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Peacekeeper: The Road to Sarajevo--by Maj. Gen. Lewis MacKenzie
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Title: Peacekeeper: The Road to Sarajevo
Author: Maj. Gen. Lewis MacKenzie
Publisher: Harper Collins
Date of Publication: 1994
Language: English
ISBN: (ISBN-10) 0006380492; (ISBN-13) 978-0006380498
Price: varies, from USD$3.50 (used)
Description: paperback
Availability: readily available through major booksellers and distributors, both new and used
Note: Hardcover books also available. Published in 1993 by Douglas & McIntyre Ltd.: ISBN-10: 155054098X; ISBN-13: 978-1550540987; 345pp.; more info at http://www.amazon.com/Peacekeeper-Road-Sarajevo-Lewis-MacKenzie/dp/155054098X/ref=ed_oe_h
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About the Author (from the Lavin Agency website)
Considered the most experienced peacekeeper in the world, Major-General (ret'd) Lewis MacKenzie encapsulates what being a leader truly is.
General MacKenzie speaks from experience. He has commanded ground troops in some of the world's most dangerous places: the Gaza strip, Cyprus, Vietnam, Cairo, Central America and Sarajevo. It was in Sarajevo that his superior leadership skills and courage came to the fore. At the start of the Bosnian Civil War, he created and assumed command of Sector Sarajevo and, in the midst of a brutal civil war, with a contingent of troops from 31 nations, and under fire from all sides, managed to open the Sarajevo airport for the delivery of humanitarian aid. During that period, Martin Bell of the BBC said MacKenzie was interviewed more than any other human being in the history of television over a thirty day period.
MacKenzie's expertise on conflict resolution and his courage to think for himself in a crisis, combined with an unconventional streak a mile wide, a natural talent for storytelling, and his genuine charisma make his great stories even more compelling. Simply put, Lewis MacKenzie's presentations are relevant, timeless and highly entertaining.
General MacKenzie retired from the Canadian Forces in March of 1993. His book, Peacekeeper: The Road to Sarajevo, a personal account of his peacekeeping experiences, was a number one best seller, and a two-hour documentary based on the book, "A Soldier's Peace," has aired in over 60 countries and won a New York Film Festival award. He is currently the president of Major General MacKenzie Enterprises and comments regularly on international affairs for The Globe & Mail as well as numerous North American television networks. He is also bringing his high profile and leadership to the fundraising efforts of ICROSS (International Community for the Relief of Starvation and Suffering), a Canadian charity whose mission is to serve the poorest of the poor in Africa, and throughout the world. For his lifetime achievement in protective services, MacKenzie was named, in 2006, a member of The Order of Canada, the country's highest honour.
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Reader Reviews of Book (from Amazon.com)
- Interesting insight on the evolution of peacekeeping ops, July 28, 2003. By P. J Lambert (US) (Rated 5 out of 5 starts by reader-reviewer)
Gen Mackenzie has pretty much seen and done it all when it comes to UN peacekeeping operations.
From fairly innocuous duty in the Sinai, to a more complex situation in Cyprus and Central America, to the ultimate test for the UN--the Balkans.
Gen Mackenzie's insights also highlight how the UN has adapted (or failed to adapt) to the growing complexities of multinational peacekeeping, in an age where superpower rivalries are no longer able to keep warring factions in check.
Worthy of note is the battle Mackenzie faced dealing not only with the warring factions in Bosnia, but also the warring faction's ability to utilize the omnipresent media to shape public opinion.
Mackenzie's story of the beginning of UNPROFOR should be mandatory reading for those attempting to pursue multinational peacekeeping efforts in a complex, multiethnic environment.
Good anecdotes, and a very enjoyable read
- First hand experience from top UN man in Balkans, January 27, 2005. By Aaron Aden (Spain) (Rated 4 out of 5 stars by reader-reviewer)
I would warmly encourage anybody interested in Balkans to read this book. Author was commander of UN forces, first in Croatia and than in Bosnia. Like me, he came with an anti-Serb, propaganda influenced, opinion to serve in Yugoslavia, only to discover situation to be completely opposite from what media reported in the West. He writes objectively at all times, but many muslims from Bosnia (who were the most brainwashed of all sides, by their government) will not agree with him. Fact is that great majority of people who were fighting or who lived under muslim Bosnian government believed that they are fighting for multiethnic Bosnia...However, their government consisted from mostly only muslims, led by a TRUE FUNDAMENTALIST Alija Izetbegovic and their real aim was an independent muslim state in Balkans. Izetbegovic has since 1970's preached fundamentalism, what is easy to check from his books. And generous support that he enjoyed from his friends in Iran, made him feel strong enough to start the war and later break many cease-fires (Lord Owen, Lord Carrington, Cyrus Vence, general Lewis Mackenzie and many more leading westerners in Balkan are witnesses and living proof to this).He joined forces with his traditional friends, CROATS (Izetbegovic himself was a Nazi soldier in Bosnia in W.W.II) who were together fighting for Hitler against Serbs. Add to them another Hitler's ally, Albanians and you slowly getting the picture.....
- MacKenzie has no capacity to understand events, April 30, 1999. By A Customer (Rated 1 out of 5 stars by reader-reviewer)
General MacKenzie was unable to understand what was occuring in Bosnia. His book shows no sensitivity to the land or people. As a result, he offered failed solutions and rather disgraceful opinions as to how the conflict should be solved, all of which eventualy proved to be incorrect
- Horrible book! Propaganda material paid by the Serbian Union Congress, a serbian lobby group headquotered in California, April 29, 2006. By Drmueller "cardiology physician" (New York, NY) (Rated 1 out of 5 stars by reader-reviewer)
While it is difficult to ascertain exactly how much has been directed towards payment for speakers and journalists, the SUC and Serbnet have set up a special fund for this purpose. Based on former UN General Lewis MacKenzie's own admission which was later corroborated by Serbnet -- that he was receiving over $15,000 per speaking engagement -- the amount spent on MacKenzie represents more than what the SUC is paying to PR firms such as Manatos and Manatos, Inc.
A complete referenced study can be seen on this serbian website: http://www.freeserbia.net/Documents/Lobby.html
Please do not buy this propaganda material!!!
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(Posting date 07 April 2008)
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