Customer Reviews

WAR DOG: Fighting Other People's Wars -The Modern Mercenary in Combat

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

All I can say is reading this was a very emotional experience as I relived some of those memories from Ventor's book, War Dog.

It is not only a work of truth but an amazing story of historical facts that should be read by anyone who truly wants to understand the nature of modern, post cold war conflict and how closely integrated international economy is with these small wars.

He also, speaks not only of the 'contrary to popular opinion' fact, that most modern mercs were former distinguished soldiers who left their service and continue to serve with more honor than many civilians will ever know or have. Mercs who also were smart enough to see a way to make some money doing what they were already good at from years of service. Mercs who risk their lives for causes, not just money, and that many of these causes, still actually serve the good of their own homelands through indirect means.

Also, they understand that many of their enemies are not out for anything other than pure greed and will stop at no inhumane horror to attempt achieving this. Using child soldiers, hacking off limbs of old people with dull machetes, taking bets and then cutting the babies out of pregnant women to see if it's a boy or girl that falls out...

These mercs understand what no politician or self professed peace lover will ever understand or be able to say, much less take action on...And that is that some people in this world are not kind, but ruthless and the only way to stop them is with force...

And that's what this book is all about, these men who choose to lay their lives on the line, sure for some money, if they live and when they get paid (if ever), but mostly for a cause they believe in, in places most can't even fathom and in ways, many will never understand, until they live it.

These men fall in love with a woman, or a country, or an ideal and often, money is the least of their motives. Read for yourself and form your own opinion. This is the closest to ground truth anyone can ever get without actually going there and living through it- if they live though it.

For me, my tour in Africa in some ways, was one of my quietest in terms of combat actually fought, as my wars were in other places. But, in terms of the blood shed and horrors of inhumanity, I've seen nothing like these wars.

And, I've seen nothing like the brave men I met there. The Russian crews I served with were some of the best ever and the South African men I met and worked with there, make many heros look small in comparison. To those men go the real honors and salutations.

And to Ventor for capturing it, so that their stories will be told, the truth will be know, people can understand and maybe, just maybe, someone somewhere, who is in a position to make a change, might just do so and in that, all our efforts combined, will make a difference.

A good read, a better book and a great story for everyone who seeks to understand where we are and where we're going.

Salute!

>>----->

The main focus of "War Dog" is on mercenary pilots in Africa around the turn of the millennium. Flying 'outdated' planes and third hand Hind helicopters these pilots ruled the skies above the endless battles to control the diamond mines below. Land battles and treks in BMPs get their due too, but it's the helicopters and airplanes that get the most attention in this book.

The main thing I took away from "War Dog" is that as First World governments become more and more hesitant to have body bags full of -their- soldiers show up on the TV news Private Military Companies (PMCs) that run armies for hire have stepped up to do the dirty work. The rise of one such PMC "Executive Outcomes" is discussed at length.

A good book full of information, not a light read, but one people interested in current events will find useful.

This book has given me a completely different view of what I considered to be a mercenary. My impression was always hunting down the bad guy, defending the rich dude, protecting valuable assets. Finding this not to be always true put the modern mercenary in a different light!

I enjoyed reading the other side of the coin, the duties, responsibilities and difficult environment in which most of these private soldiers lived and worked in during their time on duty.

Definitely not the life for me!

Al Venter takes you behind the headlines, to show the wannabe's and ex-miltary what is really like to be a freelance warrior. A world where you can trust no one, the pay is usually low, the food/water is bad, you probably won't have the proper equipment, medical care is very limited to non-existant and no one is watching your back. More times then not, you are on your own, so don't expect the cavalry to come to your rescue. Its not a life for those that depend on others for extra firepower, medical or logistical support. You have to be really dedicated to a cause to choose mercenary work as a profession. It certainly isn't for the money or fame.

I waited and waited for this book to come out. I wasn't disappointed. It covers the modern mercenary world from a a first had account. The primary focus of the book is on mercs in Africa. The author spent a significant amount of his time with these mercenarys, occassionally even going on missions with them. The book is long, getting into details that other books have skimmed over for lack of information.

I only give this book 5 stars because he covers a subject to a depth I haven't seen since the 80s mercs books. I'm tempted to give it 4 stars though because the writer skips around, referencing future chapters and re telling the same story several times. However if you are into true mercenarys this is the one and only book to get. I collect books on African mercenarys but this is my reference and encyclopedia book on the subject.

This is a remarkable book. It turns like a thriller, yet the reader also is being educated from a first-hand observer of the sorry state of modern, post-colonial (sometimes proto-colonial) African states. If hiring professional soldiers is what it takes to do something--anything--to ameliorate the "Wretched of the Earth" and the biblical suffering in underdeveloped basketcases, then let's by G-d do it.

Mr. Venter, a long time correspondent on African conflicts and Jane's employee, has written a very nice introduction to the various mercenary operations of Africa in the last half century. The book begins with a meandering overview of many of the conflicts covered elsewhere in the book - Biafra, Angola, Sierra Leone, and others. The book then delves into the 2000 Sierra Leone conflict, in particular covering the exploits of Ex-SADF chopper pilot and co-author with Venter of "Chopper Boys" Neal "Nellis" Ellis and his compatriots as they do their best to combat the RUF rebels on behalf of the government with a single Hind chopper. This part of the book goes on for sometime before he jumps back in time to cover the exploits of "Mad" Mike Hoare in the Congo and some of the characters of the Biafran Civil War. It then goes on to discuss some of the adventures of men such as Dana Drenkowski in Rhodesia and Chad; exploits which I had never heard of before and a nice diversion. the It also covers some of Nellis' ill-fated adventures in the Bosnia conflict in the early 1990's before coming back to Nellis again in Sierra Leone. Finally, the book covers in a decent amount of detail the much regaled and maligned operations of Executive Outcomes in Angola and Sierra Leone before finishing up with a cursory (and largely unnecessary) look at PMC's in Iraq.

As others have said, this book can be a bit hard to read at times. The first Sierra Leone account goes on a bit long for my liking, but for anyone interested in that conflict or the ins and outs of mercenary air units, it is a fine account. The other accounts of the 1960's Congo, Biafra, and Executive Outcomes do much to whet the readers thirst about these conflicts if the reader has even a passing interest in them, but is not by any means comprehensive. This, I believe, is due to Venter's vocation as a journalist and not a historian and as a result he is better able to discuss and recount those conflicts in which he had some personal involvement in - ie: Sierra Leone (where he was even obliged to carry an AK-47 in the event that they were shot down!), Biafra, and Executive Outcomes two best known missions. The others where he relies on secondary or tertiary information are less robust, but still interesting. If nothing else, Venter provides what amounts to an entertaining and excellent annotated bibliography for those looking for more information, and I have bought no less than a half a dozen books that I did not eve know existed until cracking the pages of this. The books also does an excellent job of providing insight on some of the most interesting characters in the mercenary world such as American Bob MacKenzie and South African Cobus Classens. Finally, it provides a wealth of good color photos, though they do not always correspond with the topics discussed.

For such a cheap price for a book on a topic as esoteric as this, you'll have a hard time beating this book as a primer if you have a bit of patience with the writing style.

Mr. Venter's book will be a text that people reference when discussing the wars in Africa during the 1990's for years to come. His first hand insight makes the book journal like in it's prose as well as an excellent historical document. There is an intimacy that Mr. Venter creates while talking about the lone Sierra Leonian gunship pilot Nellis that made me felt as though I had spoken to the man in person.

In looking at the activities carried out by Executive Outcomes during this period of time, Venter provides a picture that is clear, concise, and above all easy to read. His depth of knowledge and historical context provide an essential read to those interested in what can be called the proto-PMC of Executive Outcomes.

I hope that another book is forthcoming.

This is a particularly interesting history of the some of the earlier days of the private military company in the latter part of the 20th century. It is not a quick easy read. It is an in depth studies of the motivations a select group of talented men as well as company history. It would be an outstanding reference for anyone interested in the history of South Africa (region, not just nation)

The thing I liked most about this book was it provided me with an outstanding list of additional resources for learning more about the modern mercenary as well as their historical liniage. In some cases, I would it actually concentrated more on those aspects. But that would have taken away from the scope of the book.

Of particular interest was the information regarding the death of Robert McKenzie. An American legend of the industry. He was an amazing man in many ways. I would have enjoyed meeting him.

This brings up another reason why I thought this was an interesting book. I suspect strongly that some of the people in this book may have either been trained or had training with people I know. Much like the book Save the Last Bullet for Yourself, I had a good laugh realizing how small the world is.

Africa reminds of me Heart of Darkness by Conrad, "Never get off the boat."

This is a great book that was well written. The author spent a lot of time doing his research. He lived in some of the war zones which provided first hand knowledge.