On the tenth anniversary of the date that UN peacekeepers landed in Rwanda, Random House Canada is proud to publish the unforgettable first-hand account of the genocide by the man who led the UN mission. Digging deep into shattering memories, General Dallaire has written a powerful story of betrayal, naivete, racism and international politics. His message is simple and undeniable: "Never again." When Lt-Gen. Romeo Dallaire received the call to serve as force commander of the UN intervention in Rwanda in 1993, he thought he ...
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On the tenth anniversary of the date that UN peacekeepers landed in Rwanda, Random House Canada is proud to publish the unforgettable first-hand account of the genocide by the man who led the UN mission. Digging deep into shattering memories, General Dallaire has written a powerful story of betrayal, naivete, racism and international politics. His message is simple and undeniable: "Never again." When Lt-Gen. Romeo Dallaire received the call to serve as force commander of the UN intervention in Rwanda in 1993, he thought he was heading off on a modest and straightforward peacekeeping mission. Thirteen months later he flew home from Africa, broken, disillusioned and suicidal, having witnessed the slaughter of 800,000 Rwandans in only a hundred days. In Shake Hands with the Devil, he takes the reader with him on a return voyage into the hell of Rwanda, vividly recreating the events the international community turned its back on. This book is an unsparing eyewitness account of the failure by humanity to stop the genocide, despite timely warnings. Woven through the story of this disastrous mission is Dallaire's own journey from confident Cold Warrior, to devastated UN commander, to retired general engaged in a painful struggle to find a measure of peace, reconciliation and hope. This book is General Dallaire's personal account of his conversion from a man certain of his worth and secure in his assumptions to a man conscious of his own weaknesses and failures and critical of the institutions he'd relied on. It might not sit easily with standard ideas of military leadership, but understanding what happened to General Dallaire and his mission to Rwanda is crucial to understanding the moral minefields our peacekeepers are forced to negotiate when we ask them to step into the world's dirty wars. Excerpt from "Shake Hands with the Devil" "My story is not a strictly military account nor a clinical, academic study of the breakdown of Rwanda. It is not a simplistic indictment of the many failures of the UN as a force for peace in the world. It is not a story of heroes and villains, although such a work could easily be written. This book is a cri de coeur for the slaughtered thousands, a tribute to the souls hacked apart by machetes because of their supposed difference from those who sought to hang on to power. . . . This book is the account of a few humans who were entrusted with the role of helping others taste the fruits of peace. Instead, we watched as the devil took control of paradise on earth and fed on the blood of the people we were supposed to protect."
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Seller's Description:
Fair. This copy has clearly been enjoyed-expect noticeable shelf wear and some minor creases to the cover. Binding is strong and all pages are legible. May contain previous library markings or stamps.
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Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
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Seller's Description:
Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
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Seller's Description:
Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
This first hand account of the genocide of 800,000 people in Rwanda in 1994 in 100 days is very disturbing. It's true that the world saw what was happening and just changed the channel. That was because this was happening in Africa, especially in a country that had nothing to offer of strategic or resource value. If the same thing had been happening in Europe or North America, it would have been met with a swift response. But instead, it was ignored as 'tribal warfare'. Soon after, General D'Allaire became the scapegoat of all that had gone wrong in Rwanda, although he saw it coming and had been warning the world and begging the UN for more resources. I must say that there were at least four especially gruesome events that I read that I wish I hadn't. They stayed in my mind much longer than I would have liked. I wish I would have realized before I finished the book, that there was a glossary at the back. It would have helped me differentiate the Bizimana's from the Bizimunga's and the RPG from the RGF. Overall, a necessary book to read if you are a true citizen of the world. Unfortunately, the final conclusion General D'Allaire comes up with is "Never Again." Wishful thinking, unfortunately, since the same thing has been said many times since the Holocaust.
Edward
Apr 3, 2007
Amazingly Chilling
The book is the very personal account of General Romeo Dallaire's experiances in Rwanda. Generaol Dallaire was the commander of the UN mission in Rwanda in 1994 at the time of the genocide. I read this book in record time an then re-read it. There are parts that drag; most of them are his background of his life. The body of the book moves along though. This book is very detailed and precise and laid out in chronological order. His accounts of an officer totally alone and without support is devastating. You can feel his fustration and wonder how maddness did not take him over. He held his men together after the international community refused to help and infact took much needed troops and supplies from him. This is not an easy read yet to anyone interested it is well worth it. I also have to note the bibliography of this book is a treasure trove of interesting material.
