Takka Takka Bom Bom: An Intrepid War Correspondent's 50 Year Odyssey [Hardcover]

The worlds oldest still-active war correspondent shares the real stories behind half a century of headlines from the front lines.The worlds oldest still-active war correspondent, Al J. Venter, has reported from the front lines for well over half a century, witnessing the horrors humanity visits upon itself in twenty-five conflict zones across Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia.In this memoir, Venter masterfully recounts his experiences, sharing the real stories behind the headlines and the sharp lessons he learned that enabled him to survive his countless exploits, ranging from exposing a major KGB operative in Rhodesia entirely by accident, and accompanying an Israeli force led by Ariel Sharon into Beirut, to gun-running into the United States.The worlds oldest still-active war correspondent shares the real stories behind half a century of headlines from the front lines.Now in his eighties, Al J. Venter continues to report from conflict zones.He has been twice wounded in combat, and remains persona non-grata in a number of countries due to his reporting.He has worked with several intelligence agencies including the CIA, Israel and the British intelligence service.He has reported on a number of African wars, starting with the Nigerian Civil War where he covered the conflict with Frederick Forsyth. Its a rollicking read with lessons and stories compelling to most readers. This is an extraordinary book by an extraordinary adventurer describing extraordinary times in Africa and elsewhere. It is also a journey into a vanishing world whose ripples continue to shape our present. Buckle up tight for an unforgettable ride! With no journalism school or newsroom experience, Al Venter morphed into the most experienced, daring, and capable but unsung war correspondent of the 20th and 21st centuries, leaving most of his peers in the dust. Rip-roaring through countless coups, revolutions, plots, and wars in the dark continent of Africa, the Middle East, Central AmerilS)