Introduction. Origins: Business of America is business. Part 1: Mercenaries. 1: Africa: they do things differently there. 2: Congo 1960-1: the unquiet spirit of Patrice Lumumba. 3: Congo 1964-7: the myth of the white giant. 4: Angola 1974-2002: a war for slow readers. Part 2: Plausibly Deniable. 5: Yemen 1965-8: "do you fancy going into Yemen and burning the Migs?" 6: Oman 1970-95: how the Sandhurst brotherhood saved a nation. 7: Afghanistan 1979-89: "the British will probably be most forthcoming" 8: Nicaragua and elsewhere 1984-2006: spreading democracy, America's first war on terror. 9: Sierra Leone 1997-8: a less than ethical foreign policy. 10: Croatia 1995: America's junkyard dogs. Part 3: Licensed To Kill. 11: Iraq 2003-present: a licence to kill, in some circumstances. 12: Iraq 2005: the thirty-two-second ambush. 13: Online dialogues: grunts, muppets and the civvy bodycount. 14: Afghanistan 2001-future indefinite: in Talibs' fields the poppies blow. 15: Licensed to save: the unarmed warriors. Part 4: Regulation. 16: Foreign Enlistment Act 1870-present: lying in state at Westminster. 17: Legal remedies, 1976-present: the Utopian in pursuit of the uncontrollable. 18: Great reappraisal, 2006: dogs of war or pussycats of peace? Part 5: Money. 19: Mr Micawber's missing millions. Epilogue: After RIO. Appendix: Best of British. Notes. Picture credits. Index.
Notes:
Bibliogr. (p. [362]-378). Index.
Contents:
Introduction -- Origins: Business of America is business -- Part 1: Mercenaries -- 1: Africa: they do things differently there -- 2: Congo 1960-1: the unquiet spirit of Patrice Lumumba -- 3: Congo 1964-7: the myth of the white giant -- 4: Angola 1974-2002: a war for slow readers -- Part 2: Plausibly Deniable -- 5: Yemen 1965-8: "do you fancy going into Yemen and burning the Migs?" -- 6: Oman 1970-95: how the Sandhurst brotherhood saved a nation -- 7: Afghanistan 1979-89: "the British will probably be most forthcoming" -- 8: Nicaragua and elsewhere 1984-2006: spreading democracy, America's first war on terror -- 9: Sierra Leone 1997-8: a less than ethical foreign policy -- 10: Croatia 1995: America's junkyard dogs -- Part 3: Licensed To Kill -- 11: Iraq 2003-present: a licence to kill, in some circumstances -- 12: Iraq 2005: the thirty-two-second ambush -- 13: Online dialogues: grunts, muppets and the civvy bodycount -- 14: Afghanistan 2001-future indefinite: in Talibs' fields the poppies blow -- 15: Licensed to save: the unarmed warriors -- Part 4: Regulation -- 16: Foreign Enlistment Act 1870-present: lying in state at Westminster -- 17: Legal remedies, 1976-present: the Utopian in pursuit of the uncontrollable -- 18: Great reappraisal, 2006: dogs of war or pussycats of peace? -- Part 5: Money -- 19: Mr Micawber's missing millions -- Epilogue: After RIO -- Appendix: Best of British -- Notes -- Picture credits -- Index
Summary:
From the Publisher: The freelance solider, or mercenary, whether fighting for money or reputation or an adopted cause, has always been a fascinating and controversial phenomenon. Now, as a result of the situations in Iraq and Afghanistan, he has become not simply a mercenary but a vital part of modern and privatized warfare. For some, he is a heroic figure, doing the work governments are too squeamish to admit to; for others, he is a bloodthirsty killer. In Tony Geraghty's starling history, he sheds new light on their activities, which has until now been shrouded in secrecy. Many of the soldiers have spoken to the author about their experiences for the first time, revealing details of operations that have never before been reported in the media.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.