Description
Book SynopsisThe 1998 Good Friday Agreement that ended the conflict in Northern Ireland left intriguing questions unanswered: who made the crucial decisions about the use of the British Army during the Troubles - the politicians or the generals? And how did these decisions shape the army's operations on the ground? In Whose Mission, Whose Orders?, David Charters pulls back the curtain on secret debates between British politicians and generals, as each struggled to assert their control over army operations. Consulting original sources, Charters examines the roles played by politicians, generals, and senior civil servants in the initial deployment of troops in 1969, the internment operation, the removal of the no-go areas, and the Ulster Workers'' Council general strike. The case studies highlight the army's dualistic character as both a professional force and a skilled political player. Despite its political function, Charters argues, politicians did not always listen to the army's military advice,
Trade Review" Whose Mission, Whose Orders? is well-written and researched, and addresses important questions about state-military responsibility in the early years of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The author is clear in his explanation and the book is coherent and convincing." Graham Spencer, University of Portsmouth " Whose Mission, Whose Orders? provides great insight into the decision-making process during a key time in Northern Ireland history." Tony Novosel, University of Pittsburgh
