Military Book Buzz

Buy What Happens After Mugabe?

The U.N. Security Council has unanimously condemned the Zimbabwean government because of violence that has marred the campaign leading up to a scheduled presidential election run-off, which forced the withdrawal of the opposition candidate Morgan Tsvangirai from the race.  Tsvangirai on Monday also called for the United Nations to investigate incumbent Robert Mugabe. Because the longtime president has said only God can remove him, Tsvangirai said, “my fear is that the people of Zimbabwe will become more desperate.”  He dropped out of Friday’s runoff after youth militias loyal to Mugabe attacked a political rally at a stadium in Harare. Tsvangirai said vote rigging and violence made a fair election impossible. 

Book Description:  After 25 years in power, Robert Mugabe is under increasing pressure to step down and allow democratic reform in Zimbabwe. Amnesty International rates the country among the worst for torture and abuse of human rights, the Commonwealth has suspended Zimbabwes membership, and even in Africa there is growing outrage at what some see as a rogue state. In the past five years, millions of words have been written about the tragedy — including more than a dozen books — but few have focused on what might happen when freedom comes.
As things stand, schools and hospitals have collapsed, a third of the population lives in exile and 3 000 people die of AIDS every week. Once Africas second-biggest exporter of food, 70 per cent of the country lives under conditions of famine in the wake of violent land reform.What will it take to rebuild Zimbabwe? This gripping, incisive book discusses many relevant issues and asks serious questions, including:
- Will 4 million exiles go home to a country with 80 per cent unemployment?
- Should there be war-crimes trials?
- Can the economy be revived?
-Where will the billions of dollars come from that are needed to put things right?What Happens After Mugabe is meticulously researched, with material drawn from hundreds of interviews inside Zimbabwe and among exile communities in Britain, the US and South Africa.

Buy Burma: The State of Myanmar
 

Author: David, I. Steinberg

Book Description:  Long isolated by rigid military rule, Burma, or Myanmar, is one of the least known, significantly sized states in the world. Author David Steinberg sheds new light on this reclusive state by exploring issues of authority and legitimacy in its politics, economics, social structure, and culture since the popular uprising and military coup of 1988. Exploring the origins of that year’s tumultuous events, Steinberg analyzes a generation of preceding military governments and their attempts to address the nation’s problems. This paperback edition includes a postscript that reveals the most current and critical issues facing Burmasince the publications of the original hardvoer in March 2001. Steinberg brings readers up to date on the recent release of political prisoners, economic and military conditions, United Nations actions, and the complex, ever-changing relationship between Thailand and Myanmar.  Now with the cyclone aftermath it has pushed Myanmar’s normally secretive ruling military junta to ask for aid and release details of the devastation. However, the U.N. said its aid workers were still waiting for visas to enter the country. It, the Red Cross and other aid organizations have been gathering supplies to ship to the country. The U.N. World Food Program said it has managed to begin distributing food in areas of Yangon and is preparing to send emergency supplies from across Asia. Preliminary WFP assessment reports confirmed tremendous storm damage to homes and shelters, and they said flooding and road damage means some areas are still cut off. Spokeswoman Bettina Luescher said, “Many areas are accessible only by boat, but many of the boats have been destroyed.” President Bush called on the military junta Tuesday to allow the U.S. to help with disaster assistance. This disaster will require a huge world humanitarian effort by government and military organizations requiring the normally secluded Myanmar military junta to open it’s doors to the world.