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.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a brave book, free of the bitter blood and guts filling current works in the category. There's a lot more serotonin than testosterone here. The work isn't about bravery under fire; it's about the ideas a very professional man has about his occupation, Soldiering. And his industry, - War.
In our present international state Spicer's Peace Making makes more sense than the U.N.'s Peace Keeping. In a world where our leaders run around like rock stars continually checking their popularity poles, Tim Spicer takes a hard look at the best way to save lives, civilian and military. He lays out how war actually works covering the necessary facts and not drowning the reader in details. There's no harping on the cold hard facts of being a soldier; he relates the conditions as if it's of no more importance than a weather report.
While the world leaders are busy ranting and consoling, the man with the gun seems to be the only one thinking. Spicer's case for P.M.C's is well organized and placed in relevant areas within the story of his experiences as a soldier. It brings up important questions that eventually must be dealt with. The logic is irrefutable, men are a P.M.C.'s assets; companies don't waste assets the way governments have been known waste soldiers. The cold logic of his arguments is like the truths he reveals, a little hard to take at times.
Far from being the unfeeling hard [nosed] commander, his anguish bleeds through when he tells the tale of how badly two of his men were treated in Ireland and his frustrated anger is clear when dealing with several government double crosses. He seems to find these more insulting than frightening because they are so hopelessly flawed. It's almost as if he were saying, "And these are the guys running things?"
Throughout it all there is humor, passion and suspense and not all questions are answered. I find myself still wondering where the knife, compass and money was? Spicer doesn't tell us or the enemy everything.
All said, though this might not be considered a woman's book, I found Spicer's work strangely comforting, even hopeful.
In our present international state Spicer's Peace Making makes more sense than the U.N.'s Peace Keeping. In a world where our leaders run around like rock stars continually checking their popularity poles, Tim Spicer takes a hard look at the best way to save lives, civilian and military. He lays out how war actually works covering the necessary facts and not drowning the reader in details. There's no harping on the cold hard facts of being a soldier; he relates the conditions as if it's of no more importance than a weather report.
While the world leaders are busy ranting and consoling, the man with the gun seems to be the only one thinking. Spicer's case for P.M.C's is well organized and placed in relevant areas within the story of his experiences as a soldier. It brings up important questions that eventually must be dealt with. The logic is irrefutable, men are a P.M.C.'s assets; companies don't waste assets the way governments have been known waste soldiers. The cold logic of his arguments is like the truths he reveals, a little hard to take at times.
Far from being the unfeeling hard [nosed] commander, his anguish bleeds through when he tells the tale of how badly two of his men were treated in Ireland and his frustrated anger is clear when dealing with several government double crosses. He seems to find these more insulting than frightening because they are so hopelessly flawed. It's almost as if he were saying, "And these are the guys running things?"
Throughout it all there is humor, passion and suspense and not all questions are answered. I find myself still wondering where the knife, compass and money was? Spicer doesn't tell us or the enemy everything.
All said, though this might not be considered a woman's book, I found Spicer's work strangely comforting, even hopeful.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This book is an interesting story covering the military service of Lt Col Tim Spicer as an Officer in the Scots Guards and later as the Managing Director of Sandline. Colonel Spicer saw active service in Northern Ireland and the Falklands and was awarded the OBE for service as the OC 1st BN Scots Guards during a deployment to Northern Ireland. He also served in Bosnia as Staff officer to General Rose during the Serbian encirclement of Sarajevo and other cities when the UN attempt to keep the warring factions apart.
Although it is interesting to read the view of a protaganist the book is a thinly disguised advertisement for Private Military Companies (PMC) as a potential solution for security issues faced by legitimate Governments in Third World countries.
Colonel Spicer gives a brief coverage of the Sandline operation in Papua New Guinea which failed when one of the major stakeholders, the PNGDF Commander, changed sides and promoted a mutiny by his troops which resulted in the Sandline Contract being cancelled by the new PNG Government.
He also brushes over the Sierre Leone affair which caused upheaval in UK when Sandline was accused of illegal arms shipments.
The reader is also asked to accept that PMCs provide an efective solution for many of today's security problems. Colonel Spicer maintains that a professional, self regulated private miliatry force under legal contract to a legitimate government can provide earlier resolution to emerging security problems and thereby reduce the reliance on the UN and Major world powers to provide the military resources required to control the situation.
It is necessary to read between the lines to identify that the future for Soldiers of Fortune will be more closely linked to PMCs which can be regulated and therefore provide a higher quality of service.
I recommend the book to those interested in the profession of arms for a glimpse into the future where the mercenary or professional soldier will be used more often then the "levy" or conscript.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This book gave me new insights into the military action going on in 3rd world countries. It also made me aware of the concept of the private military corporation. The style of the book is somewhat dry and tedious. Spicer is a very methodical and thorough man which no doubt serves him well as a commander, but he could have used a professional writer to make the book more exciting. He is on a mission to get more respect for private military corporations, and uses the book to further this goal.
In summary, I would say if you are looking for a fun read, this is not it. But it is required reading for those interested in the PMC conecept.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Fascinating reading, but some flaws
This is indeed a fascinating insider's story of one of the first European PMC's. I first read Singer's Corporate Warriors, and found it very interesting to compare and confront the... Read more
Published on July 5, 2009 by Rjm Theunens
Soldiering as an occupation, war as an industry.
This is a brave book, free of the bitter blood and guts filling current works in the category. There's a lot more serotonin than testosterone here. Read more
Published on August 25, 2008 by Sylvia Wadlington
Interesting autobiography on the founder of Aegis.
I found the writing in this book to be spotty. The first few chapters provide a introduction to the world of the PMC (of which Tim Spicer has play a large role in). Read more
Published on December 30, 2007 by S. McCallum
An Unorthodox Soldier
Gives a good overview of the early start of PMC's. The type is small and a bit hard to follow the story line. Good history lession of the Britsh Army and how it is formed.
Published on September 24, 2007 by S. Marotta
excellent view of the future of military needs
The autobiography is interesting but what I found particularly thought provoking is the discussion of what the future holds for government armies and the new world of terrorism and... Read more
Published on July 2, 2007 by rugby
Unorthodox Soldier - Privatizing War
Readers should be aware that more than a first person narative of events this book contains a point of view of Mr. Spicer towards PMC's (Private Military Company). Read more
Published on November 22, 2006 by Je Acosta
Soldier of Fortune.
This an interesting book, focusing on the merits of the modern Private Military Company/Contractor (PMC) and why the common perception of such a military resource is outmoded. Read more
Published on March 15, 2006 by S Smyth
Informative on the PMC and good topic for debates
This book provides information on the start up of a Private Military Company (PMC). The author provides good topics for discussion regarding how PMC's may be used in less than... Read more
Published on July 14, 2005 by Sci-fi and history reader
Inside This Book
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Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs):
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armoured brigade, private military companies, mercenary warfare, mercenary activity, private military company Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Sierra Leone, Foreign Office, Northern Ireland, Peter Penfold, Scots Guards, President Kabbah, British Army, Sandline International, Papua New Guinea, Mike Rose, Special Force, Third World, Craig Murray, Sandline Affair, Port Moresby, Michael Grunberg, West Belfast, Commando Brigade, General Singirok, Tony Buckingham, Staff College, John Kiszley, Falkland Islands, Welsh Guards, Bob Lowe Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
armoured brigade, private military companies, mercenary warfare, mercenary activity, private military company Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Sierra Leone, Foreign Office, Northern Ireland, Peter Penfold, Scots Guards, President Kabbah, British Army, Sandline International, Papua New Guinea, Mike Rose, Special Force, Third World, Craig Murray, Sandline Affair, Port Moresby, Michael Grunberg, West Belfast, Commando Brigade, General Singirok, Tony Buckingham, Staff College, John Kiszley, Falkland Islands, Welsh Guards, Bob Lowe Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
7
books
cite this book:
See all 7 books citing this book
- Making a Killing: How and Why Corporations Use Armed Force to Do Business by Madelaine Drohan on 5 pages
- Contract Warriors by Fred Rosen on page 2, and Back Matter
- Intelligence in an Insecure World by Peter Gill in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- The Modern Yugoslav Conflict 1991-1995 by Brendan O'Shea in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Intelligence in an Insecure World by Peter Gill in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
See all 7 books citing this book
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