This work investigates the operational reality and moral implications of Executive Outcomes, a private military corporation that functioned as a mercenary force in post-colonial African conflicts. Author Jim Hooper, a journalist who embedded with the group, utilizes firsthand observations and field reporting to examine the tension between the company's stated security objectives and the accusations of resource exploitation in regions like Angola and Sierra Leone. The book presents a critical look at the privatization of warfare in an era where traditional international peacekeeping bodies struggled to maintain order.

The text provides a dense, journalistic account of the rise of private military firms, offering a window into the complex geopolitical landscape of 1990s Africa. Its focus on the intersection of corporate interests and state-level conflict suggests a work intended for readers interested in the evolution of modern warfare and the limitations of international diplomacy.