Unwinnable Wars: American Power and Ethnic Conflict

Callahan's book is a sober look at the mindset and condition of US policy makers in the face of ethnic conflict. He describes well the opportunity for policy makers to recognize that the traditional tools of diplomacy may no longer be adequate for dealing with these situations. While traditional diplomacy has historically been able to avoid the troubles of enthicly based conflict via strong military occupation (i.e. the Balkans under Soviet Rule and other colonial occupations) Callahan illustrates that there is no text book of philosophy or precedent to which policy makers can quickly refer for a ready made solution. Policy makes are left with a mix of apathy, frustraton and absence of clear policy goals in attemtping to resolve or otherwise influence these situtions. Policy makers must face the fact that they must learn to speak the language of ethnic conflict or face the inevitablly tragic consequences.While the world has watched the massive calamities of Rwanda, East and West Timor and other hot spots as world bodies seem to have ignored them, Callahan is careful enough to point out that these situations are extremely difficult to moderate even when there is deliberate and concereted effort to influence these situations. He cites anxious US diplomats in the Balkans seeking a peace as well as similar attemtps by US diplomats in Rwanada to mitigate the pending slaughter. While, he argues, ethnic conflict may not be totally eliminated, he does argue that with the appropriate sweat equity put in now, much of the tragedy that is waiting in the wings can be dramatically reduced if not postponed indefinitely. While not an action/adventure read for those seeking an emotional take on ethinic conflict, it is a good investment for those building a knowledge base on the current and future state of US policy making and policy making world wide.