Jeremy Scahill: Reporting on Shadow Wars and Private Militaries
Jeremy Scahill is an investigative journalist and author known for his rigorous examination of U.S. military operations, the rise of private mercenary armies, and the lack of oversight in covert warfare. From the battlefields of the Balkans to the deserts of Iraq and Afghanistan, Scahill has dedicated his career to exposing the "shadow wars"—covert operations conducted by the CIA and Special Operations Forces away from public and congressional scrutiny.
His work often focuses on the human cost of these conflicts and the legal ambiguities surrounding extrajudicial killings (the killing of a person by governmental authorities without the sanction of any judicial proceeding or legal process). Through his books, documentaries, and reporting, Scahill has challenged official narratives and sparked multiple government investigations.
Key Facts
- Author of Major Works: Wrote the best-selling books Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army and Dirty Wars: The World Is a Battlefield.
- Award-Winning Filmmaker: Produced and narrated the documentary Dirty Wars, which received an Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary Feature in 2014.
- Focus on Accountability: Has consistently reported on the lack of oversight regarding private military contractors and CIA-run facilities.
- Global Reporting: Covered conflicts in Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Yemen, and the former Yugoslavia.
- Media Presence: A frequent contributor to Democracy Now! and a guest on major networks including CNN, MSNBC, and NPR.
Reporting on the Kosovo Conflict and Early Career
In 1999, Scahill reported live from Belgrade and Kosovo. During this period, he used the International Socialist Review to accuse the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) of complicity in atrocities committed by Albanians against Serbs.
That same year, Scahill and Amy Goodman were awarded a prize by the Overseas Press Club for their documentary Drilling and Killing: Chevron and Nigeria's Oil Dictatorship. However, the ceremony became a point of contention when the keynote speaker, Richard Holbrooke, announced the NATO bombing of the Radio Television of Serbia building—an attack that killed 16 media workers. Scahill and Goodman rejected their prize after Holbrooke refused to answer their questions regarding the bombing. In 2019, Scahill apologized to the victims' families on behalf of the U.S. government, characterizing the bombing as a war crime.
Scahill's critique of international justice continued after the 2006 death of Slobodan Milosevic, when he described the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) as a practitioner of "victors' justice" rather than a true international court.
The War on Terror and Shadow Wars
Between 2001 and 2003, Scahill reported extensively from Baghdad for Democracy Now! and other outlets. His reporting expanded to include Afghanistan, Somalia, and Yemen, where he focused on the hidden mechanisms of the U.S. war effort.
Congressional Testimony and Covert Operations
In 2010, Scahill testified before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee. He argued that while public attention was on Iraq and Afghanistan, the CIA and Special Operations Forces were waging parallel "shadow wars" in Pakistan and Yemen. He criticized the strategy of "trying to kill our way to peace," noting that these operations occurred largely without meaningful congressional oversight.
His investigative work led to several significant revelations, including the 2011 discovery of a CIA-run counterterrorism center at the Mogadishu airport in Somalia and a secret prison in the basement of the U.S.-funded Somali National Security Agency.
The "Kill List" and Extrajudicial Killings
Scahill became a recognized expert on the "Kill List"—the presidential authorization for targeted killings—and the broader issue of extrajudicial killings. Despite his criticisms of various administrations, he noted in 2019 that Donald Trump potentially represented a hope for ending these "forever wars."
Exposing Private Militaries: Blackwater
One of Scahill's most influential contributions is his exposure of Blackwater Worldwide (now known as Academi). In his New York Times bestseller, Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army, he detailed the rise of the firm and its role in modern warfare, including the Nisour Square massacre.
Beyond the book, Scahill's reporting revealed that Blackwater contractors were deployed in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. This revelation triggered both a Congressional inquiry and an internal investigation by the Department of Homeland Security.
Dirty Wars and Global Battlefields
Published in 2013, Dirty Wars: The World Is a Battlefield posits that the Obama administration continued the Bush-era doctrine of treating the entire world as a battlefield. Scahill highlighted the increased reliance on drone strikes and the elevated role of the Joint Special Operations Command.
The book and its accompanying Oscar-nominated documentary detailed several controversial incidents, including:
- The killing of U.S. citizens Anwar Awlaki and his 16-year-old son, Abdulrahman.
- The Khataba raid, where U.S. special forces killed five people, including three women (two of whom were pregnant) and a pro-U.S. police commander.
- Allegations of evidence tampering by U.S. forces during Afghan investigations into the Khataba raid.
Advocacy and Recent Commentary
Scahill has used his platform to advocate for imprisoned journalists, most notably Abdulelah Haider Shaye in Yemen. Scahill reported that President Obama urged Yemeni officials to keep Shaye jailed after the journalist reported on the use of U.S. Tomahawk missiles in the 2009 Al Ma'jalah bombings.
More recently, Scahill has been a critic of Israel's military actions in Gaza following the October 7 attacks. Writing for The Intercept, he argued that the conflict is the result of a long-term campaign of apartheid and ethnic cleansing. In October 2024, he appeared on MSNBC to criticize the network for hosting individuals he claimed promoted Israeli propaganda.
| Subject | Key Finding/Work | Impact/Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Blackwater | Blackwater (Book) | Congressional inquiry into Katrina deployment |
| Covert Warfare | Dirty Wars (Book/Film) | Academy Award nomination; exposure of "Kill Lists" |
| Somalia | CIA Counterterrorism Center | Revealed secret prison in Mogadishu |
| Yemen | Abdulelah Haider Shaye | Exposed U.S. missile use in Al Ma'jalah |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main premise of the book Dirty Wars?
The book argues that the U.S. government maintained a doctrine where the entire world is treated as a battlefield, leading to an increased reliance on drone strikes and covert operations by the Joint Special Operations Command with minimal accountability.
What was Scahill's role in the Blackwater investigations?
Scahill wrote a bestselling book on the rise of Blackwater and reported on the company's presence in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, which led to investigations by the Department of Homeland Security and Congress.
Why did Jeremy Scahill reject his Overseas Press Club prize?
He and Amy Goodman rejected the prize in 1999 after the keynote speaker, Richard Holbrooke, announced the NATO bombing of the Radio Television of Serbia building and refused to answer their questions about the 16 media workers killed in the attack.
What are "shadow wars" according to Scahill?
Shadow wars are parallel, covert operations conducted by the CIA and U.S. Special Operations Forces that occur in "near total darkness," largely avoiding journalistic scrutiny and effective Congressional oversight.
How did Scahill contribute to the case of Abdulelah Haider Shaye?
Scahill reported that the U.S. government pressured Yemeni authorities to keep the journalist imprisoned after Shaye documented the use of U.S. Tomahawk missiles in the 2009 Al Ma'jalah bombings.