Late in 1993, General Romeo Dallaire was appointed to head the UN peacekeeping force in Rwanda. Dallaire optimistically thought that he might be a witness to history, in the form of the nation's first democratic elections. Instead, he and his skeleton force were spectators for a much darker, sicker historical episode--genocide. It is estimated that over 800,000 Rwandans were slaughtered during Dallaire's brief time in the country, while he implored his superiors to send more men and equipment, and did his best to set up triage stations with almost no supplies. The hindsight he provides in this in-depth account of the tragedy reveals an awful truth: the bloodshed could have been prevented if any Western nation had responded to Dallaire's repeated pleas for help, which are supported here with extensive documentation. The latter part of the book becomes a compelling personal drama as Dallaire honestly details how the post-traumatic stress of his experience almost cost him his family and his sanity.
- Genre: Biography + Autobiography, History, Current Affairs, Political Science
- Subgenre: World, Peace, International Relations / General, General
- Publisher: Da Capo Pr
- Pages: 562
- Edition: Reprint
- Language: English
- Format: paperback
- Release Date: December 20, 2004
- Date Published: December 20, 2004
- Author: Romeo Dallaire, Brent Beardsley