Product Description

The men and women of the British armed forces are currently engaged in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Balkans in 'peacekeeping operations'. How do we avoid these missions turning into long-term entanglements, like the current disaster that is Iraq? How do we bring our soldiers home? And what do we do about 'failed states' that are havens for gangsters and terrorists? Paddy Ashdown fears we will soon see major wars between nation states. Many will begin as minor conflicts that will expand into full-scale wars unless the international community intervenes. The way to stop the big wars is to deal promptly with the small ones. There have been 15 UN-led interventions since 1946, and there are 74 wars in progress today. From his perspective as a former Royal Marine officer in the 1960s to the High Representative in Bosnia from 2002-6, Lord Ashdown is uniquely qualified to investigate the successes and failures of peace-keeping operations, reveal what lessons have been learned -- and what lessons keep being forgotten. (The US strategy in Iraq serves as a 'how not to' example in almost every subject area.) His discussion of the highs and lows of previous missions includes George Robertson and the celebrated 'Chivas Regal Accords' negotiated in Balkan hotel bars. He points out that planning for post-war government in Germany began in 1943, two years before the guns fell silent. By contrast, George Bush sacked the teams working on plans for post-Saddam Iraq just as US and British forces invaded in 2003. The men and women of our armed forces will be called to take part in many more of these missions in the next few years. SWORDS AND PLOUGHSHARES reveals the strategies required to avoid another Iraq-style disaster.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #308620 in Books
• Published on: 2007-05-17
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 338 pages

THE ECONOMIST
"Few people are better qualified to write about muscular international intervention than muscular Paddy Ashdown... so his book... has plenty to recommend it."

Review
"Few people are better qualified to write about muscular international intervention than muscular Paddy Ashdown... so his book... has plenty to recommend it." (THE ECONOMIST )

"What makes Ashdown attractive is his down-to-earth approach, his independence and his frankness." (ADAM ROBERTS THE INDEPENDENT )

"plainly written... He says it is not a primer, but it will rightly be taken as one... many sensible arguments." (MARTIN WOOLLACOTT THE GUARDIAN )

"Ashdown is the best qualified person to tackle the question of whether intervention is justified and if so how it can succeed." (RICHARD BEESTON THE SPECTATOR )

MARTIN WOOLLACOTT, THE GUARDIAN
"plainly written... He says it is not a primer, but it will rightly be taken as one... many sensible arguments."

Customer Reviews

Compulsory reading for all the politicians and diplomats currently making policy.
A fascinating book by someone with a great deal of experience. It should be compulsory reading for all the politicians and diplomats currently making policy. At times it is quite heavy for the lay reader like me, but it certainly makes you think about the problems that begin when a military conflict ends. You wonder why people like Mr Ashdown weren't listened to when it was decided to go into Afghanistan and Iraq! I hope this book will make people on both sides of the Atlantic think about the way forward and the consequences of what appears quick and easy military action.

A must buy for those interested in international relations and policy makers.

Detailed perspective of post conflict handling.
In this book Ashdown looks at some of the problems, issues and political challenges for post - conflict regions.

From his experience as working as a High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegivina, he immediately has some credibility. Some of his points are very simple but very relevant such as his argument that rogue leaders often fear international criminal courts more than wars. It would much more sense if we gave these courts more gravitas and get the despots on trial rather than accept policies that entail colateral damage and all sorts of civilian misery. Please take note US administration.

He also stresses the importance of understanding other cultures. He makes the point, the Muslim religion has a sense democracy in it. Every Imam is elected. These means the Imans and Mullahs must be listened to, if one wishes to guage public opinion. There's undertones as well as some much needed political sense here. We need to understand the Muslim world and culture of Islam.

I think this would be a good book for anyone studying or working in foreign policy. My only critism would be is that, the abudance of facts and detailed diplomatic speak can make it a bit dry to read at times.