Customer Reviews

Blue Helmets: The Strategy of UN Military Operations

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Many books have been written on UN peace-keeping and peace-enforcement operations. This one is one more interesting, useful and well-written book, well-research and sound, well-written at all times. It offers more than many other books, in its analysis and views on the strategy of UN military operations from a 'strategic' point of view, thus offering some comparisons with the strategies that may be used by the adversaries or other forces, etc. It is a book of political science, but also military studies. A definite must for whoever is interested in either, since the former does - unfortunately - often involve the latter.

Hillen does what few others have been willing to do; openly criticizing the UN for their meddlings in peacekeeping and peacemaking, and backs it up with facts and analysis of why these operations have been military, organizational, and political quagmires. He tells us why the US or any lead nation should have misgivings about committing to operating under the UN charter for military operations -- despite the popular perception that somehow a UNSCR makes it a better thing to do.

Good ideas and insights bogged down by cumbersome writing. I found myself repeatedly flipping around to decipher the alphabet soup of acronyms. If you are serious about the subject of peacekeeping, this book is a useful reference, but otherwise you should pass on it.

Have always considered this subject to be pertinent, but hardly found the source for materials.