It sometimes takes photographs to put into words what occurred in Rwanda in 1994. Especially for a Canadian like myself who's never been to Africa. Many photographs of the victims of the massacre are available on the Internet today. Looking at these helps to create images that you will see in your mind as you read this book. I don't agree with everything Mr Dallaire says. He seems good-hearted albeit angry and sometimes even left-wing, strangely for a military man. He does make a good case for our military, which I like, but in the book he discusses "human rights" and mentions "humanism", an ideology I disagree with. Throughout the book one gets the feeling that people are sucking up to him as they try to help him. But you also feel his frustration with the UN for its lack of will to properly build up the UNAMIR mission in Rwanda. A lot of the book was about diplomats, politicians, military figures, and a fair portion of the pages were dedicated records of Dallaire's meeting with Rwandan political and military figures, and he recalls what he was trying to decide about these people. Although it is non-fiction (tragically), the book is really layed out like a mystery novel; Dallaire often debates with himself about the possible connections between the former Rwandan government and military and power figures in surrounding countries and how the puzzle fits together, all while being understaffed and underpowered to properly carry out his mission. I watched the movie this book was based off of and it helps you to understand the book, although a huge portion of the book, namely the behind-closed-door scenes, were not filmed. It is hard to rate this book. Who "really likes" a book about a brutal end to an already brutal civil war in a small central African country? I bought it out of intrigue, wanting to read about what was happening in Africa at a time when I was watching 'The Lion King'. It is not an uninteresting book, but if you are not used to reading mystery novels or long books, it can take a while to finish. If you are willing to tolerate Dallaire's bitterness and tragic depressing storytelling, it is interesting enough.

Check out my review of Dallaire's work on my blog at: http://8bookcases.blogspot.com/2011/11/shake-hands-with-devil-by-romeo.html

Canadian force commander Romeo Dallaire tells his account of triumphs and failures of his time in charge of the United Nations peacekeeping mission during the Rwandan genocide. Human life was snuffed out at an alarming rate in a vile killing spree. The RPF (Rwandan Patriotic Front) consisted of two rebel groups, the Interhamwe and the Impuzamugambi. These two groups were comprised of a large Hutu population that was responsible for the barbarous slaughter of the Tutsi and pro-Tutsi Hutus. Within one hundred days between April and July, 1994 approximately 800,000 Tutsis were obliterated. I commend all the peacekeepers during this extremely difficult time when the world media and governing bodies ignored all their pleas for aide. It would have been just as easy for Romeo Dallaire to just give up and return to Canada but he felt that he and his fellow peacekeepers could not stand idly by. I bought this book without knowing too much of the atrocities that were in Rwanda but I knew enough that it would be a very difficult read. There are extremely graphic descriptions within the confines of this book dealing with rape and torture and the subject matter is not for the faint of heart. It is a must read for anyone in the political science field but I highly recommend it to anyone with a conscience. "We have lived through centuries of enlightenment, reason, revolution, industrialization, and globalization. No matter how idealistic the aim sounds, this new century must become the Century of Humanity, when we as human beings rise above race, creed, colour, religion and national self-interest and put the good of humanity above the good of our own tribe. For the sake of our children and of our future."

A very important read. Required reading for an Globalization and International Affairs majors.

Dallaire was a Canadian peacekeeper sent by the UN as commander of the peacekeeping effort in Rwanda a few months before the genocide in 1994. It was very interesting (and extremely frustrating at times) to read about what happened from this perspective. It was the perspective of the people on the ground who were trying with what (very) little resources they had (not nearly enough) to find peace in the country before the genocide and civil war broke out.

Lt. General Romeo Dallaire and his contingent of Officers are truly Canadian International heros. The UN abused him and all Canadians; they used him as a scapegoat by ignoring his pleas for troops, material and intelligence. He may not have completely averted all of the tragedies that took place..., - (until the ruling despots were permanently illiminated from the scene)..., - but certainly his successful interventions would have shown the UN that he and his Officers were more than merely insignifantl presences sent to the area only to showcase the presence of the UN. HOW MANY LIVES COULD HE HAVE SAVED ? How many lives would he and his Contingents have been credited of saving, had he been listened to and granted the respect of his analysis of the entire situation? The prime of the life of a great Canadian Officer was wasted on the un-caring prima-donnas of the UN. And to ad insult to injury, at the end of his mission, completely demoralized, yet unbeaten, he had to endure and live through a depression that bordered on insanity... thank God he recovered sufficiently intact to write this book. A TRUE CANADIAN HERO OF OUR TIMES.

I bought this book a few days after it was released and read it within a week. It is an extremely compelling account of the horrific Rwandan genocide from one of the few people who tried so hard to stop it. Dallaire pleaded with the UN and the powerful nations of the world to send him a few thousand troops, so that he could save hundreds of thousands of innocent lives. In the end, it seemed that ignoring what was happening in a tiny African country was more important to those nations than the lives of almost a million Africans.

I found this book difficult to follow but it was well worth the effort. The story is written by a Canadian Lt. General Romeo Dallaire during the Rwandian genocides in 1994. Dallaire went to Rwanda under the UN banner truly believing that the UN was going to make a difference in lives of the Rwandian people and bring peace and stability to this region. Instead, Hutu extremists slaughtered over 800,000 Rwandians with the majority being Tutsi. Dallaire does a good job in going beyond the "military" aspects of the events and actually dealing with the emotional effects of the events. It's what kept me reading. This event leaves Dallaire scared after seeing the gruesome events that he was unable to intervene in. His hands were tied by a number of different agencies and departments. When Dallaire goes home he has trouble coming to terms with the events in Rwanda and he tries to commit suicide and later diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. He got a medical release from the military. A fantastic book and well worth the time it takes to read.

Dallaire gives us one of the best accounts on the genocide in Rwanda, not only the historical background of the violence between the Hutu's and the Tutsi, but also make interesting parallels with Canada and its own difficulties between the anglo and franco phones. This raises many questions about not only the UN and it's matra of peacekeeping, but also of Canada's and its image of the helpful comrade. No one cared about Rwanda, it is landlocked and of no political or economic importance; but in this breathtaking retelling Dallaire shows that there was some people who really wanted to help Rwanda. He named the mission: United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda, for a reason. They were there for the people, and in many ways Dallaire has served the people of Rwanda and refuses to let this genocide be forgotten by the easily amused masses, popular culture and even the Canadian Government.

This book just reveals how horendous the events in Rwanda really were, and how nobody but the people there cared!