jeremy Scahill (P)2007 Blackstone Audio Inc.

Critic reviews

"A crackling expose." ( New York Times Book Review)
"Jeremy Scahill's Blackwater would be a masterpiece of the genre of futuristic sci fi were it not so regrettably real....It's got all the twists and turns and secret corners of a Hollywood thriller....[A] horrifying but necessary read." ( Daily Kos)

left leaning hater

liberal author, anti private contractors, anti Prince an family, anti Christian right. Uses "war" in place of security or defense whenever possible. Erik Prince came from wealth and used it to make more welth. He was born to privilege went to prestigious universities and still chose to go through one of the grueling military challenges possible. he is a patriot and a businessman. Yes Black Water participated in some shady deals with like minded politicians, yes politicians are corrupt. I was not shocked by anything he had to say. Rich Christian guy likes guns and can afford a to build and rent out an army, gets richer doing it. where is the crime ? where is the crime ?

another

Only an informed citizenry is capable of make sound decisions about the future of our country. With the approaching presidential election, this is another of those works that should be read by all of us so that we can better judge who will lead us for the next four years. What is so wonderful about this book is that it gives the reader the background to understand what is happening in the news even as I write this review. Listen and learn. You won't regret it!

t

If you like Noam Chomsky, Naomi Klein or William Blum you will love this book. The link between massive corruption and privatization is shown in startling relief. Bringing extreme Christianity into the mixture is a nice addition.

Revealing

This is quite revealing. I had to take a break from it several times-the information contained was overwhelming to listen too.
There were many things in government that provoke the imagination-but this puts it out there. It is revealing as it exposes the workings of the war machine of the Bush administration.

OK

Just OK. lots of information about related topics and not a lot about Blackwater itself.
sometimes I felt I was listening yo a separate story nothing to do with blackwater. Then the bool returned to the original topic.

Very Liberal attitude towards Blackwater

Writer seems to give the attitude of anti Christian and anti conservative.
Apparently if you are conservative it's not appropriate to not share donations with the left as well?
The author has that kinda weird attitude?

Wow is the word

Since listening to this book the scale have come off my eyes.
We have a long way to go as a nation.

Nice work Jeremy Scahill - Prince Family secrets

Such a great and necessary work for to provide context for the creepy vision of military mercenary companies. I would recommend partnering this book with Max Blumenthal Republican Gammorah to provide a full picture of the Prince family shenanigans, most notably their control over the Republican party through the focus on the family church.

Writing vs Narration

This story of Blackwater is an important and scary read. As a reader of many, many other books on the Iraq conflict this is just another confirmation of failings in a very sad story.

An issue I have with this book is the narrator. I have been an Audible listener for years and this is the first time I've found a narrator almost too irritating to listen to. The over the top attempt to be sonorous and profound would be laughable if it weren't in the telling a very important story.

OUCH! The truth HURTS!

A MUST READ for anyone who votes...well researched, well written, well done!
The "patriot" responsible for this mercenary army has since moved to the Middle East to avoid investigation and taxation...money talks, BS walks!