An Unorthodox Soldier: Peace and War and the Sandline Affair - Hardcover

Obe, Tim Spicer

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 184018180X ISBN 13: 9781840181807

Publisher: Mainstream Publishing, 1999

Synopsis

In this fast-moving account of his life, Tim Spicer describes the events in Papua New Guinea when he was captured at gun-point and held in captivity?and came away with his life, his men, and the company's honor intact. Here too is the full truth about the notorious "Arms for Africa" affair which tied the Foreign Office in a knot over whether Sandline had broken a UN embargo on supplying arms to the legitimate government-in-exile of Sierra Leone. Spicer's entertaining account of modern soldiering in peace and war looks at the creation of private military companies?the modern, legitimate version of the old mercenaries?and concludes with his troubling forecast for the dangerous world that lies ahead in the new millennium, making this an essential guide to life as it is lived in some of the world's trouble spots, as well as a glimpse of the intrigue that lies behind the British political scene.

About this title

From the Inside Flap

Tim Spicer has always led an exciting and controversial life. Once one of Britain's leading battalion commanders and now head of Sandline International, one of the world's foremost private military companies, he has spent most of the last twenty-five years seeking action and adventure in the British Army as an officer in one of its crack regiments, the Scots Guards.

Spicer's military career saw him rise steadily to the rank of lieutenant-colonel, a progress punctuated by regular bursts of action and some high-profile training assignments. Winning the Sword of Honour at Sandhurst and passing out in the top echelon of his class at the Staff College provided him the background and experience that led him to set up Sandline International ... and walk into some of the most controversial events of the decade.

In this fast-moving account of his life, Tim Spicer describes all the events surrounding the catastrophe in Papua New Guinea, when he was captured at gunpoint and held in captivity - and came away with his life, his men ... and $36 million dollars.

Here too is the full truth about the notorious "Arms for Africa" affair--the Sandline Affair of 1996, which tied Robin Cook, the Foreign Office and Customs and Excise in an almighty knot over whether Sandline had broken a UN embargo on supplying arms to the legitimate government-in-exile of Sierra Leone. Training troops in Africa or Asia, rescue missions to the Congo and developing a new concept for military operations are all part of Spicer's story.

All this provides the highlights to an entertaining account of modern soldiering in peace and war, on the creation of private military companies - the modern, legitimate version of the old mercenary ideal--and concludes with Tim Spicer's troubled forecast about the dangerous world that lles ahead in the upcoming millennium. For a look at life as it is lived in some of the world's trouble spots, and a glimpse of the intrigue that lies behind the British political scene, this book is a must for every thinking person's bookshelf.

Edition details

• Publisher: Mainstream Publishing
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 184018180X
• ISBN 13: 9781840181807
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 240