- Paperback: 496 pages
- Publisher: HarperCollins; New Ed edition (17 April 2001)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0006530907
- ISBN-13: 978-0006530909
- Product Dimensions: 13 x 3.3 x 19.7 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 346,313 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
The powerful, disturbing and highly acclaimed account of a British officer in the Parachute Regiment, of part Yugoslav origin, painfully caught up in the savage maelstrom of the Bosnian war.
Milos Stankovic worked as an interpreter and liaison officer for senior British commanders and two British UN generals – Mike Rose and Rupert Smith. Armed with the pseudonym ‘Mike Stanley’ he was propelled from one nerve-racking crisis to another as he helped negotiate ceasefires between rival warlords, secured the release of UN hostages and organised the escape from Sarajevo of stricken families.
Yet his close contacts with the Bosnian Serb leadership of Dr Karadzic and General Mladic bred suspicion and paranoia on all sides – not just in the Bosnian Muslim and Serb ranks (who thought he might be a British spy – General Rose’s ‘trusted mole’) but in the minds of the Americans as well. In a final, horrific twist, the author was arrested by the British authorities on suspicion of being a Serb spy – two and a half years after returning from Bosnia.
From the Back Cover
' A Soldiers Journey into Bosnia's Heart of Darkness'
"Milos Stankovic served longer in the Bosnian war than any other British soldier… He was the outstanding liaison officer of his time. He did for Britain in the 1990's what Fitzroy MacLean had done in the 1940's, and in the same turbulent corner of Europe… ['Trusted Mole'] is the best book yet written on the Bosnian war, certainly including my own. It is more than that. It is the most extraordinary soldier's story that I have ever read."
MARTIN BELL, M.P.
This is the powerful, disturbing and highly acclaimed account of how a British officer in the Parachute regiment, of part Yugoslav origin, became painfully embroiled in the savage maelstrom of the Bosnian war. Milos Stankovic's work as interpreter and go-between for senior British commanders propelled him from one nerve-racking crisis to another as he helped to negotiate ceasefires between rival warlords, secured the release of UN hostages and organised the escape from Sarajevo of stricken families.
Yet his close contacts with the Bosnian Serb leadership of Dr Karadzic and General Mladic bred suspicion and paranoia on all sides – not just in the Bosnian Muslim and Serb ranks (who thought he might be a British spy – General Rose's 'trusted mole') but in the minds of the Americans as well. In a final, horrific twist, the author was arrested by the British authorities on suspicion of being a Serb spy – two and a half years after returning from Bosnia.
"Stankovic's book is far more than the outcry of an innocent man foully accused. He has a wonderful eye for detail and a natural storytellers gift, and passion… This man was a hero, caught in the middle and discarded by a military bureaucracy that should be shot at dawn for its betrayal."
JON SWEENEY, 'Observer'
"Well written, gripping and highly informative… a fascinating account of an experience that would leave most people shattered."
ADRIAN WEALE, 'Daily Mail'
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
There are few books that will hold me rivetted from beginning to end. There are even fewer that will do this for my wife. But 'Trusted Mole' has held us both spellbound. This is Milos Stankovic's extraordinary story of the insanity of the Bosnian war, and his own entanglement in that insanity. The madness that faced this British Army officer - a Brit of Serbian and Celtic grandparentage - followed Stankovic home to the UK and... well, you had better read his story to find out. If it weren't true I would dismiss it all as Walter Mitty tosh, or at best as a conspiracy theory dreamt up by someone deeply warped by the paranoia of Bosnia mind games. The story begins with Stankovic's arrest in October 1997 by the British MOD police, the start of a sorry sage that even now is not over. Accused - but never charged- with giving information to the Serbs, Stankovic used the following 2.5 years to explore in book form the background to his expulsion from the British Joint Services Command and Staff College and the collapse of what promised to be a glittering military career. The product - Trusted Mole- is an answer to his accusers. Let's hope they have the wherewithal to understand it. Profoundly honest, Stankovic's tale is one of great power which informs simultaneously on moral, physical and political planes. Like Conrad's Kurtz, Stankovic went on a journey to man's heart of darkness and was recoiled by the horror of his discovery: unlike Kurtz, however, Stankovic retained the balance of his mind and comes back from his journey a better-and stronger - man. Politically, the book reveals in fascinating detail just how decisions were made during the Balkan war - by all sides - and how preconceived ignorance dominated Western particularly American) approaches to the conflict. Indeed it appears that it was the Americans, long the bed-fellows of the Bosnian Muslims, who arranged for Stankovic to be arrested in the first place. In the black and white, good guy versus bad guy myopia of the American strategic perspective, the Muslims were the cowboys and the Serbs were the Indians. The story does not appear to be over with the final page, however. More of this story needs to be told. Why was he arrested? It certainly can't have been worth a ruined career, the public opprobrium (a la Tomlinson and Shayler)of being accused of betraying national security, and the apparent overturning of the right- in the UK at least -to be considered innocent until proven guilty. An absorbing story, a rivetting read and another installment in the offing, I hope. Shed a tear or two in the reading of it for Stankovic: few books will let you do this unashamedly.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have read most of the first hand accounts coming from late 20th century British Soldiers of all ranks from all theatres, but i have to say this is one of the best. I knew little of the Conflict in the Former Yugoslavia prior to reading this book, and Milos writes in a style that is honest, easy for the layman to follow, yet detailed enough in a Conflict of such complicated issues and is one small window into the soul of late 20th Century European War....shocking?? Yes.....educational?? Definitely....One of the best Soldier accounts i have ever read
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I'm going to criticise this superb book. It is extremely well written, engaging and includes many pictures and maps that are as good as any I've seen in a military history book. The insight into events on the ground could not be provided by anyone who was not there and the whole story is delivered with an admirable lack of bitterness, considering how the author believes he was wronged by the MoD.
For a truly unique first-hand account of a British, UN officer's role in the Bosnian crisis buy this book - the author lost his legal case against the MoD and was lumbered with huge legal costs.
Now the rub. I feel this book commits a number of crimes of omission. For starters, there is practically no detail of the Crown's case against the author or even the outcome of the case. Given the prominence given in the promotional material for the book of his arrest etc, this is pretty disappointing. Like another reviewer, I would also have appreciated more coverage of the specific details discussed in meetings with the BSA top brass.
In addition, Stankovic unconsciously peddles the MoD and FCO line throughout the book of moral equivalence between all sides - ever ready to describe Muslim and Croat misdemeanours without any reference to the relative enormity of the atrocities committed predominantly by the BSA.
Never is the bigger picture of the war analysed and the author frequently criticises US involvement without ever considering that his own presence as part of a British / France sponsored UN spoiling tactic was fundamental to preventing successful military intervention on behalf of non-combatants. This is hardly surprising from a British officer born to a Serbian family.
In summary - this is an excellent read but the authors assertion that the book merely represents his perspective should be strongly born in mind.
For a truly unique first-hand account of a British, UN officer's role in the Bosnian crisis buy this book - the author lost his legal case against the MoD and was lumbered with huge legal costs.
Now the rub. I feel this book commits a number of crimes of omission. For starters, there is practically no detail of the Crown's case against the author or even the outcome of the case. Given the prominence given in the promotional material for the book of his arrest etc, this is pretty disappointing. Like another reviewer, I would also have appreciated more coverage of the specific details discussed in meetings with the BSA top brass.
In addition, Stankovic unconsciously peddles the MoD and FCO line throughout the book of moral equivalence between all sides - ever ready to describe Muslim and Croat misdemeanours without any reference to the relative enormity of the atrocities committed predominantly by the BSA.
Never is the bigger picture of the war analysed and the author frequently criticises US involvement without ever considering that his own presence as part of a British / France sponsored UN spoiling tactic was fundamental to preventing successful military intervention on behalf of non-combatants. This is hardly surprising from a British officer born to a Serbian family.
In summary - this is an excellent read but the authors assertion that the book merely represents his perspective should be strongly born in mind.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Must read
This is a gripping read. It's the only biography that's ever left me trembling from being transported into the author's world (in this case, a war zone!). Read more
Published 14 months ago by PenB
Highly recommended
This book should, along with Martin Bell's 'In Harm's Way', be recommended reading for anyone with an interest in the Bosnian war. Read more
Published on 10 April 2010 by N. Young
A Sordid Tale of a Sordid Time (Best By Far)
This has to be the best piece of writing by far covering the Balkan Conflict. Having served in Sarajevo durng this time with the UN Civilan Police I can assure you everything... Read more
Published on 27 Dec 2009 by Robert Ashley Lambert
The Best of the Lot
My copy of Trusted Mole, is now covered in red ink and pencil marks. I have consulted it on numerous occasions in recent years and every time I read it I am struck by the power and... Read more
Published on 19 April 2009 by Brendan O'Shea
BUY IT, READ IT AND THINK
As an aid worker in Bosnia at this time I was perplexed by what was going on, angry and frustrated. Milos Stankovic's book has filled in so many blanks for me and others who were... Read more
Published on 22 Nov 2008 by Mr. D. Hamilton
Absurdity of war in Bosnia
This is definitely one of the best books ever written on the Bosnian conflict and it does represent relatively most authentic version of events. Read more
Published on 18 April 2008 by D. Prusa
How the Tory's controversial policy in Bosnia wanted to wash its...
The main message of this book which the author is delivering to the reader is different from what I have seen by some reviewers in the first and second page of the book, namely... Read more
Published on 13 May 2007 by Isa Mulaj
The soldier as a human being
We met Milos Stankovic in the U.K. He was kind enough to give us a copy of his book. It was a generous gift and we received it in that spirit. We were then off to Rome on holiday. Read more
Published on 2 May 2007 by cc
Highly Recommended!
This should be mandatory reading for anyone who wants to understand the 92-95 BiH conflict!
Published on 23 Dec 2005 by Rjm Theunens
A very personal but incomplete momoir
In so far as it goes, the book is a personal memoir of a terrible yet spellbinding time in the life of Milos Stankovic. Read more
Published on 29 Mar 2004 by Alnista Capital Management Ltd
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