Meet the Author – Tim Martin

Presenter: Tim Martin

Join us at the Lake of the Woods Museum as we celebrate the launch of Tim Martin’s new book Unwinnable Peace: Untold Stories of Canada’s Mission to Afghanistan. Tim will offer remarks and readings from his book and will be available for questions and discussion. Admission is by donation.

Unwinnable Peace: Untold Stories of Canada’s Mission to Afghanistan

Canada’s longest war (2001-2014) pushed military, diplomatic, judicial and humanitarian organizations to their limits. Was it in vain?

Based on interviews with twenty-one key decision-makers and participants, many of whom are speaking publicly for the first time, Unwinnable Peace recounts the personal and professional challenges faced by individuals deeply committed to securing and rebuilding Kandahar province.

• Diplomats planting seeds of democracy in a society dominated by warlords
• Aid workers bringing relief and development to shattered communities
• Mounties struggling to improve a corrupt  and illiterate police force
• A young foreign service officer who suffered life-changing injuries
• Prison experts bringing international standards to a jail used for torture
• The Canadian and Afghan generals  who fought the Taliban
• And Afghan-Canadian who risked his life to govern the province of Kandahar
• Interpreters desperate to save their families from retribution

These are the men and women who still struggle to reconcile their sacrifices with the eventual Taliban victory.  The author has unparalleled access to key decision makers involved in all aspects of the mission — military, political, diplomatic, policing, humanitarian–many of whom were previously unable to speak publicly. This volume provides valuable insights for diplomatic, civilian and military personnel working in failed states around the world.

About the Author

Tim Martin was the last Representative of Canada in Kandahar (RoCK).  A career diplomat, he served in Ethiopia, Sudan, Eritrea, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and Somalia and held ambassador level positions in the Palestinian Territories, Argentina and Colombia.  Tim has been honoured with three medals in addition to the Award of excellence in the Public Service for Canada’s humanitarian assistance to Palestinian children affected by conflict.