Veto - a Review

Veto is a political thriller written by Ed Griffin. This book takes you behind the scenes at the United Nations, and it makes you think. Does the UN need to be reformed?

Pilar Marti is the first female Secretary-General of the UN. Her first day begins with an appointment that she is having serious problems forgetting. No matter how she tries to forget, it plagues her memory and her conscience. Her first meeting was with the Somali Ambassador to the UN. He comes to tell her one thing – the people of his country need water. To emphasize this point and show their desperation, he presents some pictures to her. There are photos of shriveled trees, dead animals, and emaciated children, but only one captures the attention of Pilar. This one haunts her. In it she sees a woman sitting underneath a tree, and this woman appears to be staring straight at Pilar. Her eyes seem to be pleading with her for water.

The Ambassador pleads with Pilar to visit Somalia to give his people hope and bring them water. Pilar is torn. Who wouldn't want to provide water for these desperate people? But Somalia is a no man's land right now. Pictures of an American pilot's body being dragged through the streets of Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, is still fresh in everyone's mind. There is no way that such a visit by her would be approved by the UN.

Pilar still visits Somalia and is determined to help these people, but she can't seem to get help for them the way she knows it needs to be done. So she does it in a sneaky, roundabout way. She visits Somalia again to be sure the rice and water are loaded onto UN trucks, and not stolen by the warlords. She stands up to the warlords and ends up helping to pack it on the UN trucks herself. Her UN associates are angry, and they call for her impeachment.

It seems to Pilar as though the true needs of Somalia are being ignored for selfish, greedy reasons. She uses her anger in a constructive way, though, and makes it her mission to change the way the UN works. The mission proves to be a dangerous one, and there are those who are out to stop her in any way they can.

Pilar's life is now in danger. If she is killed, what will happen to the people of Somalia? If she manages to survive, will she be able to ensure that these people are helped?

If you love political thrillers, or if you are a student of history or politics, you will love this book. You are taken inside the UN, and you are present at their sessions. While reading an engrossing novel, you get to see what goes on behind closed doors and listen in as deals are made. Do the nations of this world need for the United Nations to change the way it operates? Would it be able to extend its help to more nations if it was reformed?

I received this book free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review. If you would like a copy of this book to read and enjoy yourself, I have provided an Amazon link for you below. The first link is for the actual book copy, the second link is for a Kindle copy.


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