Product Description

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #200445 in Books
• Published on: 2007-04-03
• Released on: 2007-04-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 256 pages

Review
"'This diary of death and destruction radiates not just personality, but that elusive, lyrical honesty the existentialists used to call 'authenticity' Daily Telegraph"

About the Author

Customer Reviews

A hell of a read...
I'm US Military and have done two tours in iraq, having talked with private contractors over there and for a time wanted to do the same as them, but decided to stay in the military, though I still have a interest in doing that sort of work...

Capt. Ashford gives a very, very interesting and insightful look into the world of private contractors, giving a sometimes very humerous account of his time in iraq to a sometimes very bleak look of things as they were when he was there.

From Capt. Ashford and his fellow englishman's hilarious banter and rivalry between themselves and their south arfican team-members, who's constant "ja ja..." always manages to bring a chuckle in true afrikaner style, to his own insights into going crazy at a office job and wanting to get back to what he did best and get into the action, to having to deal with their sometimes idiotic and highstrung clients and iraqi co-workers, this book is at times hilarious, at times dark and dismal, and at other times filled with action for any war junkie to enjoy.

People tend to look at people like Capt. Ashford as the dirty, evil mercenary who is willing to do anything for a buck, when infact most are family men with loving children, simply trying to support themselves and their families using the skills they learned in their military career's and putting them to applicable use.

People go to college or technical schools to learn the knowledge and gain the skills they need to get paying jobs in the real world, same as these men but they get the stereotype of blood-thirsty mercenaries.....strange how no one ever chastises the scientist or doctor who is suppose to help people with the skills they have and then goes off and bio-engineers diseases and chemical weapons, nuclear weapons, and weapons that can kill more in two minutes than these men could ever kill in a lifetime.....

My bantering asside, I highly reccommned this book to any and all interested in this aspect of the world we live in, the life of a private military contractor.

Good on You, Mate!
I read a lot of military books and this is one of the best. Capt. Ashcroft has managed to weld action, suspense, humor and political insight into one great tale of modern military conflict. The gruesomeness and tension of life and combat in Iraq is compellingly told. In addition, there are extremely humerous portions that will have you laughing to the point of tears. One caution however: if you're a "Hank the Yank" that hasn't spent time in Great Britain, Australia, or Canada, beware of the "C" word. To me, it just added to the authenticity of the story. What do you think guys are saying to each other in combat situations - Aw shucks?

I would rate this book on par with Mark Bowden's "Black Hawk Down" - one of the best I've read.

Good Book on Modern Combat
This is a well written book on modern combat in the middle east. In addition to telling a riveting story, Mr. Ashcroft provides some unique (though often clearly biased) perspectives on the actions of the Coalition Forces in Iraq. Overall, it is a fun and exciting read. I'm only giving it four stars for two reasons: 1) the author struggles to make clear his view of the U.S. military in Iraq. Some passages in the book shower praise on them, while others offer nothing but harsh criticism. He says "I now had the utmost respect for all of them," then turns around and accuses them of being overly anxious killers. 2) The book feels like it was written in a hurry. The writing is high quality and intelligent, but the story feels rushed. Its almost as if the publisher tried to repackage an honest and in depth telling of one man's powerful experiences into a fast-paced, shoot 'em up, action thriller. This may account for #1. Anyway, I would recommend this book to anyone interested in military history, current events, or just plain fun.