Humanitarianism Under Fire: The US and UN Intervention in Somalia [Paperback]

Kenneth R. Rutherford (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 20, 2008 | ISBN-10: 1565492609 | ISBN-13: 978-1565492608

The international humanitarian intervention in Somalia was one of the most challenging operations ever conducted by US and UN military forces. Until Somalia, the UN had never run a Chapter VII exercise with large numbers of troops operating under a fighting mandate. It became a deadly test of the UN s ability carry out a peace operation using force against an adversary determined to sabotage the intervention.

Humanitarianism Under Fire is a candid, detailed historical and political narrative of this remarkably complicated intervention that was one of the first cases of multilateral action in the post-Cold War era. Rutherford presents new information gleaned from interviews and intensive research in five countries. His evidence shows how Somalia became a turning point in the relationship between the UN and US and how policy and strategy decisions in military operations continue to refer back to this singular event, even today.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Ken Rutherford's rich and detailed account of US and UN actions in Somalia provides compelling insights into the complexities of humanitarian and military intervention, multilateral action, domestic politics, and the future consequences of the choices made during such crises." -- George E. Shambaugh, Chairman of the Department of Government and Associate Professor in the School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University

"An excellent narrative of the international mission in Somalia [that raises] fundamental questions about the nature of current interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq." -- Jody Williams, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate & Professor at the University of Houston's Graduate College of Social Work

"Combining the methods of a scholar with the insights of a field-based humanitarian worker, Ken Rutherford's contribution is at once highly readable and deeply compelling." -- Richard Matthew, PhD, Director, Center for Unconventional Security Affairs, University of California Irvine

"Ken uses the US intervention in Somalia to illustrate what has since been magnified in Iraq: Foreign intervention by our country or by the UN, whether humanitarian or military and regardless of how well-intended, is unlikely to succeed without a through knowledge of the country and culture, realistic and clearly defined goals, adequate resources, and careful planning and coordination. As one who believes that such intervention is often justified on moral as well as foreign policy grounds, I applaud Ken for presenting the lessons of Somalia in such a thoughtful way." -- US Senator Patrick Leahy (D - VT)

"The lessons Rutherford draws provide wise advice that the US is relearning at great cost in Iraq. Everyone interested in humanitarian intervention in failed states should read this book." -- Andrew Bennett, Professor of Government and International Affairs, Georgetown University

About the Author

Kenneth R. Rutherford is director of the Center for International Stabilization and Recovery and the Mine Action Information Center; professor of political science at James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA; and co-founder of the Landmine Survivors Network. He is the author of Disarming States: The International Movement to Ban Landmines and has co-edited two books: Landmines And Human Security: International Politics And War's Hidden Legacy and Praeger's Reframing the Agenda: The Impact of NGO and Middle Power Cooperation in International Security Policy.
He has worked for international aid agencies in Bosnia, Kenya, Mauritania, Senegal, and Somalia, and served as a Fulbright Professor in Jordan. After losing his legs to a landmine, he co-founded the Landmine Survivors Network, a leading member of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, which was awarded the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize, and the Cluster Munitions Coalition that helped achieve the Convention on Cluster Munitions. His story has been profiled in Reader's Digest and on television, including the BBC, The View, and Oprah.  Rutherford has received several awards in recognition of his humanitarian and human rights leadership, including the Leadership in International Rehabilitation Award by Northwestern University and the first International United Nations Association-USA Humanitarian Prize from Sir Paul McCartney and Heather Mills.

Dr. Rutherford earned his Ph.D. and MALS at Georgetown University, and BA and MBA degrees from the University of Colorado where he was a football letterman and inducted in its Hall of Fame for distinguished alumni. He lives in Harrisonburg, Virginia with his wife Kimberly and their four children, Hayden, Campbell, Duncan and Lucie.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Kumarian Press (July 20, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1565492609
• ISBN-13: 978-1565492608
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #625,968 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #36 in Books > History > Africa > Somalia

More About the Author

Kenneth R. Rutherford is director of the Center for International Stabilization and Recovery and the Mine Action Information Center; professor of political science at James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA; and co-founder of the Landmine Survivors Network. In his capacity as CISR Director he is conducting or participating in post-conflict missions and projects in Burundi, Colombia, Iraq, Jordan, Laos, Lebanon, Palestine, Rwanda, Uganda, Vietnam and Yemen.


Dr. Rutherford is the author of Disarming States: The International Movement to Ban Landmines and Humanitarianism Under Fire: The US and UN Intervention in Somalia and has co-edited two books: Landmines And Human Security: International Politics And War's Hidden Legacy and Praeger's Reframing the Agenda: The Impact of NGO and Middle Power Cooperation in International Security Policy.

He has worked for international aid agencies in Bosnia, Kenya, Mauritania, Senegal, and Somalia, and served as a Fulbright Professor in Jordan. After losing his legs to a landmine, he co-founded the Landmine Survivors Network, a leading member of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, which was awarded the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize, and the Cluster Munitions Coalition that helped achieve the Convention on Cluster Munitions. His story has been profiled in Reader's Digest and on television, including the BBC, The View, and Oprah. Rutherford has received several awards in recognition of his humanitarian and human rights leadership, including the Leadership in International Rehabilitation Award by Northwestern University and the first International United Nations Association-USA Humanitarian Prize from Sir Paul McCartney and Heather Mills.

Dr. Rutherford earned his Ph.D. and MALS at Georgetown University, and BA and MBA degrees from the University of Colorado where he was a football letterman and inducted in its Hall of Fame for distinguished alumni.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book will give you a good idea of what happened in Somalia!, April 11, 2009

By 

John C. Navarra (Daytona Beach, Florida) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Humanitarianism Under Fire: The US and UN Intervention in Somalia (Paperback)

Humanitarianism under fire tells a thorough story of what happened in Somalia in 1993 and before. This is a scholarly part memoir that provides a full accounting of the history behind what happened. It answers the questions why Bush went into Somalia and why did Clinton fail in Somalia. The book Black Hawk Down tells the story of the fighting in Somalia. This book provides a prelude to why we were there.

John Navarra

Daytona Beach, FL