Tested Mettle: Canada's Peacekeepers at War [Hardcover]

Scott Taylor (Author), Brian Nolan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 4, 1999

The untold story of the Canadian Army's fight for survival on two fronts: the volatile bullet-riddled war zones of the world and the equally treacherous political battleground here at home.

Tested Mettle takes over where the controversial bestseller "Tarnished Brass" left off. "Esprit de Corps" magazine publisher, Scott Taylor, and veteran journalist, Brian Nolan, document the heroic story of Canada's UN peacekeepers serving in war-ravaged former Yugoslavia and around the world.

The authors recount the dangerous physical obstacles these soldiers face each day and the psychological torment they experience, leaving many of them scarred for life.

Readers will be shocked to learn of the deprivations and daily hardships faced by the troops, who frequently are sent to dangerous foreign fields with obsolete and outdated equipment. The top brass, meanwhile, has wasted hundreds of thousands of taxpayers' dollars on their own lavish farewell parties and personal aggrandizement. Taylor and Nolan also expose the workings of the elite and secretive Joint Task Force II, whose mysterious and Rambo-like assignments are known only to the highest orders of government and the high command.

Tested Mettle will leave Canadians proud of their courageous peacemakers and outraged by a corrupt Defence Department.

Editorial Reviews

Review

...impressively researched and documented. -- Pembroke Observer

An extremely readable, very entertaining book... It is by and large an account of untold stories of peacekeepers. For that reason alone, I expect this to be very well-received by soldiers and by the public at large... It says what soldiers (and senior officers) would like to say about [Canada's] limited capabilities, the burden of overtasking, and the consequences of the money crunch. It is a stark indictment of defence policy planning, and of the decision-making processes at play which, over the years, have caused the army to be stretched to the breaking point and become "exhausted." It may well be the springboard for a more critical look by mainstream media at the reasons for the serious commitment-capability gap in the military, and particularly the army. However, since the thesis is "look how well the peacekeepers do regardless of how poorly-led the army is," it is not likely to be well accepted by very senior officers and civilian staff. -- Official analysis, Department of National Defence

Compelling. Tested Mettle ought to be required reading. -- Edmonton Sun

Congratulations. No one has to convince me of the quality of our soldiers; however, your collection of anecdotes highlighting their professionalism and bravery "beyond the norm" is a reminder to the Canadian public that good news rarely surfaces on its own. It has to be sought out in spite of obstacles. Well done! -- Major General Lewis MacKenzie

This is a book about the Canadian army unlike any other... It not only gives an idea of what's gone wrong within today's army, but names names and says who's to blame and why... It'll drive Ottawa's politicized generals, and their echoes in academia, bonkers. But for others in the military it will be greeted with, 'Hallelujah...finally, someone is telling the story.' -- Peter Worthington, Editor Emeritus, Toronto Sun

About the Author

Scott Taylor, a former soldier, is the editor and publisher of Esprit de Corps, a monthly magazine celebrating Canada's military heritage. It is also reknowned for its unflinching scrutiny of the Canadian military. The ten years of research that he compiled for this book is firsthand: as a journalist, he has traveled to Bosnia, Croatia, Cambodia, the Western Sahara and the Persian Gulf to visit Canadian soldiers in theatres of operation.

Brian Nolan has enjoyed success as a newspaper, radio and television reporter, as well as a documentary filmmaker and TV news executive. He is also the author of several bestselling books on Canadian military issues.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 264 pages
• Publisher: Esprit de Corps Books; First Edition edition (November 4, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1895896088
• ISBN-13: 978-1895896084
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,202,691 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An eye opening look at the Canadian government, June 14, 2001

By 

Jordon Cooper "Coop" (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tested Mettle: Canada's Peacekeepers at War (Hardcover)

The book is an amazing job of journalism and writing but what really jumped out at me is the commentary on the Canadian government and people.

The book was tell written and tells several stories of heroism and tragedy that never made it into the Canadian mainline media reports.

It gives a view of our troops that until recently was not heard of and opened a lot of viewers eyes to what has been happening.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tested Mettle, Tested Well, August 30, 2000

By 

Alex Greer (Victoria, BC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tested Mettle: Canada's Peacekeepers at War (Hardcover)

I am a serving member of the Canadian Forces, and although I have not been on peacekeeping missions (I'm navy) I have heard many first-hand stories from army friends about the kind of experiences in the former Yugoslavia which Scott Taylor and Brian Nolan document. As with their ealier "Tarnished Brass" Taylor and Nolan have again done the public a service by documenting the sacrifice and heorism of the average Johnny Canuck soldier, and again have exposed the virtual criminal neglect of the rank and file's welfare. The only problem I have is with some of the recommendations in the last chapter.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Masterful work of military journalism!, November 1, 2001

By 

Arnold Pearce (Halifax, Nova Scotia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tested Mettle: Canada's Peacekeepers at War (Hardcover)

Taylor and Nolan are to be commended for their extensive research and fine writing. As a former peacekeeper who served on two of the tours that Tested Mettle covers, I must say that these authors were able to capture the essence of what me and "the boys" went through. What I found truly shocking was their revelations about the senior level corruption and the lack of compassion for those soldiers who were wounded. I had always thought that my friend's case was an isolated issue of neglect, but now I realize that there was widespread systemic rot at "Fort Fumble on the Rideau" (NDHQ).
This book should be a "must read" for every citizen in Canada,-especially now that we are once again sending off our troops to War. Unless people realize how corrupted the system (not to mention the Officer corps) has become, there is little hope that things will improve in the rank and file. I had heard about this book years ago, but I felt that having "been there", it would not be of interest. I really wish now that I'd read it when it first came out!
I have already started reading Taylor and Nolan's first book,-Tarnished Brass:Crime and Corruption in the Canadian Military, and it is even more shocking and revealing.
These books are a must-read!