IFOR on IFOR: NATO Peacekeepers in Bosnia-Herzegovina [Paperback]

Rupert Wolfe Murray (Editor), Steven Gordon (Photographer), Richard Holbrooke (Foreword)

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Combined Publishing; First Edition edition (February 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1901205002
• ISBN-13: 978-1901205008
• Product Dimensions: 11.7 x 9.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,114,947 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SOLDIERS SPEAK, September 19, 2000

By 

Bonita L. Davis - See all my reviews

This review is from: IFOR on IFOR: NATO Peacekeepers in Bosnia-Herzegovina (Paperback)

Bosnia has pretty much faded into the background of American concern. When the American Division of the NATO Implementation Force (IFOR) rolled in on December 1995, the spotlight was on Bosnia and Americans became aware of the military role that their forces would play in the Balkans. Out of the tragedy and confusion of war came a book entitled "Cry Bosnia" by Paul Harris which chronicled the war in Bosnia itself through words and pictures.

Inspired by the success of Cry Bosnia, Ruppert Murray decided to write a similar book which would focus on the peacekeepers themselves rather than the political elements of Bosnia. His idea was merely to write minimal text with pictures but as he began to interview the soldiers and have them share their opinions, backgrounds and experiences the book began to take a life of its own. IFOR on IFOR is the soldiers' stories of their perceptions of why and how they came to Bosnia and what they feel their presence will accomplish.

The book is divided into three sectors representing the United States of America Division, the British Division and the French Division. He interviews the men and women of the armed forces who candidly share their views with him. Listen to these young warriors as they share their apathy, hope, and naivite in sharing their views of their deployment. The voices are diverse within each division and you can see the differences of opinions that run from nation to nation. The insights you get are extraordinary.

On a personal note, I was deployed to Bosnia and stayed there for a year. Everything that you have read, heard and seen in these interviews are what I experienced with this group of international soldiers. I highly recommend this book to you in getting the story of the soldier. Six copies returned home with me and many more were purchased for friends and relatives. This is an excellent chronicle in pictures and words.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A unique account, July 7, 1998

By 

Muhamed Mesic ([e-mail]) (Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: IFOR on IFOR: NATO Peacekeepers in Bosnia-Herzegovina (Paperback)

The book was given to me by the author himself with dedication and as soon as I read it it became my absolute favourite. IFOR on IFOR has the largest accumulation of reviews, interviews and facts as well as interesting thoughts not only by the author himself but by the interviewed soldiers as well. As the author is in Bosnia from 1993, he knows the situation so if you need a close-up look on our rugged country check this book out.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An interesting series of first hand accounts by IFOR troops, October 6, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: IFOR on IFOR: NATO Peacekeepers in Bosnia-Herzegovina (Paperback)

This book offers a valuable insight into the attitudes of military personnel who were stationed in Bosnia to implement the Dayton Accord. I have read many books on Bosnia which have fuelled my indignation at how the international community stood by and let the Serbs mount what is tantamount to a genocidal war against Bosnian Muslims. This book gives an idea of how military people felt about the Bosnian issue. Their attitudes range from the idealistic and noble to short-sighted and complacent ( in fact some will fill you with rage at their indifference). It is rare that one encounters a book dealing with a major historical issue which allows the ordinary person, albeit a soldier, to articulate their views so openly. The photographs are excellent and Mr Wolfe Murray's introduction is very insightful. It would, however, have been even more interesting to have a similar book which gives voice to those UN troops who were there at the height of the conflict.