Reviews (29)

Little Errors = Big Distortion?
It's a pretty good book. But it would be easier to believe if it didn't contain a bunch of little inaccuracies like this latest one I noticed:
Kofi Annan & Co allowed companies to ship substandard food and medicines to Iraqis under the Oil for Food program.
The US favored Saddam Hussein's Iraq as a bulwark against revolutionary Iran after 1979 as the lesser of two nasty regimes.Jacques Chirac, however, remarked of Hussein that "it was seen as progressive."France thereby gave Iraq a lot of extra slack; including selling Hussein a nuclear reactor (later decommissioned by Israeli aircraft).The U.N., in a similar vein, gave Hussein the benefit of any doubts it may have had about his intentions.The Oil for Food program was supposedly instituted to keep the Iraqi people alive and healthy while Saddam labored under U.N. imposed sanctions. Somehow, billions of dollars went unaccounted for, though.Benon Sevan was handpicked by Kofi Annan to run the program."The Vocker report [on the gross negligence of the program] concluded that Sevan indeed had 'solicited and received' oil allocations worth approximately 1.5 million."Yet Secretary Annan maintained that Sevan had served the U.N. "beyond the call of duty."What about the Iraqi people? Wasn't he tasked with looking out for their welfare?
Save Your Money
If you are tring to practice you Faux news allegiance I guess you'll enjoy this book.If you looking for fair honest information don't waste your time. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. International Relations - Diplomacy    2. National security    3. Political Freedom & Security - International Secur    4. Political Science    5. Politics / Current Events    6. Politics/International Relations    7. United Nations    8. United States    9. Political Science / International Relations   

Reviews (3)

A Tour d'Horizon of the UN's Successes and Failures
In 1945, in San Francisco, when the UN Charter was written, the victors of the Second World War were looking to create an international body that would guarantee global security and prevent another conflagration like the one they had just experienced.The lines from the Tennyson poem "Locksley Hall:" "Till the war-drum throbbed no longer, and the battle flags were furl'd / In the Parliament of Man, Federation of the World" were carried by President Truman in his back pocket when he gave his famous address calling for a United Nations.
Balanced assessment of the UN
There is not much new in this book for those who follow the UN, but it is a balanced assessment. His reform recommendations err on the conservative side, although he does show how the US Congress imposes limits on the organization and then blames it for not doing more. The book is intended for a general readership rather than scholars or those with an in-depth knowledge of the UN.

Moving forward, looking back
Analyzing almost sixty years of United Nations history is, to say the least, an ambitious undertaking. Kennedy has tackled the challenge admirably producing a substantive and very readable account of the "evolution of the many UNs since 1945".His previous participation in the review and reform process of the UN system adds to his qualifications.This study is an excellent entry for anybody interested in learning more about this unique institution, its origins, growth and progress into one of the most complex international organizations.
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Subjects:  1. General    2. History    3. International    4. International Relations (General)    5. International Relations - Diplomacy    6. International Relations - General    7. International relations    8. Political Science    9. Politics / Current Events    10. Politics/International Relations    11. United Nations    12. United States - General    13. Political Science / General   

Reviews (36)

Time to get out
Like many ideas, the desire to set up a structure such as the UN was probably well-motivated and a legitimate concept at the time. But a strong argument can be made that the UN no longer serves its original purpose, and may in fact be acting against its founding ideals.
Sinister institutions

Fascistic farrago of fallacies
Mr Babbin should note at least some of the following facts. The (unelected) Bush regime supports the integrationist EU. The UN General Assembly does represent the world's nations. The US state has consistently promoted the nuclear proliferation of its favoured allies - Israel and Pakistan for example. The author's technique is the McCarthyite smear - those who disagree with him (that is, most of the world's people) belong in an asylum.
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Subjects:  1. Government - U.S. Government    2. International Relations - Diplomacy    3. International relations    4. National security    5. Political Science    6. Politics / Current Events    7. Politics/International Relations    8. Terrorism    9. United States    10. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT    11. Political Science / General   

Subjects:  1. International    2. Law    3. Legal Reference / Law Profession    4. International law    5. Law / International    6. United Nations & UN agencies   

Editorial Review

While living in Argentina in 1960, Nazi leader Adolf Eichmann was kidnapped and smuggled to Israel where he was put on trial for crimes against humanity. The Read more

Reviews (39)

Evil as the absence of ....
In writing her book, "Thinking," Arendt claims that it was Eichmann's absence of thought that underlay his evil deeds; and that her conclusion drew her to write the book ("Thinking").
Very problematic theology
This is a philosophical book passed off as history.It is also a renowned and famous book.Arendt, famous for her affair with Nazi philosopher Hiedegger even after the Holaust and an expert on totalitarianism, presents the thesis that without the help of the collaborationist Jews in many of the Nazi occupied countries those Banal men who were 'just following orders' such as Eichman could not have acheived the Holocaust.Thus she pus the blame for the Holocaust squarely on the 'actions' of Jews while reserving no judgement for the Nazis who ran the camps(themsleves mostly collaborators such as French, Austrians, Ukrainians, Germans from non-German lands and Poles), those Nazis are 'banal' which is to say 'boring' and therefore uner the rubric of moral relativism their actions cannot be judged, after all anti-semitism was part of their 'culture' it was not their fault they murdered 6 million people, because some of those people went willingly.
i'VE JUST RE-READ THIS
AND WHO COMES TO MIND? W. CHENEY. RUMDSFELD.RICE.SANTORUM.GONZALES.
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Subjects:  1. 1906-1962    2. Eichmann, Adolf,    3. Europe - General    4. History    5. History - General History    6. History: World    7. Holocaust    8. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)    9. Jerusalem    10. Middle East - Israel    11. War crime trials    12. Eichmann, Adolf    13. Europe    14. History / Jewish    15. International humanitarian law    16. The Holocaust   

Reviews (7)

Nonsense
This book is what happens when zealots with a political agenda try to mask their actions as being compassionate.There is deliberate twisting of Hague convention rules of warfare to fit their marxist utopian vision (NY defense lawyers, surprise surprise).Fortunately, judging from the other reviews here, they seem to be preaching only to the same, small clueless choir.I imagine that since the author is personally involved in the matter he has financial reasons to publicize the "torture".

The Torture Papers:Road to Abu Ghraib
This is an excellent resource for any serious scholar or researcher dealing with the laws of war, the Iraq War or torture issues.It is a broad compilation of original source material, mostly post 9/11; with its depth (over 1200 pages), it may be too much for the casual reader (if so, try Torture and Truth, by Mark Danner), but for serious research, it is essential.
Making Men Scream in Our Name
This comprehensive and current compilation makes clear that our government has sanctioned practices not only outlawed by international conventions against torture, to which we are signatories, but which discracefully echo the techniques of tyrants through the ages. The documentation will make it impossible for Americans to claim that they didn't know what is being done in our name. This work should be required reading for every citizen as our nation confronts an official policy that claims our only defense against terrorism is our own use of teror and torture. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Atrocities    2. General    3. History - General History    4. History - U.S.    5. International    6. Iraq    7. Iraq War, 2003    8. Iraq War, 2003-    9. Law    10. Prisoners and prisons, America    11. Prisoners and prisons, American    12. Torture    13. United States - 21st Century    14. International humanitarian law    15. Law / General   

Reviews (3)

The author IS the prize.
Carol's book is an excellent insight into how the struggle for human rights was hampered by the motives of so many players who ultimately brought the force of human rights in the United Nations from a roar to a soft meow. Her voice is fresh and very well informed. I will also admit to a personal bias because I heard Carol speak at the Truman Presidential Library in July of 2006 and it was the passion of her presentation that brought me to read her book. In my opinion, her writing is a close second to seeing her speak in person and I am thankful for having hadsuch a privelege. I look forward to reading her next books and being her personal groupie- Carol Anderson ROCKS!

Understanding Race in the U.S. today
This book was incredible for several reasons. As an African American, I struggle to understand why so little has changed in relations between blacks and whites in this country and more importantly, why there seems to be a deeply entrenched systemic barrier to real progress (economic, political, social and cultural) for many African Americans. Eyes off the Prize highlights the enormous difference between struggling for human rights versus concentrating solely on civil rights-I'd never really thought about the fact that those aren't the same struggles. The Illusion of Substantive Racial Progress
For the sake of full disclosure, I'm a colleague of Carol Anderson's at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Yet, notwithstanding our friendship, I can objectively state that EYES OFF THE PRIZE is must reading for individuals seeking insights as to why America's racial problems persist. Read more

Subjects:  1. 1877-1964    2. 20th century    3. African Americans    4. Civil rights    5. Ethnic Studies - African American Studies - Histor    6. History    7. History: American    8. Human rights    9. Sociology    10. United States    11. United States - 20th Century    12. United States - General    13. American history: postwar, from c 1945 -    14. Black studies    15. Civil rights & citizenship    16. History / United States / 20th Century    17. USA   

Reviews (5)

Absolute Classic
Things are quite simple. If there is A contemporary debate in jurisprudence, it is the so-called Hart/Dworkin debate. It all starts with this wonderful book that cuts deeply and challenges the theory of legal positivism on many levels. As for the theory of rights, Dworkin is a proponent of one of the most coherent, interesting and complex articulations of liberalism. In short: to the extent that fundamental rights are in play, the "political majority" (if such a thing exists) does not have the moral right totell members of the minority what to do with their own lives. Is not this a simple but powerful moral truth?

Tyranny of a minority
Dworkin's thesis is that a tyranny of a minority is better than a tyranny of the majority. His argument is based on rigorous logic. But Justice Holmes observed that, "The life of the law has not been logic, it has been experience." Dworkin's theory is similar to those of Plato and Marx. But experience with the latters' theories has been negative. For an analysis of that experience, read Kark Popper's The Open Society and Its Enemies.

His Logic is Flawless
... and this is a welcome breeze in the current political fog of an America drowning in six-shooters and visceral-response-teams. The Dworkin-challenge before us is the discovery of rights as emanating from the individual, and their use in daily life. This is where Dworkin may break down. Unlike Dershowitz's "Shouting Fire", for example, Dworkin does not write as if there is a human behind the logic who is actually extolling our necessary freedoms. Perhaps it is just me, but I'd like to hold on to and celebrate my rights and yours; I'd also like to affect change-- as would Dworkin, on a global scale. Though he sees humanity's natural path to decency, his writing "feels" far too cold to be effective.Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Philosophy    3. Human rights    4. International humanitarian law    5. Philosophy / General   

Reviews (24)

A keeper
Reading the posted reviews can give someone an idea of what a great treasure this book.Wouldn't be without it, as I find after many years I still get something fresh at each reading.He was incredibly loved by the UN staff, and the pages of Markings give you real insight as to why this was.And admirable man, an admirable book.Certainly a book to be re-read NOW -- as the world is going so terrible wrong -- if we are to learn what the path of righteousness is all about.A true reflection that believes in loving your neighbor as yourself and loving God above all things.

Markings is Awesome!!
This is my FOURTH COPY of this book; lent one out that was never returned... guess they liked it too! I always admired the late Secy-Genl of the UN, which is why I first picked up and bought this book. Don't miss out on a wonderful book!

Timeless Reading
This is a book of mental depth not often found on a public bookshelf.Dag Hammarskjold kept his journal consistantly/regularly and then left written permission for it to be printed following his death. I found it to be, primarily, a "true profile" of the man, and then also an accurate historical document as I traced Hammarskjold's innermost thoughts connected to the history of the time.I believe this book has held our attention over so many years, because most humans on a spiritual quest can truely relate to his inner thoughts of relationship to God/ soul/ consciousness.
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Subjects:  1. Inspirational    2. Inspirational - General    3. Movements - Humanism    4. Religion    5. Peace studies    6. Philosophy / Humanism    7. United Nations & UN agencies   

Subjects:  1. Law    2. Legal Reference / Law Profession    3. Political Freedom & Security - Human Rights    4. Political Science    5. Politics/International Relations    6. Ethics & moral philosophy    7. Human rights    8. International humanitarian law    9. International relations    10. Jurisprudence & philosophy of law    11. Law / Human Rights   

Subjects:  1. General Assembly    2. General Assembly.    3. Globalization    4. Human Rights    5. International Relations - Diplomacy    6. International Relations - General    7. Legal Reference / Law Profession    8. Ngos (Non-Governmental Organizations)    9. Political Advocacy    10. Political Freedom & Security - Human Rights    11. Political Science    12. Politics / Current Events    13. Politics/International Relations    14. United Nations    15. United Nations.    16. Universal Declaration of Human    17. Universal Declaration of Human Rights    18. Political Science / NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations)   

Reviews (1)

Best summary available on the UN
The chief cause of opposition to the United Nations is lack of knowledge about what it is, what it does, what it can do and what it cannot do.If I were to pick one volume to help both supporters and critics understand what the United Nations is, this book would be it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. International    2. International Relations - General    3. Political Science    4. Politics / Current Events    5. Politics/International Relations    6. Reference    7. United Nations    8. United Nations & UN agencies   

Reviews (1)

"On Lawfare": Short and Focused
In the Shield of Achilles Phillip Bobbitt has recently written on the mutual relation between law and strategy. In the realm of emergency, the distinction between the two becomes relatively thin. Bobbitt's book demonstrates that at certain times, strategic "imperatives" have generated legal regimes. A point that Bobbit has overlooked, however, is the use of law as a strategic instrument. This is what might be called, not so much the instrumentalization, but the "weaponization" of law. In this short book, David Kennedy refers to what military commanders call "lawfare", the use of law, particularly humanitarian law, as a shield and a sword, by organized militaries, partisans, insurgents, and terrorists alike. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. International    2. Law    3. Legal History    4. Legal Reference / Law Profession    5. Military    6. Military - General    7. Public Policy - General    8. War (International law)    9. International Law    10. International humanitarian law    11. Law / Military    12. Political Science and International Relations   

Reviews (2)

UN informative
For those that are curious about the UN, this book is very informative about the duties and various sectors of the UN.

Subtle but pervasive pro-US bias
The revisions contained in the third edition are the work of Lawrence Ziring, professor at the University of Western Michigan. Ziring is a not an obvious candidate to be writing what is designed to be a textbook on the UN.He has publicly supported U.S. policies which are contrary to the spirit and the letter of U.N. principles, including the `humanitarian' bombings in Yugoslavia and U.S. attacks on alleged terrorist camps in Afghanistan and the biological weapons plant (which later turned out to be a pharmaceuticals factory) in Sudan.Ziring is also a member of the Atlantic Council, a Washington-based think-tank with people such as Robert McNamara and James A. Baker on its board of directors.The Atlantic Council focuses primarily upon supporting expanded roles for NATO.Read more

Subjects:  1. 1945-    2. General    3. International    4. International Relations - General    5. International organization    6. Political Science    7. Politics / Current Events    8. Politics/International Relations    9. United Nations    10. World politics    11. Political Science / General    12. United Nations & UN agencies   

Subjects:  1. (1998)    2. Criminal Law    3. Criminal Law - General    4. International    5. International Criminal Court    6. International criminal courts    7. Law    8. Legal Reference / Law Profession    9. Rome Statute of the Internatio    10. Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court    11. International human rights law    12. International humanitarian law    13. Law / International    14. Law | International Law | International Criminal and Humanitarian Law    15. Treaties & other sources of international law   

Subjects:  1. Commercial    2. Commercial - General    3. International    4. Law    5. Legal Reference / Law Profession    6. Taxation    7. International economic & trade law   

Subjects:  1. Civil war    2. Human Rights    3. Humanitarian law    4. International    5. Law    6. Legal Reference / Law Profession    7. Legal status, laws, etc    8. Political Freedom & Security - Human Rights    9. Protection of civilians    10. Securities    11. War victims    12. Armed conflict    13. International humanitarian law    14. International relations    15. International space & aerospace law    16. Law of the sea    17. Political Science / International Relations   

Reviews (3)

Malignant tumor
In Diplomatic Divorce, Kilgannon shows why the UN is inherently flawed and cannot be reformed. It is a failed institution that provides false hope and feeds a bunch of parasites. America should get out of what he calls this global cult with its far reaching tentacles and sinister intentions.
Kilgannon delivers a conservative classic!
Tom Kilgannon, along with Ollie North and others, helped show me the difference between being a Republican and a conservative.True to form, Diplomatic Divorce is a brutally honest look at what most globalists don't want Americans to know and most Americans seem blissfully unaware.Writes Kilgannon: "Here at home, they have captured the Democratic Party and are making in-roads in the GOP. They are forcing the United States to answer to a higher earthly authority. From trade to national security to tax policy to the Internet, advocates of universal government want to make the decisions that will chart America's future. In some cases, they already are. Whether we like it or not, we are in a war for America's destiny."
Great Read
Thomas Kilgannon is truly one of the leading thinkers on the United Nations.He uses sound research and apt editorializing to present his case why involvement in the United Nations is detrimental to the sovereignty of the United States.
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Subjects:  1. 21st century    2. Foreign relations    3. International Relations - Diplomacy    4. International Relations - General    5. International relations    6. Political Ideologies - General    7. Political Science    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Politics/International Relations    10. United States   

Reviews (15)

Intriguing Look At The Meaning of The Nuremberg Trials
As a person who has read a number of books relating to tghis subject, nothing so defines the striking differences between the nature of the Third Reich from the constitutional democracies that largely comprised the Allies as the way in which the defendants of the trials at Nuremberg were handled. With painstaking precision and at extraordinary cost in terms of international arm-twisting and back-door deals, the proponents of a judicial proceeding designed to illustrate the manifest individual guilt of the various Nazi officials forged a result that still stands today as a model of a non-retributive effort in the face of extraordinary pressure. While one can hardly describe the Nuremberg trials as unflawed or perfect, they did prove to the world that the Allies were willing to subscribe to the existing canon of law to judge the actions of the Nazis. Monsters of the Dritte Reich, or just a mirror?
Ever have the urge to get into the mind of a monster just to see how he thinks? Sound like another serial killer book? Well, in a sense, Nuremberg Diary is that, but it is so much more as well. A Chilling Look at Evil and Justice
'Nuremberg Diary' is Gustav Gilbert's narrative of the time he spent with the defendants of the Nuremberg War Crimes Trial after WWII. As the prison psychiatrist, Gilbert was given access to all the prisoners and the resulting conversations form the basis of this book. From the unrepentant, pompus bravado of Hermann Goering to the disgusting anti-semitism of Julius Streicher to the absent minded Joachim von Ribbentrop to the humbled Albert Speer, this work proves a keen insight into the men who at one time controlled an empire, but who now faced the world's final justice. Thought-provoking, chilling, and at times even moving, Gilbert's 'Nuremberg Diary' will stand forever as an important witness against Nazi barbarism. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1911-    2. Diaries    3. Germany    4. Gilbert, G. M.,    5. History - General History    6. History: World    7. International    8. Military - World War II    9. Nuremberg War Crime Trials, Nu    10. Nuremberg War Crime Trials, Nuremberg, Germany, 1946-1949    11. Prison psychologists    12. Psychology    13. United States    14. War criminals    15. Biography: general    16. International humanitarian law    17. The Holocaust   

Reviews (2)

Spotlight on Corruption