Bloodsong!: First Hand Accounts of a Modern Private Army in Action - Softcover

Hooper, Jim

Softcover

ISBN 10: 000711916X ISBN 13: 9780007119165

Publisher: Collins, 2003

Synopsis

This gripping narrative is a first-hand account of the private military company Executive Outcomes’ operations in Angola and Sierra Leone. It is a fascinating glimpse into the world of modern professional soldiering.

Executive Outcomes was the title of the most successful private army of modern times. In Angola, Sierra Leone and Papua New Guinea, it stepped in while the UN revealed itself as little more than a debating society. But the motives of this mercenary army are open to question: was it more interested in protecting Sierra Leone's diamond mines than the people caught up in a savage guerrilla war?

Journalist Jim Hooper followed Executive Outcomes on operations all over Africa. Now he can reveal the incredible story of a mercenary army in action.

About this title

Review:

‘A compelling narrative of the successes, trials and tribulations of the most famous – or infamous – private military company of the 1990s.’
-Christopher Spearin, Centre for International and Security Studies, York University, Toronto

‘Don’t pick up this volume in the evening if you have to make muster the following morning – you will not put it down.’
-Don McLean, Soldier of Fortune

‘A compelling view of warfare.’
-Mike Cardwell, International Bird Dog Association

‘Bloodsong lifts the lid superbly on the murky and misunderstood world of the private army.’
-Airpower

From the Back Cover:

Bloodsong is the first-hand account of the private military company Executive Outcomes in Angola and Sierra Leone, where 21 of its employees were killed in the vicious fighting to capture the diamond mines in Cafunfo. Using Russian BMP-2 armoured vehicles supported by EO-flown Mi-17 helicopters, PC-7 light attack aircraft and MiG-23 fighter-bombers, a handful of former special forces operators succeeded where thousands of government soldiers and their East bloc advisers had failed against Unita’s seasoned troops. Told by the senior ground and air officers, Bloodsong reveals how and why the company became a legend in the annals of professional soldiering.

About this edition

• Publisher: Collins
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 000711916X
• ISBN 13: 9780007119165
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 240