Friday, March 20, 2009

Is the UN dead?

Here's an interesting article claiming Obama some folks in Washington want to create a NATO like organization to replace the UN. The new organization would include all democratic nations and not just those in the North Atlantic. The argument is the UN is outdated and "inefficient in dealing with local conflicts between small nations or between a great power and a small nation." If interested you can read the article here: Washington Plans Global NATO To Replace UN

6 comments:

DRL said...

I don't know what to think. I don't know that the the UN is outdated, however I do believe that the argument could be made that it is infective.
I do believe that some sort of "group of nations" needs to exist, if for nothing else, to mediate between countries that have come to ahead on communications. I would hope that this group would have no power, but they should still have a place to mediate and have quick access to one another or many at one time.

Doug said...

Well if you're looking for a group with no power the UN is a perfect fit.

DRL said...

Yea Doug, I agree, but it would be nice to have one with no power, yet is effective, Hu.

mat said...

It should be dead. They're useless. Or we should get out.

Ric Larson said...

I never liked the idea of the UN being on US soil. (One of my a sister-in-law's just so happens to work for the UN...unfortunately). Nor have I seen how the UN has ever been effective in much?

DRL said...

Well after WWII the UN has put out many embers that could have started a forest fire. They have skillfully negotiated many peace treaties. There humanitarian legacy is one not to be argued. Now saying that, the problem is they have no power or backbone. The countries involved have to make the decisions themselves. As well, much of what is done, is done out of posturing. A prime example is the Operation Iraqi freedom. There was a UN resolution to go to war if the resolution was ignored by Iraq. It was, and so we and a couple dozen other countries went to war. Some of those on the security council who voted (it was unanimous, if I remember) scolded those countries that followed the resolution.
Keep in mind I am in no way an expert on the UN. I like some, do not like it on U.S. soil. Too many diplomats get away with crimes and we can do nothing about it. If anything I commented is wrong, please correct me.