I think those in your camp really want a UN that bends unconditionally to America's will. I am an American too, but i consider such views destined for the dustbin of historical failure.
Well you are arguing against your own straw man here. I never said I was in any camp, and I never said the UN should bend to America's will.
I do think the UN should agree that removing a dictator that the UN has spend 12 years sanctioning is a good thing. They may not have liked the removal process, but they sure oughtta like the result.
For example, if you think it is the UN's role to remove leaders it considers illegal or dangerous, why are we not insisting that this be done by force with NK or Iran, or Pakistan to mention a few?
I don't know that that is the UN's role, but I think it should be. I think that would be good for world peace. I entirely support the idea of removing NK or Iranian leadership if they are deemed illegitimate or dangerous by the UN. Especially if they are deemed as such for an ENTIRE DECADE, and appear to be making zero efforts to modify themselves to the modern world.
It's not like any country in the entire planet wants to put Saddam back in charge.
Anoter example... UN members such as France, Germany, Russia, China and other smaller members asked for time so inspectors in country with unprecedented access to the country in question, thanks no doubt to the military threat applied by the US?
If France, Germany, Russia and China had exerted the pressure that generated the unprecedented access, their requests would have carried more weight in my view. But those countries didn't put 140k troops on Iraqi borders. They did NOTHING material to improve the Iraq situation for the decade of the 1990s. NOTHING. So when the US decides to enforce 12 years of sanctions, the fact that those guys suddenly don't want to enforce their own UN resolutions is just a bit too ridiculous be given serious weight in the decision.
If France, Germany, Russia and China had said to George wait 6 more months, and we will foot the ENTIRE bill for all the coalition soldiers sitting on the Iraqi borders in the middle of summer, I'll bet George might have waited! In other words, if they were at all involved, rather than the sideline sitting SPOILERS that they were, they might deserve more attention.
I think the intentions of France, Germany, Russia and China are clear when even though the "war" part of Iraq is over, they still refuse to contribute much of ANYTHING to rebuilding Iraq.
Why are you calling a failure a path that was never given a chance to be exercised? And, knowing now that in fact inspections kept Saddam in the box and unable to re-arm, AND, seeing the disastrous results of the US rush to war, how can anyone consider this a failure of the UN?
Simple - if the UN had given its blessing to the action, and the countries you listed above had participated in the war and the current rebuilding effort, I believe the insurgency in Iraq today would be much, much less. Don't you? THAT is where the UN has failed, the UN's lack of participation made the current action look like an American action rather than a worldwide action.
Does anyone on the planet think that Saddam was going to turn peaceful given enough time? No.
And Saddam had 12 years to voluntarily disarm, and he did not do so to the satisfaction of the UN's own people. Don't kid yourself that he was going to turn into an angel IF HE ONLY HAD ANOTHER THREE MONTHS. Sheesh!
First you should explain the refusal of the US to allow the UN a full partnership at the table of how Iraq should be manouvered into the future. Overtly and stupidly telling member nations to forgive Iraqi debt, provide troops and money, but giving no say in the political and physical reconstruction effort, and excluding nations from even bidding....can you really expect anything but a loud FU from these other countries, with which Bush says he has negotiated in good faith.
It's the UN's job to promote understanding between countries and world peace, not thumb its nose and get upset when the US acts against UN wishes. The UN could be in Iraq now helping rebuild the country. It is barely involved. |
