{"product_id":"my-friend-the-mercenary-9780802145734","title":"My Friend the Mercenary","description":"\u003cdiv\u003eIn February 2002, British journalist James Brabazon set out to travel with guerrilla forces into Liberia to show the world what was happening in that war-torn country. To protect him, he hired Nick du Toit, a former South African Defence Force soldier who had fought in conflicts across Africa for over three decades. What follows is an incredible behind-the-scenes account of the Liberian rebels — known as the LURD — as they attempt to seize control of the country from government troops led by President Charles Taylor. In this gripping narrative, James Brabazon paints a brilliant portrait of the chaos that tore West Africa apart: nations run by warlords and kleptocrats, rebels fighting to displace them, ordinary people caught in the crossfire — and everywhere adventurers and mercenaries operating in war's dark shadows. It is a brutally honest book about what it takes to be a journalist, survivor, and friend in this morally corrosive crucible.\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"James Brabazon","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42955904090230,"sku":"9780802145734","price":15.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0671\/1374\/6550\/files\/CoreSourceHub_21614556-e431-4d97-985c-b8eeefbf0500.jpg?v=1767711425","url":"https:\/\/ingramacademic.com\/products\/my-friend-the-mercenary-9780802145734","provider":"Ingram Academic \u0026 Professional","version":"1.0","type":"link"}