Big Boy Rules: America's Mercenaries Fighting in Iraq

I am an American. I had no idea all this was going on. This is a great behind the scenes look at the lives of military contractors on the ground in Iraq. The main story is about the security contractors, but we also get a glimpse of those who hire them, the other contractors who deliver supplies and build bridges and are simply there to rebuild Iraq. Its amazing that we get anything done over there. The shocking part was how so few people will sign up for this kind of work that these companies must pay HUGE salaries and take anyone they can get, qualified or not, sane or not. The whole thing sounds like a big cluster f---. I could not put this book down. Read it in about 8 hours.

I could not put this book down. I even carried it around with me for a week afterward recommending it to anyone with even the slightest interest in current events/politics. I think anyone who is paying attention at all realizes there is some shady stuff and abuses going on with private security contractors in Iraq - so I really didn't learn anything conceptually new. However, this book is paints a picture of lawlessness, abuse, and at times, incompetence that is so widespread that it is pee in your pants terrifying. As someone who enjoys military non fiction, I also found Fainaru's portrait of the day to day difficulties, the logistics, the tactics, and the human tales quite fascinating. Fainaru does an excellent job of contrasting the missions, the strategy, and tactics of US military personnel versus private contractors. After reading this book, it's really not hard to understand why the US reputation is suffering in the middle east and how ultimately, the behavior of some of the contractors is making the mission of our troops more difficult.

Ironic title.. It should have been titled 'No Rules!'. I was blown away at the total lack of regard for human life on both sides of this issue. Well written tragic story.

As an honorably discharged Viet Nam era veteran I try to keep an insightful eye on the transformations that seem to inevitably take place in every war... as assuredly as night follows day. From the battle field strategies maneuvering battalions... to the increasing use of sniper teams... to the current... almost unbelievable use of large... larger... and largest... *PRIVATE ARMIES*. Call them mercenaries (merc's) if you desire... but in today's reality it has almost become a militarized-privatized-Fortune-500 Army. There's an old expression that says "art imitates life"... well I am a witness to "life imitating art"! About a year ago I read a military novel that was built around a Bill Gates type character... who instead of owning Microsoft... he owned a gigantic private military company that would fight America's wars. I thought that was a ridiculous premise... until I read this book. One of the many deceitful things that the author pulls out from behind a very thick government curtain, is how a large company gets a contract from the state department for security forces... then that large company... sub-contracts the contract to a smaller company... who sub-contracts to another smaller contractor... Ad Nauseam. Embedded in the heretofore unexplored upsurge in "merc's" in Iraq, is the fact that the Government doesn't include the number of "sub-contracted" private army personnel, when they divulge to the public how large a fighting force they're using. The government also hasn't been including the "merc's" in their casualty counts. Once the reader feels indoctrinated into the daily brutality of the war in Iraq... and is shocked as to the almost "lawlessness" of the military contractor's... just when you feel you can't be taken aback any further... you're hit with the legal order that governs "merc's": "COALITION PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY ORDER NUMBER 17 (CPA-ORDER 17) GRANTED MERCENARIES AND OTHER CONTRACTORS IMMUNITY FROM IRAQI LAW. THE IMMUNITY WAS TO REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL THE DEPARTURE OF THE FINAL ELEMENT OF THE MNF (MULTINATIONAL FORCES) FROM IRAQ, OR UNTIL THE NEW IRAQI GOVERNMENT OVERTURNED IT. THAT, EVERYONE KNEW, WAS UNLIKELY AT LEAST IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE." The "merc's" were basically given a license to kill... and their utter disdain for treating the local people with respect... defeats the entire concept of winning the Iraqi's hearts. As the author Steve Fainaru (whose brother Mark, is the co-author of the book "Game Of Shadows" that unleashed documented evidence against Barry Bonds and his steroid use.) travels with one military contractor and becomes close with some of their employees, he gets a call from home that his elderly cancer ridden Father is close to dying. This is a beautifully written pivotal point in the story. The entire direction of the story changes... and the author handles it like the beauty of a metamorphosis of a caterpillar to a beautiful butterfly. Though there was death all around him in Iraq... this is more

Author Steve Fainaru's detailed and emotional story about contract mercenaries fighting in Iraq is not only timely, but also presents a side of that war that needs to be shown. In his book, "Big Boy Rules: America's Mercenaries fighting In Iraq" , we get a sometimes ugly realization that this war is being waged in an unprecedented way. It certainly makes one stop and rethink the direction this country has taken with how this war and future wars will be fought. Fainaru lets the reader actually know these me. They are not some faceless warrior. That is what makes this book stand out. He interviews them and finds out what makes them who they are and why some of them are there. It is by letting us see the very human side of this story that makes all that happens ever so more emotional and tragic. The book is not some dry impersonal tale of a war. The author takes us on a personal journey with some of those men fighting and dying there. The book will make you think. It will make you angry. It will might even move some readers to tears. What it won't ever do is bore you! The book is entertaining and action filled. It is well written and is sure to win this author much praise for his literary skills. This book is brilliantly crafted. The book is worthy of The Military Writer's Society of America's top book rating of FIVE STARS! It is really that good! I personally recommend it.