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A straight shooter, reflecting on Balkan tragedy
Philip Corwin is not a professional apologist, advocacy journalist, propagandist or self-aggrandizing Imperial shill, the kind one would expect writing a book about Bosnia. Corwin, an American in UN service, was the head of UNPROFOR Civil Affairs in Sarajevo during those crucial months of 1995 when the UN became NATO's handmaiden. As a result, he is a disillusioned, embittered witness to Imperial ascendance.

...Right from its very title, Dubious Mandate gets to the heart of the matter. As the Bosnian War unravels, so does the UN peacekeeper mission, whose mandate is self-contradictory, ill-defined, and under constant political and military pressure. From his position in Sarajevo, Corwin witnessed the disintegration of the last shreds of UN credibility and impartiality. His journal entries read like a Greek tragedy, with growing awareness of the impending disaster literally rolling in over the hills.

Arguably the best features of the book are Corwin's "hindsight" notes. Unlike other memoirs, Dubious Mandate

contains the author's reflections alongside the original writing, clearly marked to avoid confusion. This provides the readers with an insight into how Corwin thought then, and how subsequent events and understandings impacted his earlier opinions. It is exceptionally difficult to write an honest memoir, avoiding the temptation to spruce up the original notes with hindsight. Dubious Mandate has found a way, and it works extraordinarily well.

Corwin does not mince words. He is not anti- or pro- anyone, often describing the local Balkans leaders as "thugs in suits." But his insistence that there were legitimate concerns among the Serbs (even though their methods were reprehensible) and that the Sarajevo Muslims were far from angels, earns Corwin the undying hatred of the international diplomats, western Press, and, of course, the Izetbegovic regime.

Read the complete version of this review- and many more- at Balkanalysis.com

Why UN failiure preceeded NATO triumph
Ever wondered why the UN "failed" in Bosnia, only to be replaced by NATO?Ever thought about what causes UN missions to fail in some situations (as in Bosnia) and succeed in others (as in East Timor)?Fromhistorical evidence it appears that there is no inherent institutional flawin the UN structure but that the Security Council, by assigning differentmandates and rules of engagement, determines the likely outcome of variousmissions.Who interests does this kind of"peacekeeping" serve?

This book adds to our understanding of the critical role of outsidefactors in the partition of Yugoslavia. It sheds some light on the reasonsfor (intended? ) failiure of UNPROFOR and the subsequent insertion ofNATO. It is required reading for anyone trying to understand the Yugoslavmayhem beyond superficiality of mainstream media coverage.

Wrong
It was only because of military intervention in Bosnia that the war finally ended. The fact that war ended had nothing to do with the UN's humanitarian mission, from the start a disgrace and a failure.It isamazing how hard it is to find UN personel willing to admit their policy,prior to military intervention, was disastrous. This year finally, theSecretary General, in a report framed by the massacre of Srebrenica, didadmit the UN's total failure.

Eyewitness account of extraordinary accuracy!
Philip Corwin's captivating memoir reveals the dark secrets of the UN mission in Bosnia during its last days. By mid-1995, the UN had become resigned to playing mercenaries to the Muslim government in Sarajevo,harassed by the cheerleading international press, pushed around byWashington and held hostage by the local gagster-leaders. Corwin describeshow the mission degenerated from a supposedly good-faith, impartialpeacekeeping effort into an open war against one belligerent. His notesreveal the crippling internal politics of UNPROFOR and the enormouspressure of NATO to come in, guns blazing. Corwin escapes the temptation tomoralize and preach to both the world and the Bosnians. Instead, he exposesthe malicious incomprehension of the situation on part of the foreignfactors, and blasts the thuggery of Bosnian leaders - Serbs, Muslims andCroats alike. Though he does not absolve the Serbs from a shred ofresponsibility for the horrors of the Bosnian war, by giving them a voiceat all he has probably risked vitriolic condemnation by various"Muslim partisans," among whom you will find some familiarnames... Corwin's book is not THE ONE BOOK you need to understand theBosnian tragedy. But between him and general MacKenzie, the UN side of itis told as it was. If you want to know how today's world of mercenarypeacekeeping and random bombing came to be, read this book. It is a must. ... Read more

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At the height of the Serbian siege of Sarajevo, Ellen Blackman could no longer bear the televised images of wounded children desperate for medical care. So she set off for Bosnia. There she shared the tragedies and occasion-al triumphs of a brave people whose world was crumbling around them while a seemingly indifferent world stood by. And despite tremendous bureaucratic and dangerous obstacles, she got the children out. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Political indifference & the effects on a new generation
Despite editorial reviews rating Ms. Blackman's account of her actions and experiences in Sarejevo to be "unfocused" and Ms. Blackman "her own personal heroine", I found her writing to be clear and concise regarding the "peacekeeping" mission and it's reception from those it was "protecting". Her personal story of the chaos and destruction of the country and it's people was informative and gripping at the same time, bringing home the reality of one woman's determination to do more than watch the horror and politics of war from her television set.Although I read her book in it's pre-edited format, her talent for telling the real story of the victims of war is obvious, and her selfless acts of giving and loving make this a book worth reading for those interested in not only the historical and religious reasons behind the conflict, but for anyone wanting to understand the psychological impact of patriotism and forced allegience on a young and idealistic generation. ... Read more

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The book has no illustrations or index. It may have numerous typos or missing text. However, purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original rare book from the publisher's website (GeneralBooksClub.com). You can also preview excerpts of the book there. Purchasers are also entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Original Publisher: London : H. G. Bohn; Publication date: 1853; Subjects: Eastern question (Balkan); Serbia; Bosnia and Hercegovina; Balkan Peninsula; ... Read more

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Chapters: Pannonia, International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, Jasenovac Concentration Camp, United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Treaty of Passarowitz, Iapydes, 1991 Population Census in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Srebrenica Massacre, Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, List of Ancient Tribes in Illyria, List of Bosnian Genocide Prosecutions, Stephen Ii, Ban of Bosnia, Demographic History of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sokollu Mehmet Paşa, Husein Gradaščević, Bosnian Mujahideen, Alija Izetbegović, Bosniak History, Report About Case Srebrenica, Habsburg Monarchy, House of Šubić, Joint Criminal Enterprise, Tomislav of Croatia, Bosnian Crisis, Turkish Croatia, Bosnian Council, List of Rulers of Bosnia, Desilo, Bosnian Uprising, Hamdija Pozderac, Arbitration Commission of the Peace Conference on the Former Yugoslavia, Zachlumia, Islamic Declaration, Early History of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Praetorian Prefecture of Illyricum, Memorandum of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Banovina of Croatia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, State of Slovenes, Croats, and Serbs, Great Illyrian Revolt, Petar Gojniković, Srebrenica Genocide Memorial, Bosnian Church, Islamization of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hrvoje Vukčić, Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja, Daorson, Mrkonjić Grad Incident, Stephen Dabiša of Bosnia, Vrbas Banovina, Army of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Trpimir I of Croatia, Stećak, Treaty of Karlowitz, Mihailo Višević, Bosnia Province, Ottoman Empire, Stephen Držislav of Croatia, Narodna Odbrana, Stephen Ostoja of Bosnia, Early Ottoman Sarajevo, Zeta Banovina, Pannonian Sea, Theme of Sirmium, Bosnia and Herzegovina Dinar, Ali Džabič, Rüstem Pasha, Herzegovina Uprising, Hrvoje's Missal, Littoral Banovina, Diocese of Pannonia, Mogorjelo, Butmir Culture, Stephen Kulinić, Drina Banovina, Visočica, the Enclave, Hval Manuscript, Austroslavism, Serbinum, House of Nelipić, Ban B...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=6017803 ... Read more

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This digital document is an article from Church History, published by American Society of Church History on December 1, 1999. The length of the article is 908 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Religion and the War in Bosnia.
Author: John S. Conway
Publication: Church History (Refereed)
Date: December 1, 1999
Publisher: American Society of Church History
Volume: 68Issue: 4Page: 1033

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

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Chapters: 13th Waffen Mountain Division of the Ss Handschar. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 48. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: The 13th Waffen Mountain Division of the SS Handschar (1st Croatian) was one of the thirty-eight divisions fielded as part of the Waffen-SS during World War II. Its recruits were Croats and Bosnian Muslims. Handschar (Bosnian/Croatian: Handar) was the local word for the scimitar (Arabic: Khanjar ), a historical symbol of Bosnia and Islam. An image of the Handschar adorned the division's flag and coat of arms. The Handschar division was a mountain infantry formation, the equivalent of the German "Gebirgsjäger" (Mountain troops) units. It was used to conduct operations against Yugoslav Partisans in the Independent State of Croatia from February to September 1944. After the fall of Sarajevo on 16 April 1941 to Nazi Germany, the extremist Croat-nationalist and Fascist Ante Paveli (who had been in exile in Mussolini's Italy) was appointed Poglavnik or leader of a new Ustae state - Nezavisna Drava Hrvatska (NDH, the Independent State of Croatia). The Yugoslav provinces of Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and parts of Serbia were reconstituted as a pro-Nazi satellite entity under joint Nazi and Italian occupation. The Ustae almost immediately launched a vicious campaign of violence directed at unarmed Serb civilians. Paveli ordered a property in Zagreb be converted into a mosque that he modestly named after himself in his efforts to secure the loyalty of the Bosnian Muslims, the Poglavniks Mosque. Bosnian Muslim clerics issued three declarations (fatwa), all publicly denouncing Croat-Nazi collaborationist measures, laws and violence against Jews and Serbs: that of Sarajevo in October 1941, of Mostar in 1941, and of Banja Luka on 12 November 1941 . Despite Paveli's...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=1969218 ... Read more

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Chapters: The Holocaust in Bosnia, History of the Jews in Bosnia and Herzegovina, World War Ii Persecution of Serbs, History of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hashalom. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 23. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: The Jewish community of Bosnia and Herzegovina has a rich and varied history, surviving World War II and the Yugoslav Wars, after having been born as a result of the Spanish Inquisition, and having been almost destroyed by the Holocaust. The Jewish Community of Bosnia and Herzegovina now numbers some 500 people, spread in Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Mostar, Tuzla, Doboj, and Zenica. The first Jews arrived in the regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 1575. As tens of thousands of Jews fled the Spanish and Portuguese Inquisitions, Sultan Bayezid II of the Ottoman Empire welcomed Jews who were able to reach his territories. Jews fleeing Spain and Portugal were welcomed in and found their way to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Thrace and other areas of Europe under Ottoman control. Jews began to arrive in Bosnia and Herzegovina in numbers in the 16th century, with Jews arriving from the Ottoman Empire, and settling mainly in Sarajevo. The first Ashkenazi Jews arrived from Hungary in 1686, when the Ottoman Turks were expelled from Hungary. Jewish community prospered in Bosnia, living side by side with their Bosnian Muslim neighbors, as one of the largest European centres for Sephardi Jewry outside of Spain. Jews in the Ottoman Empire were generally well-treated and were recognized under the law as non-Muslims. Despite some restrictions, the Jewish communities of the Empire prospered. They were granted significant autonomy, with various rights including the right to buy real estate, to build synagogues and to conduct trade throughout the Ottoman Empire. Jews,...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=6728064 ... Read more

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High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austriaon 28 June 1914 in Bosnia-Herzegovina, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire brought the tensions between Austria-Hungary and Serbia to a head. This triggered a chain of international events that embroiled Russia and the major European powers. War broke out in Europe thirty-seven days later. ... Read more

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Chapters: Ferhat Pasha Mosque, Islamic Declaration, History of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Islamization of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Šerefudin's White Mosque, Bosnia Province, Ottoman Empire, Gazi Husrev-Beg's Mosque, Ali Pasha's Mosque, Herzegovina Province, Ottoman Empire, Arnaudija Mosque, Karadzozbey Mosque, Ferhadija Mosque in Sarajevo, King Fahd Mosque, Emperor's Mosque, Baitus Salam. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 62. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Ferhat Pasha Mosque -Ferhadija Mosque shortly after destruction in 1993.The mosque was one of 16 destroyed in the city of Banja Luka during the Bosnian War in 1992-1995. The Republika Srpska authorities ordered the demolition of the entire Ferhadija and Arnaudija mosque complexes, which stood approximately 800 m (2,625 ft) apart. Both mosques were destroyed in the same night within 15 minutes of each other. (It has been noted that the almost simultaneous destruction of the Ferhadija and Arnaudija mosques required large quantities of explosives and extensive coordination. Many believe that this would not have been possible without the involvement of Banja Luka and Republika Srpska authorities.) The Serb militia blew up the Ferhadija Mosque on the night of 6-7 May, 1993. May 6 is the date of the Serbian Othodox holiday of urevdan (Saint Georges day). The minaret survived the first explosion, but was then razed to the ground. Most of the debris was taken to the city dump; some stone, and ornamental details, were crushed by the Serbs for use as landfill. The leveled site was turned into a parking lot. Several weeks after the destruction of Ferhadija the nearby Sahat Kula, one of the oldest clock towers in Europe, was also destroyed. At the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia a Serb leader from Banja Luka, Radosl...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=1332896 ... Read more

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Bosnia and Herzegovina. History of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Early history of Bosnia and Herzegovina, History of Bosnia and Herzegovina (958?1463), History of Bosnia and Herzegovina (1463?1878), History of Bosnia and Herzegovina (1878?1918), History of Bosnia and Herzegovina (1941?1945), History of Bosnia and Herzegovina (1945?1992), Bosnian War, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Geography of Bosnia and Herzegovina, List of cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Politics of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Political divisions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Foreign relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Accession of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the European Union, Demographics of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Demographic history of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ethnic groups in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Religion in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Economy of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Telecommunications in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Education in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Culture of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Architecture of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Art of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Music of Bosnia and Herzegovina, List of Bosnia and Herzegovina films, Bosnian cuisine, Outline of Bosnia and Herzegovina, List of Bosnia and Herzegovina- related articles, List of people from Bosnia and Herzegovina, List of settlements in Bosnia and Herzegovina ... Read more

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High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The Paleolithic in B&H is marked by the oldest Paleolithic monument in southeastern Europe, the engravings in Badanj cave near Stolac in Herzegovina. The magnificent one is Horse attacked by arrows , preserved in fragments and dated around 14-12000 B.C. During the time when Neolithic cultures were appearing in Bosnia and Herzegovina, there existed interesting mixtures of Mediterranean and Pannonian cultures. Herzegovina was under the influence of impresso ceramics from the western Mediterranean, as seen in Green Cave near Mostar, ?airi near Stolac, Lisi?i?inear Konjic and Pe? Mlini near Grude. People then lived in caves or simple settlements on hilltops. On the upper mainstream of the Bosna river and in northeast parts of Bosnia (Obra Inear Kakanj), people lived in wooden houses built by the river. In this culture we can see influences from Adriatic cultures in the south and the Star?evi? culture in the northeast. ... Read more

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With the war in Kosovo raging and debates heating up in Congress and in the media, most Americans still don't understand why this war erupted. Now, in this informative, timely All You Want to Know audiobook, the reasons for the conflict -- and the history behind it -- are brought to light.

Central Europe's ancient civilizations have long been dominated by empires: The Roman Empire, the Habsburg Empire (based in Austria), and, more recently, the Soviet Communists. But the decline of communism in the late twentieth century has unleashed old resentments, rivalries, and ambitions that have caused yet more conflict in this troubled region.

With this timely, critical audiobook, you will learn All You Want to Know about the continuing legacy of hatred and violence that has captivated the attention of the global community. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A history of central Europe
The story line is exceptionally interesting, but the details are rather weak.The title is misleading, since events in Kosovo occupy only a few pages. Instead, the book skims history from Roman times to the present.As such, it never goes into much detail.The book quotes many famous people.Each quote is read with a silly accents.This makes many a quote difficult to understand.There is a curiously anti-communist theme to the narrative, but nowhere does the author seriously critique communist philosophy. The book is probably useless for European readers closer to the action, but for American readers, it will all be very useful.

Decently done
This is a typical "All you want to know" audiobook. It's content is informative, but lacks the depth and specifics that might intrigue the more serious listeners. In the parts throughout the entire tape where actors come in and speak with specific foreign accents that fit the particular scenarios, it becomes very irritating, since these accents substantially undermines my understanding of the content, and some of them make the actors sound extremely unintelligent. No one will believe the Austrian king would speak in the way that an uneducated hobo would, but that's exactly how he sounded like. ... Read more

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This anthology includes personal accounts of the war in Bosnia from journalists, presidents, children, and prisoners of war. This compilation of eyewitness accounts examine the causes of this bloody and complex war, ethnic cleansing, the siege of Sarajevo, media coverage of the conflict, and the international community's response to Bosnia's destruction. (20020701) ... Read more

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This volume is a study of revolution, genocide and national identity in Bosnia-Hercegovina during World War II. It explains the civil war between two rival guerrilla movements -the Partisans and the Chetniks - both in terms of long-term socio-economic and cultural fissures in Bosnia-Hercegovina, and in terms of short-term differences in policy and ideology. A chronological narrative history of the Bosnian Partisan movement allows the reader to understand how it evolved, as it first provoked the emergence of its Chetnik rival, and was then forced to adapt under pressure from the latter. This volume will be essential reading for scholars and students of the former Yugoslavia, and for all those interested in Communism, nationalism, revolution, or genocide. ... Read more

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Divide and Fall?, the first full-length analysis of the post-Cold War revival of ethnic partition, is a major intervention in the study of international relations. Radha Kumar examines the carve-up of Bosnia, comparing it to earlier divisions of Ireland, India, Palestine and Cyprus.Amazon.com Review
Radha Kumar examines the Dayton Accords process by whichBosnia was carved up into zones of ethnic control--Serbs here, Croatsthere, Muslims in pockets between. This partition, Kumar argues,follows a procedure that had been largely abandoned until 1974, whenCyprus was bisected into zones of Greek and Turkish control. Ethnicdivision, Kumar writes, follows a lesser-of-two-evils logic: it isbetter to separate people along nationalist lines, however sketchy,than to allow them to fight out their differences.But division,though convenient for peacekeepers eager to pull out and go home, inthe end may not satisfy the combatants or introduce a realpeace. Partitions, in her view, simply do not work: as evidence, shesays, consider Palestine and the Indian subcontinent. Kumar's bookwill fuel much debate. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Effective study of the evils of partition
This book is a study of that traditional trick of British diplomacy, partition. Dividing countries is a way of controlling them, before and after independence. The US and British states have divided Yugoslavia, then Bosnia, and now Kosovo. `Ethnic' divisions suit imperialism. Carlos Westendorp, the High Representative in Bosnia, has said that Kosovo's warring factions must be told, "Kosovo doesn't belong to either of you. It's ours. It's the new empire. It's the new colonialism done in the name of the international community."

Kumar examines other examples of partition and addresses the difficulties of reversing it. For instance, Blair's bullying tactics have now stalled the Irish peace process. He set five deadlines for implementing the Good Friday Agreement; he blustered that `there was no Plan B'. According to the Agreement, the IRA did not have to decommission its weapons: then Blair said they would, then he said they wouldn't. As long as the British Government has not set a date for withdrawal, all the Irish parties remain dependent on Britain, relating primarily to the British presence, either loving or hating the `Brits'. Once the Government sets a date, then they will all have to focus on their common task of rebuilding their beautiful country.

In an ironic reversal, partition could now be visited upon Britain; the European Union is regionalising `Euroland', to break up sovereign nation states. It fosters identity politics, puffing up cultural and regional identifications at the expense of class and national realities.

Kumar points out that the way to reverse partition is to achieve peace through development. But the US-British-EU aim of strengthening `market democracy' cuts across this goal, because it generates divisions and inequalities. Every country needs to create a common commitment to a strategy of rebuilding; they each need a workers' nationalism to unite and liberate their country. ... Read more

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Examines two timely, complex, and interrelated topics: the role of peacekeeping and related operations in managing nontraditional crises, and the international community's response to the recent conflict in Bosnia. The author explains the changing nature of international involvement and draws out lessons for the future. ... Read more

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The eight essays in this collection are intended to stimulate students to think about and discuss the subject of what went wrong in Bosnia in depth. ... Read more

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Examines life in Bosnia before communism, under Tito's rule, and under present conditions of war. ... Read more

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The True Facts
This book was clear about the history of what has happened in Bosnia throughout the years of its rises and falls. This book has alot of historical facts and may not be the book you would want to read for a novel. I recomend this book for the students who are trying to study about Bosnia and need alot of information to get a good idea about what happend. With my personal opion I found the book boring to a sort of extent, yet it gave me the information I needed for my project. ... Read more