The Peace Broker: Richard Butler

The Unorthodox Career of Richard Butler

As head of the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM), Richard Butler was one of the most powerful and controversial figures in world politics. This book tells the remarkable story of his humble beginnings in Bondi, his move into the diplomatic corps, his outstanding achievements in disarmament; and his two years at centre-stage in the ongoing war between the UN and Iraq.

'The Peace Broker' is both a compelling biography and a gripping behind-the-scenes account of negotiations between Iraq, Butler, the UN and its allies. It also explores the dangerous stockpiling of chemical and biological weapons in the Middle East and exposes the facts surrounding the alleged CIA infiltration of UNSCOM's operations in Iraq, divulged in interviews with UNSCOM inspectors who have only now revealed their stories.