War Dog: Fighting Other People's Wars: The Modern Mercenary in Combat - Couverture souple

Venter, Al J.

Couverture souple

ISBN 10 : 1932033904 ISBN 13 : 9781932033908

Editeur : Casemate Publishers, 2008

Synopsis

Unusual book

A propos du livre

Présentation de l'éditeur :

Mercenaries have been with us since the dawn of civilization, yet in the modern world they are little understood. While many of today's freelance fighters provide support for larger military establishments, others wage war where the great powers refuse to tread. In War Dog, Al Venter examines the latter world of mercenary fighters effecting decisions by themselves. In the process he unveils a remarkable array of close-quarters combat action. Having personally visited every locale he describes throughout Africa and the Middle East, Venter is the rare correspondent who had to carry an AK-47 in his research along with his notebook and camera. To him, covering mercenary actions meant accompanying the men into the thick of combat. During Sierra Leone's civil war, he flew in the front bubble of the government s lone Hind gunship piloted by the heroic chopper ace Nellis as it flew daily missions to blast apart rebel positions. In this book the author not only describes the battles of the legendary South African mercenary company Executive Outcomes, he knew the founders personally and joined them on a number of actions. After stemming the tide of Jonas Savimbi's UNITA army in Angola (an outfit many of the SA operators had previously trained), Executive Outcomes headed north to hold back vicious rebels in West Africa. This book is not only about triumph against adversity but also losses, as Venter relates the death and subsequent cannibalistic fate of his American friend, Bob MacKenzie, in Sierra Leone. Here we see the plight of thousands of civilians fleeing from homicidal jungle warriors, as well as the professionalism of the mercenaries who fought back with one hand and attempted to train government troops with the other, in hopes that they would someday be able to stand on their own. The American public, as well as its military, largely sidestepped the horrific conflicts that embroiled Africa during the past two decades. But as Venter informs us, there were indeed small numbers of professional fighters on the ground, defending civilians and attempting to conjure order from chaos. In the process their heroism went unrecorded and their combat skill became known only to each other. In this book we gain an intimate glimpse of this modern breed of warrior in combat. Not laden with medals, ribbons, civic parades, or even guaranteed income, they have nevertheless fought some of the toughest battles in the post- Cold War era. They simply are, and perhaps always will be, War Dogs.

Revue de presse :

A remarkable read with thriller moments that take you into the heart of the action... This book should be on the must-read list... --Raider Magazine. 11/2008

A disturbing insight into the ever growing world of unconventional private armies. Like it or not, Venter tells it to us the way it is --John Le Carre

In this work Al Venter has delved into the real-life exploits of the War Dogs... to illuminate how the privateers have continued to conduct battle in the wake of the Colonial Age. The true stories in this work are more impressive than fiction, and in terms of Africa, this book should be on the must read list for the U.S. State Department and British Foreign Office. --Frederick Forsyth

...a gripping and hugely informative read. ...highly recommended. ...impressive and enlightening. --The Herald, July 2008

In this work Al Venter has delved into the real-life exploits of the War Dogs... to illuminate how the privateers have continued to conduct battle in the wake of the Colonial Age. The true stories in this work are more impressive than fiction, and in terms of Africa, this book should be on the must read list for the U.S. State Department and British Foreign Office. --Frederick Forsyth

À propos de cette édition

• Éditeur: Casemate Publishers
• Date d'édition: 2008
• ISBN 10: 1932033904
• ISBN 13: 9781932033908
• Reliure: Broché
• Nombre de pages: 664