To End a War (Modern Library) [Paperback]

Several reviewers have labeled Holbrooke either racist or merely biased. I am an American, not of Serb descent, but a serious student of Serb life and history. I speak Serbian, lived in Serbia, visited all the key Serb historic/cultural sites, including a thorough survey of medieval Serb monasteries. I have visited all corners of the former Yugoslavia including four visits to Kosovo. I say all this not to be arrogant as some reviewers accuse Mr. Holbrooke; rather to give some credentials of a person who well understands Balkan mindsets and who is not anti-Serb (I love Serbia and most Serb people!). As such, I consider Mr. Holbrooke's views and accounts very balanced, fair, and ethical. My suspicion is that the flames of reviewers own passions and biases enter here in large measure. This is a fascinating book written by an admirable civil servant. His inside accounts of dealings with Milosevic, Tudjmann, Izetbegovic and others are simply marvelous. I personally knew Nikola Koljevic, the suicide victim ex-Bosnian Serb VP and former chairman of the English Dept at the Univ. of Sarajevo and found Holbrooke's harsh treatment of Koljevic very believable. This is a balanced book for balanced people; unfortunately there are many Balkan natives with axes to grind who are not easily pleased.

In his book , "To End a War" Richard Holbrooke does an adequate job of giving insight as to the negotiations on the war in Bosnia. It helps to see the view of one who has spoken with and haggled with all major parties who settled the Bosnian "peace plan". Mr Holbrooke posessess a gret amount of confidence in his ideas and somerimes it is to the point of where he gives the impression of being pompus. An underlying theme that of course never fully brought to light by Mr. Holbrooke is the idea that the Americans are omnicent, a senior cabinet member or even the President spoke to the three parties, why to hear him tell it their mere prescence would solve all problems. However Mr. Holbrooke should have known and he was soon reminded that though the muslims, serbs and croats might be impressed with the prescence of Bill Clinton or one of his cabinent members that does not neccesarily mean that they are willing to comply. To think that some senior U.S. official can change the nature of ideas in the Balkans is ignorant conciet that can be classified as underestimating the opponent. However Holbrooke does do a good job of telling everything in his book, of being honest, some of the facts in the book where not very flattering no matter how god of a spin that he put on it. It almost seems from reading "To End a War" that peace will reign in Bosnia because Richard Holbrooke and the Americans - as well as their allies - will it and they will have it even if it requires being forceful and undiplomatic. To take issue with one final point in the book I must comment on Mr. Holbrooke anger at the Bosnian Serbs unwillingness to sign the Dayton Peace Accords. He said himself that he told Slobodan Milosevic that he would not negtiate at Dayton with the Bosnian Serbs at Dayton, they must accept the affer that was accepted by Milosevic, then he had the gall to wonder why Dayton was almost ruined by the peturbed Bosnian Serbs. Eventually they were coerced by Milosevic to accept the peace deal but Mr Holbrooke need not question why peace is so difficult to achieve in the Balkans. Mr. Holbrooke lets the reader gain the impression that he and Milosevic are good friends and he can work a deal with "Slobo" at just about any time but as people who keep up with current events know Milosevic can convince people left and right that he is making a deal with them but he can always work his way out of it. Aside from my personal thought as to th econtent of the book I do believe that the book is well written in the fact that it alows the reader to see the possible weaknessess of the negotiation process whether it is the authors intent or not. I guess the way in which Mr. Holbrooke tells about both the good and the bad of the negotiation process so that the reader can decide for themselves if Dayton had a positive outcame is what makes the book worth reading, as well as the background infrmation.

I have read quite a few books about the troubles in Bosnia and Kosovo. None can rival this one for the insight into the problems of getting the three sides of the confict to get together and do the right thing for their people.

I was amazed to discover the difficulties experienced by the writer in convincing the "last super power" to get involved in the problem.

A top read. Recommended to anyone wishing to know the real difficulties that stood in the way of peace.