---
product_id: 8865283
title: "Licensed to Kill: Hired Guns in the War on Terror"
price: "€ 33.59"
currency: EUR
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 13
url: https://www.desertcart.sk/products/8865283-licensed-to-kill-hired-guns-in-the-war-on-terror
store_origin: SK
region: Slovakia
---

# Global war zones insight In-depth private military history Firsthand mercenary accounts Licensed to Kill: Hired Guns in the War on Terror

**Price:** € 33.59
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## Summary

> ⚡ Dive into the shadow wars shaping tomorrow’s world today!

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- **What is this?** Licensed to Kill: Hired Guns in the War on Terror
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## Why This Product

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## Key Features

- • **Insider Perspective:** Experience the raw realities of private security forces through firsthand encounters with mercenaries, contractors, and shadowy financiers.
- • **Unrivaled Global Access:** Traverse four continents and three years of covert contractor operations, from Afghanistan to Central Africa.
- • **Thrilling Narrative Style:** Engage with a gripping, military-thriller pace that keeps you hooked while delivering critical insights.
- • **Comprehensive Industry Analysis:** Explore the evolution, ethical dilemmas, and geopolitical impact of private military companies shaping modern warfare.
- • **Critical Socio-Political Commentary:** Understand the blurred lines between government, corporate power, and private armies in today’s global conflicts.

## Overview

Licensed to Kill by Robert Young Pelton is a groundbreaking reference book that exposes the covert world of private military contractors in the War on Terror. Spanning multiple continents and years of embedded research, it offers a rare, firsthand look at the mercenaries, their missions, and the complex geopolitical forces driving this controversial industry. Essential reading for professionals seeking a deep understanding of modern conflict and the privatization of warfare.

## Description

Robert Young Pelton first became aware of the phenomenon of hired guns in the War on Terror when he met a covert team of contractors on the Afghanistan/Pakistan border in the fall of 2003. Pelton soon embarked on a globe-spanning odyssey to penetrate and understand this shadowy world, ultimately delivering stunning insights into the way private soldiers are used. Enter a blood-soaked world of South African mercenaries and tribal fighters backed by ruthless financiers. Drop into Baghdad’s Green Zone, strap on body armor, and take a daily high-speed ride with a doomed crew of security contractors who dodge car bombs and snipers just to get their charges to the airport. Share a drink in a chic hotel bar with wealthy owners of private armies who debate the best way to stay alive in war zones. Licensed to Kill spans four continents and three years, taking us inside the CIA’s dirty wars; the brutal contractor murders in Fallujah and the Alamo-like sieges in Najaf and Al Kut; the Deep South contractor training camps where ex–Special Operations soldiers and even small town cops learn the ropes; the contractor conventions where macho attendees swap bullet-punctuated tales and discuss upcoming gigs; and the grim Central African prison where contractors turned failed mercenaries pay a steep price. The United States has encouraged the use of the private sector in all facets of the War on Terror, placing contractors outside the bounds of functional legal constraints. With the shocking clarity that can come only from firsthand observation, Licensed to Kill painstakingly deconstructs the most controversial events and introduces the pivotal players. Most disturbingly, it shows that there are indeed thousands of contractors—with hundreds more being produced every month—who’ve been given a license to kill, their services available to the highest bidder.

Review: Private Security Forces are here to stay - The world has changed in many ways since 9/11, and Robert Young Pelton's "Licensed to Kill" provides a good background on the history,current practices and a possible future direction for the Private Security forces which blossomed in response to those attacks. First off, the book is a very enjoyable read; much of it moves like a military thriller novel, as Mr. Pelton keeps the reader's interest piqued throughout. Lots of irony and some pretty humorous observations, too. From a U.S. perspective, the history of private contractors-for-hire goes back to to the Vietnam War, and characters such as the legendary Billy Waugh are covered in great detail. As someone who has been interested in macro-scale military and intelligence matters - how pieces are moved around the global chessboard - I came away with a much better understanding of the circumstances drives companies such as Triple Canopy, Hart, Executive Outcomes and, of course, Blackwater. And that understanding is precisely which disturbs me. We all know the way the world works - large corporations and sovereign governments push towards their objectives, often bumping up against, or even crossing the line of legality. Quite often, it is with the best of intentions that a Private Security Force is employed, but the murky rules which govern these quasi-official fighting forces are often not applied and things can go sideways. One such incident involving Equatorial Guinea, is covered in great detail towards the end of the book. It's a fact that a for-profit company is more agile and efficient than a large government. Companies such as those I've listed above provide critical support and logistical services for our armed forces. But, it's evident in the book that people such as Erik Prince - the owner of Blackwater - begin to engage in mission-creep. And that's what frightens me. Read the book to learn the details, but it's evident that these for-hire security forces can be used to destabilize or topple weak governments. I can envision a time where one security force could engage in conflict with another. If dictatorial governments, or well-funded resistance movements/governments-in-exile can go shopping for an army (albeit a small army), the stability of a country or a region is threatened, and that instability could be at odds with official US policy. I do not trust Mr Prince and his connections to the Trump administration concern me; his sister is Betsy DeVos, the current Secretary of Education and advocate for the betterment of our children - Not! I understand that Special Forces members are highly-skilled in practices which do them absolutely no good in the civilian world, and, to remain gainfully employed, they frequently choose the career-path of enlisting in a (dare I say it) mercenary force. The work pays pretty well, but I worry about these men and women. Are Blackwater, Hart, et al providing psychological counseling to their employees (aka, independent contractors)? They are not. In fact, all these companies do provide is basic life insurance coverage. What happens to these contractors after they get too old (if they survive at all) to stay in the game? And what happens to their families? And, something just feels wrong about U.S. taxpayers footing the bill for the expensive training that SFOs receive, only to have those very skills sold back to the taxpayers for a 5-or-10-fold increase in cost? It's really no different than ex-Navy Seal Ryan Zinke serving on the board of an oil-pipeline company and then moving on to become Secretary of the Interior. So, from a philosophical perspective, I am somewhat opposed to the idea of Private Security forces, but I understand that they fill a need. I'm conflicted because their purpose can morph from defense, escort and security duties to become an offensive force. In reading Licensed to Kill, I am somewhat reminded of William Gibson's earlier speculative fiction, in which large multi-national corporations, known as zaibatsu, jockeyed for dominance using their own cyber- and police-forces. In this world, it seemed like governments weren't really in charge anymore, and that corporate hegemony was the new norm. By simple extrapolation, just how far are we from this happening in the real world? And what would stop a rogue President from employing such a security force to achieve a goal which might not be possible to achieve under normal circumstances? I highly recommend listening to Mr. Pelton on various podcasts, Coast to Coast AM among them; his is a unique global perspective which can inform and educate a largely insular American culture. And I highly recommend that you read, "Licensed to Kill. "
Review: Important snapshot of the private military industry at this point in time - Given the growth of the private military industry, this book provides a useful snapshot of the field at this point in time - its widespread use in Afghanistan and Iraq, the positives and negatives of using private contractors vice uniformed military, the history of the smaller scale industry in Africa and places like New Guinea. So it's a worthwhile read for those interested in the history of the industry, a foreshadowing of the major issues the industry would pose for the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. I had two slight dings against this book: 1) It's bit too rock and roll bang bang for my tastes. Lots of traveling around with contractors on the ground spouting war zone cliches reminiscent of the worst scenes in Full Metal Jacket in the midst of utter chaos - just gets tiresome. I enjoyed Pelton's earlier work - The World's Most Dangerous Places guides; The Hunter, The Hammer, and Heaven; and Come Back Alive - much better, as they were the appropriate mix of travel writer and world observer on the political-military situation in these dangerous countries few could visit. Those other books are great reads for those looking for some adventure travel writing. 2) I feel that P.W. Singer's Corporate Warriors - which came out about the same time - was the better take on the private military industry. It's more academically rigorous, has a well done history of the industry and the pros/cons, and largely forgoes the on the ground color commentary. Worth buying if you're interested.

## Features

- Reference Book
- Licensed to Kill: Hired Guns in the War on Terror by Robert Young Pelton Crown Publishing

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | #1,024,421 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #311 in Afghan War Military History #391 in Government & Business #491 in Iraq War History (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.5 out of 5 stars 313 Reviews |

## Images

![Licensed to Kill: Hired Guns in the War on Terror - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71e8Jx6HnFL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Private Security Forces are here to stay
*by E***L on July 2, 2019*

The world has changed in many ways since 9/11, and Robert Young Pelton's "Licensed to Kill" provides a good background on the history,current practices and a possible future direction for the Private Security forces which blossomed in response to those attacks. First off, the book is a very enjoyable read; much of it moves like a military thriller novel, as Mr. Pelton keeps the reader's interest piqued throughout. Lots of irony and some pretty humorous observations, too. From a U.S. perspective, the history of private contractors-for-hire goes back to to the Vietnam War, and characters such as the legendary Billy Waugh are covered in great detail. As someone who has been interested in macro-scale military and intelligence matters - how pieces are moved around the global chessboard - I came away with a much better understanding of the circumstances drives companies such as Triple Canopy, Hart, Executive Outcomes and, of course, Blackwater. And that understanding is precisely which disturbs me. We all know the way the world works - large corporations and sovereign governments push towards their objectives, often bumping up against, or even crossing the line of legality. Quite often, it is with the best of intentions that a Private Security Force is employed, but the murky rules which govern these quasi-official fighting forces are often not applied and things can go sideways. One such incident involving Equatorial Guinea, is covered in great detail towards the end of the book. It's a fact that a for-profit company is more agile and efficient than a large government. Companies such as those I've listed above provide critical support and logistical services for our armed forces. But, it's evident in the book that people such as Erik Prince - the owner of Blackwater - begin to engage in mission-creep. And that's what frightens me. Read the book to learn the details, but it's evident that these for-hire security forces can be used to destabilize or topple weak governments. I can envision a time where one security force could engage in conflict with another. If dictatorial governments, or well-funded resistance movements/governments-in-exile can go shopping for an army (albeit a small army), the stability of a country or a region is threatened, and that instability could be at odds with official US policy. I do not trust Mr Prince and his connections to the Trump administration concern me; his sister is Betsy DeVos, the current Secretary of Education and advocate for the betterment of our children - Not! I understand that Special Forces members are highly-skilled in practices which do them absolutely no good in the civilian world, and, to remain gainfully employed, they frequently choose the career-path of enlisting in a (dare I say it) mercenary force. The work pays pretty well, but I worry about these men and women. Are Blackwater, Hart, et al providing psychological counseling to their employees (aka, independent contractors)? They are not. In fact, all these companies do provide is basic life insurance coverage. What happens to these contractors after they get too old (if they survive at all) to stay in the game? And what happens to their families? And, something just feels wrong about U.S. taxpayers footing the bill for the expensive training that SFOs receive, only to have those very skills sold back to the taxpayers for a 5-or-10-fold increase in cost? It's really no different than ex-Navy Seal Ryan Zinke serving on the board of an oil-pipeline company and then moving on to become Secretary of the Interior. So, from a philosophical perspective, I am somewhat opposed to the idea of Private Security forces, but I understand that they fill a need. I'm conflicted because their purpose can morph from defense, escort and security duties to become an offensive force. In reading Licensed to Kill, I am somewhat reminded of William Gibson's earlier speculative fiction, in which large multi-national corporations, known as zaibatsu, jockeyed for dominance using their own cyber- and police-forces. In this world, it seemed like governments weren't really in charge anymore, and that corporate hegemony was the new norm. By simple extrapolation, just how far are we from this happening in the real world? And what would stop a rogue President from employing such a security force to achieve a goal which might not be possible to achieve under normal circumstances? I highly recommend listening to Mr. Pelton on various podcasts, Coast to Coast AM among them; his is a unique global perspective which can inform and educate a largely insular American culture. And I highly recommend that you read, "Licensed to Kill. "

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Important snapshot of the private military industry at this point in time
*by T***Y on July 15, 2020*

Given the growth of the private military industry, this book provides a useful snapshot of the field at this point in time - its widespread use in Afghanistan and Iraq, the positives and negatives of using private contractors vice uniformed military, the history of the smaller scale industry in Africa and places like New Guinea. So it's a worthwhile read for those interested in the history of the industry, a foreshadowing of the major issues the industry would pose for the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. I had two slight dings against this book: 1) It's bit too rock and roll bang bang for my tastes. Lots of traveling around with contractors on the ground spouting war zone cliches reminiscent of the worst scenes in Full Metal Jacket in the midst of utter chaos - just gets tiresome. I enjoyed Pelton's earlier work - The World's Most Dangerous Places guides; The Hunter, The Hammer, and Heaven; and Come Back Alive - much better, as they were the appropriate mix of travel writer and world observer on the political-military situation in these dangerous countries few could visit. Those other books are great reads for those looking for some adventure travel writing. 2) I feel that P.W. Singer's Corporate Warriors - which came out about the same time - was the better take on the private military industry. It's more academically rigorous, has a well done history of the industry and the pros/cons, and largely forgoes the on the ground color commentary. Worth buying if you're interested.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ More than just PSC or PMC
*by C***R on October 9, 2008*

Robert Young Pelton's Licensed to Kill is a witty, provocative, inside look at private security companies and their explosive growth after 9/11. More than simple history or commentary, Mr Pelton explores every aspect of the PSC's involvement in the war on terror, their necessity in the face of large-scale military down-sizing, and role in the future of military conflict. With a keen eye for detail and the cultural sensitivity of a poet, Mr Pelton tells us a story that should be required reading for everyone in the Western world. I married into an Assyrian family who continues to communicate with trapped family members in Baghdad and those who've made their way over long years to Syria and Jordan in hopes of finding a way out. Mr Pelton doesn't just tell us the stories of the private security operatives, but gives us the impact on the people of Iraq and Afghanistan in ways that only a person of his ability and experience could. I have a much fuller appreciation for the jobs they do and for the theater in which they do them. And coming by that experience was no mean feat. The book deserves an award and its author a medal. If you read no other book on the subject, read this one.

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*Product available on Desertcart Slovakia*
*Store origin: SK*
*Last updated: 2026-08-06*