We need the UN for many-many things. Don't be myoptic.
Peacekeeping is a huge job. We already have troops in 70+ nations and they are spread too thin. Adding the huge task of policing Iraq strains our system. We need Arab-speaking peacekeepers from the UN especially.
We also need the UN for food programmes, environmental programmes, doing a lot of the dirty humanitarian work of the third world, keeping in touch with the realities of the world, putting pressures on potential enemies who dont have tons of oil (making and invasion potentially pay for itself), etc. etc.
The Bush administration belittles the UN but they're key to the earth's management. Yes, sometimes we will strike without their approval, but that kind of thing ought to be kept to a minimum. After Iraq, in self-defense only, imminent danger to the US, that sort of thing. As this war gets complicated and messy you can feel the wrath of the world against us. If we had the UN behind us now no amount of Iraqi propaganda would hurt our image because we'd be 100% legitimate as we were during the Gulf War. And this incursion by Turkey could be worked out too.
American co do amazing things on its own, but not everything. We cant afford to. Nor should we want to. The right-wing has always dissed the UN so their voices are being heard loudly these days, but the vast majority of Americans would much prefer we work with the UN whenever possible. |
