meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
Power Corrupts

Guns for Hire

Power Corrupts

Brian Klaas

News, Politics, 498122

4.82K Ratings

🗓️ 13 February 2020

⏱️ 53 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Mercenaries are sometimes described as "the world's second oldest profession." But how do they operate today? Can mercenary armies topple dictatorships? Why did one mercenary plot get duped by a Congolese con artist who invented a fake rebel group? Should we pay ex-special forces soldiers to do our dirty work? We'll answer those questions as we speak to Simon Mann, a founding member of Executive Outcomes and a mercenary mastermind of the botched Wonga Coup plot.
Support the show on Patreon at Patreon.com/powercorrupts

----

Power Corrupts is written and narrated by Brian Klaas. The executive producer and sound editor is George McDonagh.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Thank you for listening to Power Corrupts.

0:02.0

We make this show because we think it's important not to make money,

0:05.0

but it does cost money to make episodes.

0:08.0

If you want to help us stay editorially independent,

0:10.0

please consider supporting our work in one of two ways.

0:14.0

First, pre-order my new book, Corruptible, Who Gets Power and How It Changes Us,

0:19.0

which comes out on November 9, 2021.

0:22.0

It's an exploration of the bizarre fascinating ways in which humans relate to

0:26.0

power that ranges from everything from corrupt beehives to the time I took a ski lesson with a man who

0:31.8

once ruled Iraq. If you like this

0:34.0

podcast I promise you love the book. Second, join a community of

0:38.4

supporters and get access to exclusive bonus content by going to Patreon.com slash power corrupts.

0:46.0

For just three dollars a month you'll get access to early episodes and at different tiers

0:49.9

you can get bonus content like uncut interviews as well as the possibility of a

0:54.0

Zoom meet and greet with my producer George and myself. If you don't support the

0:58.8

show I'll be forced to bombard you with ads about socks and job recruitment schemes and

1:03.0

mortgage websites and nobody wants that. But seriously thank you for

1:06.6

listening and for your support. I'm going to be able to do.

1:13.0

I'm going to get one.

1:14.0

Anybody but I'll be fine.

1:19.0

Well, it's completely by accident that I ended up getting in touch with mercenaries in West Africa.

1:24.0

The story I'm about to tell you is insane.

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Brian Klaas, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Brian Klaas and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2025.