"Complicity with Evil": The United Nations in the Age of Modern Genocide

From the killing fields of Rwanda and Srebrenica a decade ago to those of Darfur today, the United Nations has repeatedly failed to confront genocide. This is evinced, LeBor maintains, in a May 1995 document from Yasushi Akashi, the most senior UN official in the field during the Yugoslav wars, in which he refused to authorize air strikes against the Serbs for fear they would 'weaken' Milosevic. More recently, in 2003, urgent reports from UN officials in the Sudan detailing atrocities from Darfur were ignored for a year because they were politically inconvenient. This book is the first to examine in detail the crucial role of the Secretariat, its relationship with the Security Council, and the failure of UN officials themselves to confront genocide. LeBor argues the UN must return to its founding principles, take a moral stand and set the agenda of the Security Council instead of merely following the lead of the great powers. Based on dozens of first-hand interviews with UN officials, current and former, and such international statesmen and women as Madeleine Albright, Richard Holbrooke, Douglas Hurd, and David Owen, this book will be much discussed as a new Secretary General is appointed.

About the Author :
Adam LeBor reported on the Yugoslav wars for the London Times and The Independent. He is the Central Europe Correspondent for The Times, covering the former Yugoslavia and the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague. He is the author of five previous books.

Review :
"The author makes a very strong case backed by research and investigation, and supported by quotations from key players in and around the United Nations." Diego Arria, former Venezuelan ambassador to the UN
--Diego Arria" A timely, important book about the way in which the UN has allowed itself to drift ineffectually in confronting the realities of genocide.I wish policy makers world-wide would read LeBor's trenchant analysis of where the international order has gone wrong. Margaret MacMillan, author of "Paris 1919: Six Months That Changed the World"
--Margaret Macmillan" LeBor's heartfelt appeal for UN reform points the finger at official Washington, which too often withholds support for the institution and instead panders to radical rightists seeking to destroy it. Roy Gutman, Foreign Editor at "Newsday" and author of "A Witness to Genocide"
--Roy Gutman" When the nations of the world are prepared to do something about genocide, beyond decrying it, they will have the use of Adam LeBor s scrupulous and unflinching history to remind them of the cost of inaction. Alan Furst
--Alan Furst" "The author makes a very strong case--backed by research and investigation, and supported by quotations from key players in and around the United Nations."--Diego Arria, former Venezuelan ambassador to the UN
--Diego Arria "A timely, important book about the way in which the UN has allowed itself to drift ineffectually in confronting the realities of genocide. I wish policy makers world-wide would read LeBor's trenchant analysis of where the international order has gone wrong."--Margaret MacMillan, author of "Paris 1919: Six Months That Changed the World"
--Margaret Macmillan "LeBor's heartfelt appeal for UN reform points the finger at official Washington, which too often withholds support for the institution and instead panders to radical rightists seeking to destroy it."--Roy Gutman, Foreign Editor at "Newsday" and author of "A Witness to Genocide"
--Roy Gutman "LeBor''s heartfelt appeal for UN reform points the finger at official Washington, which too often withholds support for the institution and instead panders to radical rightists seeking to destroy it."--Roy Gutman, Foreign Editor at "Newsday" and author of "A Witness to Genocide"
--Roy Gutman "When the nations of the world are prepared to do something about genocide, beyond decrying it, they will have the use of Adam LeBor's scrupulous and unflinching history to remind them of the cost of inaction."--Alan Furst
--Alan Furst & nbsp; " A timely, important book about the way in which the UN has allowed itself to drift ineffectually in confronting the realities of genocide.& nbsp; I wish policy makers world-wide would read LeBor''s trenchant analysis of where the international order has gone wrong. " -- Margaret MacMillan, author of Paris 1919: Six Months That Changed the World
" LeBor''s heartfelt appeal for UN reform points the finger at official Washington, which too often withholds support for the institution and instead panders to radical rightists seeking to destroy it. " -- Roy Gutman, Foreign Editor at Newsday and author of A Witness to Genocide
" When the nations of the world are prepared to do something about genocide, beyond decrying it, they will have the use of Adam LeBor ' s scrupulous and unflinching history to remind them of the cost of inaction. " -- Alan Furst
"The author makes a very strong case -- backed by research and investigation, and supported by quotations from key players in and around the United Nations." -- Diego Arria, former Venezuelan ambassador to the UN
" A timely, important book about the way in which the UN has allowed itself to drift ineffectually in confronting the realities of genocide. I wish policy makers world-wide would read LeBor''s trenchant analysis of where the international order has gone wrong." -- Margaret MacMillan, author of "Paris 1919: Six Months That Changed the World"
" LeBor''s heartfelt appeal for UN reform points the finger at official Washington, which too often withholds support for the institution and instead panders to radical rightists seeking to destroy it." -- Roy Gutman, Foreign Editor at "Newsday" and author of "A Witness to Genocide"
" When the nations of the world are prepared to do something about genocide, beyond decrying it, they will have the use of Adam LeBor' s scrupulous and unflinching history to remind them of the cost of inaction." -- Alan Furst
"The author makes a very strong case-- backed by research and investigation, and supported by quotations from key players in and around the United Nations."-- Diego Arria, former Venezuelan ambassador to the UN