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Linda Polman

We Did Nothing: Why the Truth Doesn't Always Come Out When the UN Goes in Paperback – Import, January 1, 2003

by Linda Polman (Author)

4.3 22 ratings

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"In the spring of 2003, as we stood on the brink of war with Iraq, millions of people turned to the UN for a 'second resolution' and for an answer to the crisis. We Did Nothing exposes how these resolutions are made and what they mean in practice: during the 1990s Linda Polman visited the UN missions to Somalia, Haiti and Rwanda and witnessed the sometimes absurd and often horrifying consequences of the decisions made at UN headquarters." "Linda Polman demonstrates that when the UN fails it is truly our governments who have failed. We Did Nothing shows what the resolutions mean for the people who must live in these war zones, and for the UN soldiers who are sent to bring order to the terrifying chaos."--BOOK JACKET.

Print length

256 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Viking
Publication date

January 1, 2003
Dimensions

5.28 x 0.79 x 8.46 inches
ISBN-10

067091424X
ISBN-13

978-0670914241
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Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5

22 global ratings

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Amy Brown

Excellent book!

Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2013

Verified Purchase

This is an excellent, well-written historical book with information found nowhere else. A must-read for anyone interested in world affairs.

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Elisabeth Tromm

An eye-opener about the UN peace missions

Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2010

I read this book already in 1997 in the Dutch language.
I am glad that the book is translated into English as it is an eye-opener about what is going on behind the UN peace missions.

The author was there and she is not scared. Linda Polman was in the midst of any action of the UN at that time. She is a keen observer and is total unbiased.
Even in the most horrific situations, she keeps her very dry sense of humour.
Which is good to for the reader, who will get a smile, even-though the scenes where Linda is writing about are not funny. Often it is harmful to the locals, nothing is solved and it costs millions of dollars.

For curious people who want to peep behind the scenes, a must buy.
Will read it again because nothing has changed with the news missions.

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Another reader

Incisive Journalism

Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2009

Polman provides an eye-opening account of how the UN really works, how powerful nations manipulate it for their own gain, and who pays the price. She was on hand during the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide and so many other humanitarian disasters to which the UN tried its best to respond with always mixed results--sometimes just bad results--and so is able to provide first-hand accounts and insightful, boots-on-the-ground reportage. By providing a window on the politics that drive the UN, the reader comes to understand why a well-intentioned UN always seems ineffectual when it's most needed.

This book is singly the most harrowing piece of journalism I've ever read and it indelibly changed my understanding of how the world works. I'd recommend it to anyone who is serious about understanding world affairs.

2 people found this helpful

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R. Dana Lacoste

Insightful and thoughtful without being reactionary

Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2005

One of the main things I took from this book was just how powerless the UN really is: it's a forum for countries to work together, but if the member countries don't want to do something, there's nothing the UN can do.
Linda Polman's personal insight into what happened on the ground in Haiti and in Africa is gut-wrenching, but her journalistic integrity is fulfilled by researching what happened in the UN while she was on the ground amidst the attrocities.
A must-read for anyone who wants to know how the UN works and why it reacts the way it does to attrocities around the world.

7 people found this helpful

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kris

A real page turner

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 17, 2016

Verified Purchase

Eye opening account of the u.n's often futile power; designed to protect those in need and the political posturing that costs thousands and thousands of lives. Heartbreaking really. Well worth a read, couldnt put it down.

Keithqpr

Facts scarier than fiction

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 21, 2013

Verified Purchase

A very well written account of some of some of the most horrific events in war conflicts ,that have taken place recently .All taken place while members of UN peace forces can only look on helplessly . An insightful read .

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We Did Nothing: Why the Truth Doesn't Always Come Out When the UN Goes in Paperback – Import, January 1, 2003

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