So far so good

[Disturbance]

I just bought the new book "Fortunes Warrior" by James Davis. The same dude who wrote the Sharp End. Its about private military companies and what a mercenary acually is and being a security consultant is. Basic from what I have read so far he is attempting to dispell some myths out there and provide an actual useable definition of what a merc is or any other combat related job outside the military.

So anyone who thinks they know what that shit is all about should pick it up and anyone who doesnt know anything should pick that book up. That info I think is hard to come by so anything big or small (when its right) is better than nothing.

-Disturbance

[RogueExec]

Forgive my ignorance, but who is James Davis and why should I believe what he writes?

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"Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names."

[guardguy]

I think this is the same book I saw advertised in the back of Soldier of Fortune. You have got to be careful when reading these things, the authors sometimes "embellish" their own personal histories. I've known people who have been published by Paladin Press, and they were not quite the people their publisher claimed they were. (Except Ragnar Benson, who is an absolute James Bond/ninja/caped crusader/stud and is everything Paladin Press says he is)

[Marauder]

Rogue;
"James R. Davis served with Canada's Armed Forces from 1985 to 1996, including active duty in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda. He was a member of the First and Third Battalions of the Royal Canadian Regiment, was attached to the First Battalion of the Van Doos and served with 3 Commando, The Canadian Airborne Regiment(latterly, The Light Infantry Battalion). He is now a security consultant."

That is from the rear overleaf of Davis' first book, "The Sharp End", which detailed his experiences in Yugo and Rwanda. The Airborne was our equivalent of the Ranger Regt, but smaller (I think). It was our high speed infantry regiment, but was disbanded by the pols after the Somalia incident (loooong story). I thought it was a great book, although I heard something over on FORNET in the CDN section that some CF guys thought Davis was a little in love with himself, but hey, what self-respecting soldier (and/or Marine, in America http://www.specialoperations.com/ubboard/smile.gif) isn't?
Disturbance, no offense bro, but this might have been better placed on BOOKNET, even if it is far less frequented. But thems the breaks, huh? http://www.specialoperations.com/ubboard/wink.gif

[RogueExec]

Thanks for the poop.

[Disturbance]

Yeah I know this is not booksnet and I didnt post cause cause how cool a book i think it is. Just merc info and definitions of what it all is is hard to come by and I know ppl somewhere were asking about stuff like that so I figure I just say hey read this book you get a better idea of what it all is.

He may embelish in some areas but the parts where he is trying to establish a firm definition of the whole international security thing is just reasoning and facts. He uses a lot of stuff the UN has talked about in the past and updated it. He is just trying to seperate the mercs from the other guys which the media has a hard time doing. I dont wanna preach James Davis I just wanted to come in here and say hey check it out believe or not whatever it dont matter.

As far as Davis goes though he has proved his worth in the CF.

-Disturbance

[Cole]

I personally found he was trying to justify his job in Sierra Leone so he wouldn't look like a bad guy...To me a merc is a merc is a merc.

[Disturbance]

that is exactly the thoughts he is trying to get rid of.