Slightly biased yet informative
Written: Apr 11 '08
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Good writing, great history of mercenaries.
Cons: Slightly scathing tongue.
The Bottom Line: Everything here is must-know, given our current state of affairs.
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| Grendelguy's Full Review: Jeremy Scahill - Blackwater: The Rise of the World... |
It's difficult to browse the review section for this particular book and not take note at the disturbing trend that appears in those who have given the book one star. While it may truly be possible to argue that Blackwater is providing a service to the United States, it's also important to remember just how much money Blackwater is making while providing this service.
There's no doubt after getting to the halfway point of this novel that Scahill is biased, however after learning more about Scahill's reporting in Iraq and during Katrina, it becomes very easy to see that Scahill went to great lengths to investigate this mercenary organization and uncover its hidden truths. To suggest that Scahill is biased simply because he has drawn conclusions is as ridiculous as suggesting--as some one-star reviewers do--that Blackwater only shoots "Islamofascists."
The book examines the life and upbringing of the Prince family, from its inception all the way to Eric Prince's creation of Blackwater, as well as its role as a mercenary army--20,000 strong, according to Scahill--in Iraq and across the world. What does this mean? Scahill provides the case that Blackwater and other mercenary organizations are bending the rules of war and creating a very new experience, one which allows us as citizens to more easily continue with our lives during war without having to make the same sacrifices that we would make if we as a country would have to confront the full force of the Iraq occupation without corporate influence.
What does this mean for the future? For that answer, you'll have to continue on the path Scahill draws and draw your own conclusions. The book is well-written, and while Scahill does provide a window into his own opinions on the issue, it's important to remember that this is a man who has spent the last five years as close to the action as possible.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
Grendelguy
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Member: Ken Brosky
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Reviews written: 145
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About Me:
Visit my creative fiction website! www.grendelguy.com
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