The Ghosts of Medak Pocket: The Story of Canada's Secret War

by Carol Off

Book Overview

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0679312935
• ISBN13: 9780679312932
• Release Date: January 2004
• Publisher: Random House Canada
• Length: 310 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Great book!

I appreciated the background on the region, the course of the events that lead to the Medak Pocket. the writing style, like Off's work on air, is straight head and to the point.I was enlighten:on the role of Canadian based Croatians in the eventsAs well on the US backing the regime while it conducted it's aggressions.But most of all I am in debt to the sacrifices our Forces make in confusing events like the Medak Pocket. I hope this book and others (for example: Shake hands with the Devil) force our nation to decide just what we want to do. Like the The UN itself, Canada seems a little confused on what it's role in the world is now. Whatever we decide, lets do it RIGHT and really support our troops in every way!I am passing this book around my friends, to ensure others know this story!

Well-written and fair, but not complete

Carol Off's The Ghosts of Medak Pocket is a generally well-written and informative book. It examines Canada's role as "peacekeepers" during the collapse of Yugoslavia in the early 1990's, and specifically the role of Canadian troops in protecting a Serb salient within Croatian territory in September 1993.The book begins with a helpful historical overview of the Balkans, and focuses upon the relationships of the different ethnic groups within the region. These relationships were not always marked by ethnic hatred and warfare, as the author rightfully points out. Off then moves to the breakup of Yugoslavia and the competing ideas that circulated after the end of the Cold War. One of the most interesting parts for me is the discussion of Canadian-Croatian émigré politics, and how these reactionary expatriates managed to influence the moderates back home. I wasn't certain to what degree émigré groups from other countries contributed to this, or how strong the moderate Croatian voice actually was, but this is a fascinating section nevertheless. We then see the creation of a special Canadian military unit, where members of the famous PPCLI and reservists are cobbled together to form a competent and professional group of soldiers. Against the backdrop of the Somalia debacle and federal government cutbacks, it is heartening to see such foresight and professionalism. The most gripping parts of the book are the chapters about the Canadians trying to carry out their mission in the UN "protected zones"; Off admirably describes the hopes and frustrations of the troops during this time. Finally, the book examines the weaseling, bureaucratic response to the needs of our soldiers upon their return.Off writes clearly and fluidly, and The Ghosts of Medak Pocket is easy to read. She presents both a broad historical context and dozens of personal recollections. In this way, we get a good overview of the events while never losing sight of the exhilaration and hell that the soldiers experienced. Carol Off also successfully navigates the twisted and arcane politics of Yugoslavia, and carefully describes the various loyalties and brands of nationalism that consumed the region. Her discussion of Franjo Tudjman's uneasy and ultimately fateful alliance with hard-core Croatian nationalists is particularly adept. Off recognizes the cruel ironies that often accompany combat: in this case, Canadians were fighting Croatian soldiers armed, in large part, by Croatian-Canadian expatriates and by Canadian allies like Germany and the US. There's even a suggestion that the Croatians attacked the Canadians using satellite maps provided by the CIA. Probably the strongest aspect of the book is the author's even-handedness. While the Serbians - the traditional bad-guys of the Yugoslav saga - are never portrayed as angels, Off exposes the depravity that certain Croats were also capable of. Indeed, some of the best parts of the book discuss Croatia's desire for clean "optics", even while

Accurate, but only scratches the surface

I was there. For years I wasn't believed when I spoke of what happened, even when I had photographs to back me up, so I stopped talking about it. Only my family and a few friends believed me at the tme, and I think it was mostly because I wasn't the same person who left for Croatia in April 1993. This book should be read by anybody who thinks peacekeeping is a warm and fuzzy, Sesame Street-type exercise. There is a reason why the soldiers who take part in these operations don't refer to it as peacekeeping but call it military operations other than war, or MOOTWA for short. We did what many couldn't or wouldn't do.

The Ghosts of Medak Pocket

Well researched and presented, Carol Off meticuloulsy navigates thru the complex history of the region to set the stage for the arrival of the Canadian "peace keepers" in 1992. It is high time that the story finally be told of how the Princess Patrica's Canadian Light Infantry(PPCLI)unit gallantly tried to seperate the Serb & Croatian combatants in an unsuccessfull attempt to protect Serb civilians within the hellish medak pocket, from Croat premeditated, ethnic cleansing. The book is balanced in that it shows that there is enough blame to be spread around to both sides of the greater conflict. One can have nothing but the deepest admiration for the members of the PPCLI (involved in this campaign)and sadness and shame at their disrespectful & contemptuous treatment at the hands of their senior military brass and the Canadian Goverment upon arriving back home.