When President Clinton sent Richard Holbrooke to Bosnia as America's chief negotiator in late 1995; he took a gamble that would eventually redefine his presidency. But there was no saying then; at the height of the war; that Holbrooke's mission would succeed. The odds were strongly against it. As passionate as he was controversial; Holbrooke believed that the only way to bring peace to the Balkans was through a complex blend of American leadership; aggressive and creative diplomacy; and a willingness to use force; if necessary; in the cause for peace. This was not a universally popular view. Resistance was fierce within the United Nations and the chronically divided Contact Group; and in Washington; where many argued that the United States should not get more deeply involved. This book is Holbrooke's gripping inside account of his mission; of the decisive months when; belatedly and reluctantly but ultimately decisively; the United States reasserted its moral authority and leadership and ended Europe's worst war in over half a century. To End a War reveals many important new details of how America made this historic decision. What George F. Kennan has called Holbrooke's "heroic efforts" were shaped by the enormous tragedy with which the mission began; when three of his four team members were killed during their first attempt to reach Sarajevo. In Belgrade; Sarajevo; Zagreb; Paris; Athens; and Ankara; and throughout the dramatic roller-coaster ride at Dayton; he tirelessly imposed; cajoled; and threatened in the quest to stop the killing and forge a peace agreement. Holbrooke's portraits of the key actors; from officials in the White House and the Élysée Palace to the leaders in the Balkans; are sharp and unforgiving. His explanation of how the United States was finally forced to intervene breaks important new ground; as does his discussion of the near disaster in the early period of the implementation of the Dayton agreement. To End a War is a brilliant portrayal of high-wire; high-stakes diplomacy in one of the toughest negotiations of modern times. A classic account of the uses and misuses of American power; its lessons go far beyond the boundaries of the Balkans and provide a powerful argument for continued American leadership in the modern world.From the Hardcover edition.
#79681 in Books Meloy Ellen 2003-07-08 2003-07-08Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.00 x .70 x 5.20l; .51 #File Name: 0375708138336 pagesThe anthropology of turquoise
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Fantastic WritingBy John AlbertyThis is poetry written in the form of a novel. Outstanding; she gives you a sense of place by color; smell and even taste. I cannot use words to describe it as well as she does as that must be her gift and it tells of her life and of her aging. A very good book that I will go back to.4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. At times almost poeticalBy CeresI stumbled on this book during one of those periods in which I become overwhelmed by an urge to go and sit in the desert. Such feelings come to me from time to time. Unfortunately this wasn't practical at the time so I sought to satisfy my longing vicariously. Hence my browsing and my discovery of this book. Prior to that time I had never heard of the author or her book.It's difficult to categorize this book. The best that I can do is describe it. It is a collection of essays in which the author muses about various geologies; mostly the southwest; her feelings about the outdoors and her relationship with color. But there are many; many digressions including such subjects as her personal history and the social/political nature of Utah. For the most part I found these digressions enjoyable. Like others have commented I found many passages in which her prose is almost poetical. There are sentences; paragraphs and whole pages that one is tempted to read out loud to anyone who would care to listen. But there are also times that the flights of fancy become a little bit too personal; a little bit too abstruse. It is for this reason that I give it only four stars.Having said that I would still recommend this book. It is best read when one is in a quiet frame of mind; with no expectation of plot or narrative. As such it fulfilled my desire to go and sit in the desert without leaving home. And I came to appreciate the author's approach to life; her love of nature; her love of being alone and her sometimes irreverent habit of contrasting the lyricism of the desert with the more humorous and profane aspects of life. Doing so only helps one appreciate to totality of life.At times I found myself wondering why anyone would feel compelled to write such a book. I'm sure the author would reply that a writer writes because she has to. Writing is an indispensable part of the author's life. A life that the reader comes to share. Perhaps this is why; when I discovered half way through the book that the author had died unexpectedly in 2004 at the age of 58; that I felt a pain inside.I'll probably read another book by Ellen Meloy. Hopefully while sitting on a mesa somewhere. With no expectations.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. a like a modern day Thoreau meets Peter Matthiessen meets Edward ...By Nathan BladowEllen Meloy is an incredible author; a like a modern day Thoreau meets Peter Matthiessen meets Edward Abbey; but don't get me wrong her voice is still very much uniquely her own. this book is a literary delight with incredible imagery and feel. places are rendered vividly; and her stories drip with wit and charm. one of the best books I've read in years.
