HumanrightsactivistandhistorianRoxanneDunbar-Ortizhasbeendescribedas“aforceofnatureonthepageandoff.“ThatforceisfullypresentinBloodontheBorder,thethirdinheracclaimedseriesofmemoirs.Seamlesslyblendingthepersonalandthepolitical,BloodontheBorderisDunbar-Ortiz’sfirsthandaccountofthedecade-longdirtywarpursuedbytheContrasandtheUnitedStatesagainstthepeopleofNicaragua.Withthe1981bombingofaNicaraguanplaneinMexicoCity--aplaneDunbar-Ortizherselfwouldhavebeenonifnotforadelay--theUS-backedContras(shortforloscontrarrevolucionarios)launchedamajoroffensiveagainstNicaragua’sSandinistaregime,whichtheReaganadministrationlabeledascommunist.WhileherrichpoliticalanalysisoftheUS-Nicaraguanrelationshipbearsthemarkofatrainedhistorian,Dunbar-Ortizalsowritesfromherperspectiveasanintrepidactivistwhospentmonthsatatimethroughoutthe1980sinthewar-torncountry,especiallyintheremotenortheasternregion,wheretheIndigenousMiskitupeoplewererelentlesslyassailedandnearlywipedoutbyCIA-trainedContramercenaries.ShemakespainfullycleartheconnectionsbetweenwhatmanyUSAmericanstodayrememberonlyvaguelyastheIran-Contra“affair“andongoingUSaggressionintheAmericas,theMiddleEast,andaroundtheworld--connectionsmadeevenmoreexplicitinanewafterwordwrittenforthisedition.Acompelling,important,andsoberingstoryonitsown,BloodontheBorderoffersadeeplyinformed,closelyobserved,andheartfeltviewofhistoryinthemaking.
