Archive for category Books

Cool Stuff: Bad Ass Of The Week

Dec 18

Posted by Matt in Books, Cool Stuff | 1 Comment

This is pure cool stuff. lol This website lists a different character of history every week, and they have a book as well. -Matt

——————————————————————

51rJMrlSmHLCool Stuff: Bad Ass Of The Week

You’ve reached the Badass of the Week, your one-stop shop for all things badassery-related. Scroll down for this week’s badass, or just go ahead and search through the complete list of all badasses that have been featured on the site. I update the page every Friday, so if you give a crap feel free to check back in next week to satisfy your insatiable desire to read about grown people punching each other in the mouth or beating each other about the head and neck in a most furious manner.

You should probably also be aware that this site features an unnecessarily copious amount of profanity, so if you’re easily offended by that sort of thing then this would be a good time for you to turn off your computer and go join a convent.

Website here.

Buy the book here.

Tags: bad ass of the week, ben thompson, Books, Cool Stuff

Books: One Nation Under Contract, by Allison Stanger–Review by David Isenberg

Dec 18

Posted by Matt in Books | No Comments

Another book for the holidays. Last Christmas it was all about David’s book, and this year, it looks like Allison’s book is the latest thing. It is not only praised by David, but is mentioned by Friedman in his Op-ed here, and it is also mentioned in the latest CNAS report about contractors here. So basically, this is a book you should probably check out, because these are the types of publications that fuel the conversation at the upper levels of policy making.

For the record, I have not read this book so I really cannot comment on it. It is on my list though. I have put the book in the Jundi Gear store, so check that out if you plan on using Amazon to buy anything. Hopefully Allison or David can come on by and comment some more about the book. I would like to hear how well it is selling, and what the reactions are from the defense think tank crowd. -Matt

Edit: 12/21/2009 – David just sent me a BookTV episode that Allison did about her book. Check it out here. Also check out here article at Foreign Policy here.

—————————————————————-

51PHVuupYcLBooks: One Nation Under Contract, by Allison Stanger Review by David Isenberg

Book Review of One Nation Under Contract by Allison Stanger

Missing in Action

Dec 19, 2009

By David Isenberg

Of all the books published about private military and security contractors in recent years, with more coming out all the time, few really understand the phenomenon of outsourcing roles that were formerly the preserve of government.

Either they are academic theses and dissertations rewritten for public consumption, such as Peter Singer’s Corporate Warriors, a rare useful book on the subject; ill-concealed hysterical jeremiads masquerading as dispassionate journalism, such as Jeremy Scahill’s over-the-top fulminations against Blackwater; or breathless “I was there taking fire in the sandbox” memoirs from conflict zones.

Not many authors have paused to consider exactly what is going on. To paraphrase what was said about the US intelligence community after the September 11, 2001, attacks, they don’t connect the dots. Finally someone has.

That someone is Allison Stanger, professor of international politics and economics at Middlebury College in the United States.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Allison Stanger, Books, David Isenberg, security contracting

Books: ‘Them and Us’ and How The 70,000-year War With Neanderthals Created Modern Humans

Nov 16

Posted by Matt in Books | No Comments

Get a load of this guy? Scary to say the least. The Neanderthal seemed like quite an adversary for our ancient human cousins, and they certainly don’t look like the cuddly Geico Commercial cavemen we see all the time. Can you imagine this guy hunting and eating you, or kidnapping the women in your tribe and raping them–and probably eating them afterwards? This is the kind of stuff of horror movies if you ask me.

What I picked up on though, was how the humans were reduced to a few survivors, and these survivors happen to be the smart ones who got organized and turned around the fight. I really liked the concept of breeding to get more diverse genetics within a tribe, hence further enhancing our mental capability to fight and defend self and others. This was a fearsome enemy, and humans definitely evolved into the better ‘man’. But it took building snowmobiles and out thinking this adversary, and you see hints of that throughout this book. I think Boyd would have enjoyed reading this, because this is really the first war that we can truly learn from, as far as human behavior and why we do what we do on the battlefield and in society.

For the record, I have not been able to read this book, and have only been able to read bits and pieces that are available online. It is on my list though, and I figured I would put this out there for the readership to consider. Interesting stuff. -Matt

—————————————————————-

thumbnail neanderthal montage framed smallBooks: Them and Us and How The 70,000 year War With Neanderthals Created Modern Humans

70,000-year war with Neanderthals created modern humans

Neanderthals were a race of super-predators that hunted early humans to the edge of extinction in the Middle East until, at one stage, there were only about 50 of our ancestors left. These resilient survivors evolved into modern humans and staged a fight-back that led to the extinction of the Neanderthals.

These are just some of the claims of a new theory of human evolution to be published next week by Australian author, Danny Vendramini. In his book Them and Us: how Neanderthal predation created modern humans, Vendramini suggests the protracted inter-species conflict that raged between Neanderthals and humans for over 70,000 years was responsible for transforming archaic humans into fully modern humans.

The author has spent five years researching the 50,000 year period that Neanderthal and early humans both occupied the Levant and says the evidence is overwhelming that Neanderthals were not docile hominids. “These forest-dwelling creatures were the most lethal of all the prehistoric predators. They hunted the largest and fiercest prey, including lions, mammoths, rhinos, cave bears – and humans…

*****

Neanderthals hunted, raped and ate humans

Neanderthals were not the gentle, almost-human creatures portrayed in the media over the last 150 years. New Australian research reveals they were aggressive, powerful and terrifying carnivores—ruthless and efficient apex predators, who hunted, raped and ate early humans for over 50,000 years. The Neanderthal’s daily diet of nearly 2 kg of meat—the equivalent of 16 Quarter Pounders—included human flesh.

Based on the research, Australian independent scholar Danny Vendramini has developed “Neanderthal predation theory”, which argues that the evolution of modern humans— including our unique physiology, sexuality and human nature—is the result of a reaction to this systematic long-term sexual predation and cannibalism by Eurasian Neanderthals.

Books: Security Contracting, by Jake Allen

Sep 24

Posted by Matt in Books, Call To Action, Industry Talk | No Comments

Hey guys and gals, this is pretty cool. Normally, I am always promoting some book of an author that I don’t know. In this case, I know the book and the author, and I am really excited to promote both.

Jake has been working hard on this book over the last year or so in regards to starting and maintaining a career in security contracting. Not to mention doing that, along with all of his work setting up and maintaining Combat Operator and the Private Military Herald. This book is a compilation of information accumulated only from years of experience, from industry information saturation as a writer, and from learning the hard lessons that go along with this industry. If you are looking for a book that is written by a security contractor, for security contractors, then this is it.

I often wish I had a book like this to help me out in the early days. Like most, I just fumbled along and built my knowledge base from hours of reading bits and pieces at the forums. There are not too many ‘DIY’ manuals for overseas security contracting, and Jake’s book is a great resource for your career.

For you guys that have websites or online stores, Jake has an affiliate program for this book as well. (which I am a member of) This is a great way to spread the word on how to get into security contracting, and make a little a coin on the side. It is very easy to sign on with this program, and Jake and the affiliate company will totally help you out in setting your stuff up right. Follow the link below for more information.

Finally, two dollars from each sale of this book will be going to the Wounded Warrior’s Foundation. I like that, because these guys have provided a lot of help to the wounded and their families in this war, and that is something I can rally around. Check it out and pass it on. -Matt

——————————————————————

Security Contracting

Start and Maintain Your Career in the Private Security Industry

By Jake Allen

Finally the ‘How to…’ ebook you’ve been looking for.

Security Contracting is written by security security contractors and for private security contractors.

Buy and read this ebook if you want to:

-Get an insider’s perspective on what life is like as a private security contractor in a war-zone

-Learn insider tips on how to build a network and find contracts

-Get insider advice on training and skills building

-Learn how to structure and write your resume to get more responses from recruiters

-Get lists and links to PSC sites that are hiring, many of whom are hiring right now for work in places like Iraq and Afghanistan

-Get answers to many of the most Frequently Asked Questions of people trying to enter this expanding industry

-Learn how the business actually works from the inside by an insider who’s personally been there and done it

-Get tips and insight on how to increase your personal and professional network across the industy

-Get a complete list of nearly all of the major Private Military and Security Companies in the industry today

-You get over 70 pages of insight, advice and information!

*****

Contractor Reviews…

“I sincerely wish a book like this existed when I started contracting almost 10 years ago! Bravo Jake for assembling a guide to this unique career path.”

Martin M, United Kingdom

“This book covers more than just the tactical aspects of the contracting industry. He talks about everything from contingency and financial planning to how to tailor your CV for maximum exposure.”

Eric H, Chicago, IL

*****

About the Author

Jake Allen served as an Infantry Officer in the United States Marine Corps before embarking on a career as a private security contractor. He has worked extensively throughout Iraq as well as in other hostile and high threat regions. Jake is known across the private military and security circuit for his strait forward, no-nonsense, assessments of both the capabilities and the limitations of private security companies. Many of his views on contracting can be found at the popular contracting blog The Combat Operator. His articles have also appeared on sites such as Feral Jundi, Free Range International and DefenseTech. Jake has been a guest on numerous radio programs and podcasts and he continuously serves as a source of ‘ground truth’ information for journalists, authors and academics covering or studying the private security sector. Jake continues to work as a security consultant as well as serving as a contributing editor at-large for the Private Military Herald. All who have served with Jake in the Marines or who have contracted with him hold him in high regard and can attest to his integrity and professionalism.

*****

$2.00 from each sale of Security Contracting will be donated to the Wounded Warrior Project.

*****

This ebook is made available to you via immediate and direct download following your successful payment. Security Contracting is an ebook, not a paper book. It is delivered in digital document Adobe PDF format. If you do not have Adobe Reader you can get it for free here.

Plimus is the internet’s leading online commerce platform that allows you to pay securely with all major credit and debit cards in your local currency.

Please see Affiliates

To Purchase the book, go here.

Books: Privatising Peace, By Malcolm Hugh Patterson

Sep 23

Posted by Matt in Books | No Comments

I have not read this book, but it came up on my radar and I thought I would get the word out about it. Certainly this is a controversial subject, and hopefully it will spark some rational debate about the concept. Oh, and this won’t be shipping out until December, so you have some time to sell a kidney to buy this sucker. lol -Matt

———————————————————-

51Mimqkbm%2BL. SS500 Books: Privatising Peace, By Malcolm Hugh Patterson

Privatising Peace: A Corporate Adjunct to United Nations Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Operations

By Malcolm Hugh Patterson

Review

Malcolm Patterson has written an eminently readable and thought-provoking book that forces us to reconsider again our ideas about peacekeeping and whether, after the debacles in Somalia, Rwanda and the Congo, it is now time to consider privatising peacekeeping. Essential reading for anyone with an interest in understanding how the market might impact on peacekeeping operations. – Dr Christopher Kinsey, Defence Studies Department, King’s College London at the Joint Command and Staff College, Defence Academy of the UK

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , Books, Malcolm Patterson, privatising peace, security contracting, UN

Podcasts: PMH Radio Interviews Suzanne Simons, Author of Master of War

Sep 5

Posted by Matt in Books, Podcasts | No Comments

Listen to the podcast and read Jake Allen’s review here.

Tags: Books, Master of War, PMH, Podcasts, private military herald, radio, review, suzanne simons

Books: The Tactical Trainer: A Few Thoughts On Training And Training Management From A Former Special Operations Soldier, By Msg. Paul R. Howe, U.S. Army Retired

Aug 28

Posted by Matt in Books, Training | No Comments

Add this to your reading list. Paul Howe has produced another outstanding resource for the military/police/contractor community. For the record, I have not read this book because it just came out. If any FJ readers have anything to say about the book, let it rip in the comments section, because I would be very interested to hear any feedback on the thing. -Matt

—————————————————————–

51Xd7sD50WLBooks: The Tactical Trainer: A Few Thoughts On Training And Training Management From A Former Special Operations Soldier, By Msg. Paul R. Howe, U.S. Army Retired

The Tactical Trainer: A Few Thoughts On Training And Training Management From A Former Special Operations Soldier

By Msg. Paul R. Howe, U.S. Army Retired

I will be describing how to structure high risk tactical courses in this book. I have developed these courses through my years of instruction with CSAT (Combat Shooting and Tactics). While I describe various techniques, I will limit any description of tactics as the bad guys have a tendency to study our work. Sometimes, I will be generic and it will be so on purpose.

I will also describe some “near misses” and training accidents in this work. This is not to demean or cast a shadow on those involved. It is necessary to learn from our mistakes. If we cover them up, they will be repeated at the same price-the loss of a human life. My goal is to always give safer and more efficient training techniques to fix the problem. These safety techniques will come through a logical stair-stepped methodology.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Books, military, Paul Howe, police, security contractor, tactical, Training

Industry Talk: The Book ‘Beyond Market Forces’ and a Policy Forum with UNWG and Company

Aug 27

Posted by Matt in Books, Industry Talk | 2 Comments

The convention does not want to eliminate the use of private companies at all…. -Shaista Shameem

Over a decade ago, Kofi Annan concluded that the world wasn’t ready for privatized peacekeeping. It’s still not. But that shouldn’t mean that we are oblivious to the very important role that many private military and security companies are playing at what I would call the second rank level, freeing up national troops to play key frontline roles. We see these kinds of companies, for example, providing security analysis and training, local private security companies are often key in providing site security and in some cases, convoy support services, and humanitarians operating under a UN security umbrella come into contact with these kinds of companies in a wide variety of theaters and playing a wide variety of functions. -James Cockayne

Ok, here is a quick run down of this policy forum, book promotion and gathering of some really smart folks. The general idea that I am getting from this group is that PSC’s and PMC’s are a fact of life, and it is on the various countries that use them to back up some kind of way to regulate them, all with the idea that accountability should be built into the whole process to prevent human rights violations. The UNWG (UN Working Group) along with other groups (IPOA, PASA, BAPSC, etc.) have been working hard on some kind of a standard that companies and countries can adhere to, how to regulate it and also exploring what these security contractors should do and not do out there.

For the most part, the folks on this panel think it is just fine that PMC’s and PSC’s should do defensive tasks, like convoy protection, PSD or static security (note the quotes up top). It’s just anything in the realm of offensive actions is what they are against and very wary of.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: BAPSC, beyond market forces, Doug Brooks, Industry Talk, IPOA, PASA, security contractors, UN, UNWG

Books: Attack State Red, By Colonel Richard Kemp

Aug 12

Posted by Matt in Afghanistan, Books | No Comments

Hey guys and gals, I wanted to put this out there at the recommendation of one of our readers. Thanks to Glen for the heads up. I have not read the book, but it sounds pretty good. -Matt

——————————————————————

Attack State Red

By Colonel Richard Kemp and Chris Hughes

A 21st Century “Band of Brothers”

“I went to Afghanistan with seven mates and came back with seven brothers.” — Private Kenny Meighan, in Attack State Red.

What happened in Helmand’s Sangin Valley in the spring of 2007 was nothing short of extraordinary. A twenty-first century Band of Brothers, the soldiers of the Royal Anglian Regiment arrived in Afghanistan charged with taking the battle to the enemy. Despite brutal, debilitating conditions, the tour that followed became a bloody lesson in how to conduct offensive infantry warfare. Over a six-month tour of duty, the ‘Vikings’ battlegroup unleashed hell in heavy, relentless fighting that saw teenage soldiers battle toe to toe against hard-core Al Qaeda and Taliban warriors at unprecedented levels of ferocity.

The stories that emerged from the Sangin Valley, defined by bravery, comradeship, endurance and, above all, aggression, are remarkable. But the fight was far from one-sided. During their time in theatre the Royal Anglians paid a heavy price in dead and wounded men. And all those that did return home came back changed by the intensity of the experience.

In Attack State Red, Colonel Richard Kemp, a former Commanding Officer of 1st Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment, and Chris Hughes, the Daily Mirror Security Correspondent, tell the story of the Royal Anglians’ deployment for the first time.

Most people wonder what it is like in battle and how they themselves would perform. Many books claim to give the reader a whiff of combat. Attack State Red really does. Seen through the eyes of the ordinary soldier, this book shows the danger, the fear, the exhilaration, the heat, the dust, the confusion, the exhaustion and of course the ever-present humour of infantry warfare.

It places the reader firmly into the boots of the British fighting man. For the first time ever you will understand what it is like to confront an enemy in impossible battle conditions, slogging for mile after mile through rugged Afghan desert and jungle-like ‘Green Zone’, in searing heat and carrying up to 90 pounds of equipment. Nervously wondering when the first shot will be fired at you. Hoping it won’t come. Knowing it will.

*****

Colonel Richard Kemp is a former Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment and later commanded all British forces in Afghanistan. He was a member of COBRA, the national crisis-management committee, and worked on international terrorism, Iraq and Afghanistan for the UK Government’s Joint Intelligence Committee, for which he was awarded the CBE. Although an infantryman, he invaded Iraq in a Challenger tank in 1991 with British forces in the US 3rd Army, and has spent much time in that country since the 2003 invasion. He has served extensively in command of troops in most other campaigns the British have fought in recent years, including Northern Ireland, Bosnia and Macedonia.

Chris Hughes is Security Correspondent for the Daily Mirror and has spent considerable time with British forces on the Afghan frontline. He was embedded with the Royal Anglians for several weeks at the height of the tour described in this book. He covered the aftermath of 9/11 in New York and has for the past five years reported on the ensuing wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Lebanon.

Attack State Red website.

Attack State Red Facebook Group

Tags: Afghanistan, Attack State Red, Books, Chris Hughes, Richard Kemp, war

Books: Steven Pressfield’s Video Blog on Tribalism

Jun 8

Posted by Matt in Afghanistan, Books | 1 Comment

Follow the links below, and you can watch Steven speak in depth about tribalism and his thoughts about the war today. Very interesting stuff, and especially the comparisons of Alexander the Great and his war in Afghanistan, compared to today’s war there. His books are amazing, and I know I am highlighting his Video Blog, but really this about the author himself. If you notice in the videos, he is an outstanding speaker and story teller, which are key components for influencing others. Check it out and Semper Fi. -Matt

——————————————————————

24484 pressfield stevenBooks: Steven Pressfields Video Blog on Tribalism

Why I’m Doing This

By Steven Pressfield

June 8, 2009

June 8th I’m posting the first two of five video op-ed pieces on the subject of Afghanistan, U.S. troop involvement, and the nature of the enemy. #3 will be posted on Wednesday, #4 on Friday. #5 will wrap it up next Monday.

Why am I doing this? Not for money. I’ve got no book coming out, no tour, nothing. I just want this information to get out there. We did these videos—I and a group of smart and dedicated young filmmakers—just as concerned citizens, the way one might write an op-ed piece and submit it to a newspaper.

What’s the thesis of the videos? That the enemy today in Afghanistan (and Pakistan and Iraq) is being mischaracterized as “militant Islamist,” “jihadist,” “terrorist,” etc. I don’t think that’s the defining characteristic. I think the single quality that most defines our foes is tribalism and the tribal mind-set.

What does that mean? It means that the qualities common to all tribes at all times and in all places—warrior pride, hostility to outsiders, fidelity to the group, the obligation of revenge, suppression of women, a code of honor rather than a system of laws, extreme conservatism, patience and capacity for hatred—are what characterize the enemy (as well as our potential friends) in Afghanistan and in Pashtunistan, the tribal areas along the Pakistan border.

Our young Marines and soldiers are in harm’s way now, and more will be deploying soon, in this strategically critical and very dangerous part of the globe. It’s imperative, in my view, that these men and women be armed with a full understanding of what they’re up against. I’ve spoken on this subject at West Point, Quantico, Camp Lejeune and Camp Pendleton and, though our young Marines and soldiers are getting some training in this area, my fear is that it’s not in-depth enough and that it’s not extending far enough down the food chain. Officers of course need a background in this subject, but our enlisted troopers on the ground—the much-talked-about “strategic corporals”–need it just as badly.

It is equally imperative, in my view, that our policymakers in Washington possess this historical and cultural grounding.

That’s why I’m posting these video op-ed pieces.

Tomorrow I’ll write about how this thesis evolved, what the sources are, and on what authority I “submit it for your approval.”

*****

Steven Pressfield is the author of Gates of Fire and four other historical novels set in the ancient world, including The Afghan Campaign. His most recent book is Killing Rommel, a WWII story. He is also the author of The Legend of Bagger Vance and The War of Art.

Mr. Pressfield is a graduate of Duke University and a former Marine. His books are in the curriculum at West Point, Annapolis and the Naval War College, as well as being on the Commandant’s Reading List for the Marine Corps. He lives in Los Angeles.

Steven Pressfield Video Blog Here.

Steven Pressfield’s Homepage Here.

Find His Books Here at the Jundi Gear Amazon Store.

Tags: blog, Books, Marines, Semper Fi, Steven Pressfield, tribalism, tribes, Video