A Bloody Business: America's War Zone Contractors and the Occupation of Iraq

by Gerry Schumacher

Book Overview

Provides a picture of the private army behind America's military muscle - the mercenary soldiers. This book offers a different look into the ranks of this force, who guard supply convoys, train... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0760323550
• ISBN13: 9780760323557
• Release Date: May 2006
• Publisher: Zenith Press
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

A Bloody Buisness

Gerry Schumacher brings the gritty world of security contractors into focus in this very informative book. War stories from actual contractors, re-told from the vantage point of a battle seasoned veteran. Plus, the experiences of a retired soldier who was in Iraq, met the people, and ran some of the missions. If you are looking for a political agenda, this is not your book:) If you are looking for a window into life in Iraq, this is an excellent collection of stories that changed my view about contractors and about what life in Iraq is like outside the spin zone.

A good read...

Taking the book for what it is...one man's observations, it is an excellent book that allows you to grasp a better view of the contractors in Iraq.

A Bloody Business

While reading ' A Bloody Business ' by Colonel Schumacher I was taken on a real world, real time,ground level tour of the private military contractor's AO in Iraq. Colonel Schumacher was able to tell this story as only a former operator could. Taking advantage of his Special Forces background and obvious literary talent he uses both grit and sophistication to explain the partnership of government and private military/security companies on today's battlefields. ' A Bloody Business ' is a great read for current event discussion groups and a must read for those entertaining the thought of working as a security contractor overseas. Five Stars! Tim Wagman Special Forces Association, Chapter 85

A Real Read

Schumacher's book is an easy yet engrossing read. He devotes time to various types of contractors (e.g. truckers). Good to get the perspective of non-shooters, but I wish he would have gone further into engineers, etc. at risk in-country. Minor points aside, he makes the case for WHY we need contractors, and he strips the shine off the "$1,000 per day" myth. His depictions are grimy, and real. If you're reading about Iraq, and questioning the seemingly impossible task of reconstruction, you must read this book.

Bloody Business Bloody Impressive!!!

I honestly could not put this book down, i'm in the middle of about four different books but saw this one and could not say no and was finished with it in two days. As a man who has been there and seen those things, i always envied and admired the private contractors over there and might possibly seek employment in that sort of job. The book is excellent, exploring everything from some of the controversies and concerns of PMC's, what it takes to get with a PMC, what you can expect being a PMC, and thats only the first third of the book, the personal stories about the truck drivers, trainers, and security contractors is the heart and soul of the book and gives you a interesting and deep look into these men and women who still serve their country in another capacity and perform tasks that put less a burden on our already strained military, while making a nice profit for themselves, all in all a excellent book!