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He really gives you a sense of the difficulties politically and historically with trying to get agreement between a group of peoples that harbor grudges from and the Ottoman victory over the Christians you have a small sense of what has never been resolved in the situation between Palestine, Israel, and the rest of the Middle East. Holbrooke's mission as chief negotiator for the United States was due to the failure of Europe to pick up the slack after the U. Kosovo was viewed as another potential Vietnam and NATO was not particularly interested in getting into the fray either. A lot to absorb here, and the peace agreement was not perfect as time would tell, but by and large successful.
One can argue that like Afghanistan during Russia's occupation and today with the U. So pay attention because some groups and characters are still around. Jan 28, Kelly rated it it was amazing. A riveting account of diplomacy to stop the war in Bosnia. I found it particularly telling how much the behaviour of the politicians and diplomats reflected the psyche of their nations.
Surprisingly, I developed some respect towards Milosevic, relative to other presidents I liked the forthright views of Holbrooke and his sudden death triggered the interest to learn more about his signature diplomatic breakthrough in Dayton. Some reckoned that was an achievement worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize. I A riveting account of diplomacy to stop the war in Bosnia. I agree, especially compared to recent controversial winners. We need more such aggressive diplomacy to forge agreement and resolve conflicts.
Sep 25, Ljiljana Stancic rated it really liked it Shelves: Holbrooke may have been quite a self-absorbed narrator but this book still reads like an essential handbook for American peace negotiators and also provides a rare insight into the thinking of a variety of Balkan political figures of the period. It confirms that there is a method to every madness and also explains also in the title what the Dayton Peace Agreement is not: One often hears that the Pax Americana did not bring much good to Bosnia, an argument that would be more Holbrooke may have been quite a self-absorbed narrator but this book still reads like an essential handbook for American peace negotiators and also provides a rare insight into the thinking of a variety of Balkan political figures of the period.
One often hears that the Pax Americana did not bring much good to Bosnia, an argument that would be more credible if at any time before or after Holbrooke anyone else had come up with a viable alternative. May 27, Andrew Goldsmith rated it it was amazing. Insightful account on international diplomacy, American foreign affairs have sustained a great loss with the author's untimely death.
His wife's recent book on life after Richard Holbrooke and her love of Paris may well be on my future reading list as I too love Paris and happen to be working here just now, I feel she had a bigger hand in supporting and encouraging the diplomacy than was credited or possible to credit. Other interesting characters in the book are Churchill's ex- daughter in law, Insightful account on international diplomacy, American foreign affairs have sustained a great loss with the author's untimely death. Other interesting characters in the book are Churchill's ex- daughter in law, the late Pamela Harriman.
Men may well have the power position but I get the feeling that a feminine voice can steer decisions. Interesting times with a prospective female president. Jan 28, Paul rated it really liked it. So, I'm catching up on the Balkan wars more than a decade late. I felt this was a good foray into some of the issues -- it's easy to read, it's all in the first person given RH's position at Dayton, and it's a relatively quick read, although with a bit too much detail at times. Some of it is defensive and some of it I just don't believe, but I'm inclined to say this was good introductory material.
If you have other suggestions, please forward. Jan 19, Hubert Han rated it it was amazing. An intriguing and substantial account of every twist and turn, nook and cranny of the Bosnian War and the road to the Dayton Accords. Despite the vast number of characters and whirlwind diplomacy involved, Holbrooke's narrative is a true page turner. Apr 27, Lucia Boxelaar rated it really liked it. Holbrooke's account provides a fascinating insight into the Bosnian war, the life of a diplomat, and what happens in peace negotiations like Dayton. It is unavoidably a contested perspective, and I don't agree with everything eg Holbrooke's concept of Europe , and some things are puzzling relatively benign view of Milosevic , but overall an excellent read.
Mar 23, Roxanne rated it liked it Shelves: Read this for my International Mediation course. It is a page-turner and it provides some fascinating insight into the world of US mediation in the conflict in Bosnia. That said, it can appear self-congratulatory at times as all such memoirs can be and it doesn't necessarily adequately portray the Bosnian or Serbian perspectives of the conflict.
Mar 15, Amy Ostermeier rated it really liked it. This is the only book I've read that makes working in a bureaucracy ie - the State Department seem exciting.
A great book, though I have to think that Holbrook's recollection of his own work is a bit grandiose at times. Will give ya an interesting look as well at Kosovo, the world's newest country! Mar 05, Libby rated it really liked it. I don't normally read political history, therefore I was surprised at how quickly this book drew me in. Even though the outcome of his work as a negotiator is known, Holbrooke still managed to capture the sense of urgency and uncertainty that accompanied the Dayton negotiations. The book IS very American-centered; I'd love to read an account from one of the Balkan participants in the talk.
Apr 01, Willa rated it it was ok. This book gives a valuable insight into the goings on at Dayton, however I found it hard to get past the well-meant and largely unconscious narcissism of the author. Holbrooke did a great deed in pushing through this peace agreement, and I have no less respect for his great character and achievements, but reading this is a bit like seeing a bad movie adaptation of a treasured book Jun 28, Daniel rated it really liked it. His writings displayed how invaluable American leadership is to European peace and the intersections of domestic politics and foreign affairs.
What I found most fascinating was his descriptions of Milosevic, who in another life would fit in perfectly as an American politician. Jan 29, Sebastian rated it really liked it. A rare insight into the mind of an American diplomat, a combination of naivity, skills, arrogance and guts. I'm not a fan of Holbrooke and his achievements or lack of , but I did enjoy reading the book.
May 23, Rayrumtum rated it really liked it Shelves: A good history of the final year of the war in the Balkans. The ever modest Holbrooke explains why he is right and everyone else is wrong and why foreign interventions are fine. Could have served as a rationale for Bush's misadventure in Iraq. Mar 20, Corey Holmes rated it it was amazing. This is one of the best diplomatic books out there.
One can only wonder what Holbrooke would have been like as top diplomat. Chapter 20 is inspiring for academics and diplomats alike striving to help change the world. Apr 22, Ryan Elliott rated it really liked it. Gave me a high insight into the intricacies of government negotiators. I dreaded it because it was so long but once I got to the last paragraph I realized it was one of the best books I've ever read.
Sep 28, Olivier Lepetit rated it it was amazing. Absolutely brilliant book, fast paced and has that real feeling of history being written as the events unfold. Opened my eyes on a war that was distant and yet so close. Echoes of the more recent Ukrainian-Russian secessionist war kept ringing through my head as I read. After half a century of war and 8 million victims, the FARC, the oldest guerrilla in the world, agree to start a peace dialogue with its historic enemy: The Bearer of Sorrows, Silisque, lives in a remote indigenous community in northern Argentina, who's commitment is to give an end to the life of those struggling against incurable illnesses.
A bourgeois family in a house in the middle of nowhere clashes with slum-dwellers residing in the projects. A mother and her daughter. This is the story of Val and Clare: After the tragic death of her eldest daughter, Val left her kids and family behind and escaped into the Colombian jungle in With unprecedented access to both political leaders, President Juan Manuel Santos and FARC Chief Commander Timochenko, this intimate, observational documentary film goes behind the scenes during this profound moment in Colombia's history.
This could be the last real chance for peace in Colombia after many past failed attempts. The film is set within the most pivotal and tense stages of the peace process, investigating the issue of justice and the disarmament of insurgents. Written by To End a War. Enjoy a night in with these popular movies available to stream now with Prime Video.
The vehicle was heavily armored and the windows, which could be opened, were almost two inches thick. Nonetheless, Clark insisted that we buckle our seat belts and put on flak jackets and helmets. In the August heat, our colleagues in the APC did not take these precautions. For almost an hour we traveled toward Sarajevo through seemingly peaceful woods, although the road was bumpy and in poor condition. The French military, in whose sector Sarajevo and Mount Igman fell, had recently begun upgrading the road and patrolling it with tanks, part of the new and powerful Rapid Reaction Force RRF that French President Jacques Chirac had established to show the Serbs that France wanted a more aggressive policy.
The road emerged from the woods and reached a steep incline above the Sarajevo valley, where, hugging the mountain wall, it suddenly narrowed. On our left was a nearly vertical wall, to our right a sharp drop-off. We were approaching the most dangerous part of the road, where we would be directly exposed to Serb machine gunners. But in these well-armored cars we felt safe.
It was about 9: The Humvee rounded a corner. On the left, a French convoy going the other way had pulled over against the inside wall to let us pass on the outside. As we approached the last French tank, we saw a soldier yelling and gesturing, but we couldn't hear what he was saying through the thick windows. Our driver got out of the car, looking puzzled. I thought that I had misunderstood him. I signaled Clark to join me. The APC must be far behind us, I thought. Then it hit me. Clark and I ran back about thirty yards.
About six inches of red clay seemed to have broken off the edge of the roadbed. We could hear voices in the woods below. But we saw nothing except a few flattened trees. Somewhere below us lay the APC with our colleagues. Wearing the heavy flak jackets and helmets--mine over a business suit--we jumped off the edge of the road and started down the steep incline.
We were less than ten feet below the roadbed when two enormous explosions went off. Small-arms fire broke out around us. From below and above people cried out in French, "Mines! Get back on the road! Far below in the distance lay villages with a clear line of fire. We had no idea if they were Serb or Muslim. I ran back to our Humvee and asked the sergeant to turn it around in case we had to get back to the relative safety of the woods and the soccer field-helipad. We tried to set up our portable satellite dish to establish communications with the outside world, but the vertical rise of the mountain made contact impossible.
Colonel Banky had disappeared. Finally--it seemed like an eternity but was in fact less than ten minutes--a French corporal ran up to us. The missing APC, he said, was not immediately below us, as we had thought, but beyond the next hairpin turn.
At that moment we realized how bad the situation was. Until then we had expected to find our colleagues injured but, we hoped, not seriously. I had not allowed myself to think of any worse possibility. Wes and I started running down the road, twenty pounds of extra weight cutting into our necks and chests. We rounded the hairpin turn and followed the road for almost a kilometer. Finally, we ran into a cluster of French vehicles on the road, including a medical vehicle that had, by chance, been coming up the road.
They were grouped at the spot, we now realized, where the APC had bounced over the road and continued to somersault down the mountain. Below us trees had been flattened as if by a giant plow. The shooting died down and rain began to fall. In addition to five Americans, four French soldiers--the driver and three other men who had been in the APC--were missing.
We established a weak radio contact with the Embassy in Sarajevo through the Embassy radio net, but because we did not know exactly what had happened, we asked Sarajevo to hold off reporting anything to Washington. It was not quite 4: Since I was the only person on the mountain who spoke both French and English, I stayed on the road to work with the French while Wes descended.
We anchored a rope around a tree stump so that he could rappel toward the vehicle, which French and Bosnian soldiers had already reached. Huge plumes of smoke rose from somewhere below us. We could hear Clark yelling through his walkie-talkie that he needed a fire extinguisher urgently. I looked around frantically; there was none. A French jeep drove up and stopped. A solitary figure was seated upright in the backseat, covered in blood and bandages.
His face was unrecognizable. I asked him who he was. He mumbled something unintelligible. I climbed into the jeep and asked him if he wanted to lie down. He said he didn't know if he could make it. He thought his back was broken. Two French soldiers helped me ease Hargreaves out of the jeep and lay him on a cot on the road.
I got down on my knees next to him. He was having great difficulty speaking. I understood him to be saying that he should have saved people, that it was his fault, that his back was broken. I tried to calm him down. Desperate for information, I started asking him, one by one, about our team. Where is Ambassador Frasure? Three years as a civilian in Vietnam had exposed me to occasional combat and its awful consequences, but this was different.
This was my team, and my deputy was apparently dead. But there was no time to grieve. Wes Clark was still far below us on the mountainside, and the only thing I knew was that Hargreaves believed that Bob Frasure was dead. I got back on my knees.
Think he made it. His first reaction--typical of a highly committed security officer--was guilt for his failure to protect those for whom he was responsible. Clark struggled up the hillside, using the ropes. He looked ten years older. By the time he reached the APC, he said, it was already on fire, apparently from live ammunition it was carrying that had "cooked off' and exploded. Bosnian soldiers in the area had reached the APC first, and had taken two Americans, tentatively identified as Joe Kruzel and Dan Gerstein, to the nearest field hospital.
Wes had seen charred remains of two other bodies, probably Bob and Nelson. As we stood on the road absorbing this unspeakable news, a jeep drove up and stopped. A tall, thin French officer stepped out and introduced himself as General Rend Bachelet, the commander of Sarajevo Sector. He began issuing instructions to his troops. Behind him came another French medical unit and the first Americans, three security officers from the embassy.
By now, journalists in Sarajevo had picked up some conversations about the accident on the internal radio network of the French military and had begun to report a confused and inaccurate version of the accident around the world. It was time to talk to Washington. On the road we passed the wreckage of several other vehicles that had been hit or had slid off the mountain; one had gone down only a week earlier, killing two British aid workers.
The American Embassy in Sarajevo had recently moved out of crowded and vulnerable rooms in the Holiday Inn. It now occupied a small villa next to the U. The communications equipment--secure telephone lines, radio links, and telegraph facilities--were crammed into one tiny, windowless room. It was from there that we now attempted to coordinate our activities. John Menzies, a brave young career diplomat from the United States Information Agency who was awaiting final Senate confirmation to become Ambassador to Bosnia, had already alerted Washington to the tragedy.
I described the scene, stressing that our information was incomplete and that General Clark was still on the mountain. It was important to correct this as quickly as possible, in order to prevent runaway journalistic speculation and pressure for a military response. I asked Washington to include in its initial announcement a flat statement that the tragedy had been caused by a road accident.
We agreed that the officials designated to tell Mrs. Drew the news prepare them for the worst, but not confirm their husbands' deaths yet. Finally, I asked that someone call my wife, Kati--we had been married for less than three months--and tell her the news personally, so that she would not hear an incomplete version when she woke up. Clark soon arrived with a vivid description of his efforts to retrieve the remains of the two men, who he was now certain were Bob and Nelson.
We called General Shalikashvili again to discuss arrangements for bringing the bodies and the injured home through the American Army hospital in Germany.