A brilliantly written and disturbing expose of attempts to 'keep the peace' in the modern world In recent years our televisions have beamed images of young men in blue helmets dropping from the skies into war-torn countries, sent to 'keep the peace'. But what really happens when they reach the frontline? Linda Polman witnessed the UN missions to Somalia; Haiti; Rwanda and Sierra Leone and met their frightened soldiers, mystified locals, and jaded mercenaries. In a voice that is utterly compelling she discovers the comic absurdities inside these 'peace-keeping' camps, and the truly horrifying reality outside. As she pays tribute to the bravery of some she also exposes, with breathtaking clarity, the human cost of our indifference.