Blame Put Where It Belongs, for Once!
July 17th, 2006 | by Craig R. Harmon |The world has turned upside down and no one noticed. Israel bombs Lebanon, gruesome pictures of dead Arabs, killed by Israelis, are beamed around the world and some Arab leaders are blaming Hezbollah! Will wonders never cease? If things keep up like this, we might witness the U. N. turned into an effective force in the world! I’m not holding my breath, mind you…
5 Responses to “Blame Put Where It Belongs, for Once!”
By Jersey McJones on Jul 17, 2006 | Reply
Oh jeez – more UN bashing… blah blah blah…
JMJ
By Craig R. Harmon on Jul 17, 2006 | Reply
I someone contending that the U. N. is currentlyan effective force in the world?
By Paul Watson The Cranky Brit on Jul 17, 2006 | Reply
Craig,
The UN isn’t effective because the countries that make it up won’t let it be. Examples: The infamous veto before the Iraq War. Or the US vetoing a 100 to 0 vote condemning Israel for destroying civillian infrastructure (which is a war crime, btw).
If you want the UN to act without consensus, then try and change it to do that, but realise that that will mean giving it a military presence of its own and the ability to act without the Security Council approving things. And right now, given America’s popularity in the world, you might find it acting against you and your allies rather a lot.
The UN operates on consensus. Given how split the international community is, that won’t happen. But if you want it to operate without consensus, expect it to take very cotnroversial decisions.
By Craig R. Harmon on Jul 17, 2006 | Reply
Paul,
I don’t want the U. N. to do anything, with or without consensus. I’m merely pointing out that if it is an ineffective organization, and it sounds like you agree that it is, why should I be criticized for pointing out that it is ineffective? I just find it funny that I should wish for it to become an effective organization, see in this a sign that it might become effective, and I get shit for pointing out the truth and hoping it get’s better.
That’s all.
By Paul Watson The Cranky Brit on Jul 18, 2006 | Reply
Sure, Craig, but as far as the Arbas are concerned it’s less effective because it was prevented from criticising Israel. I just pointed out that in order to be effective, it would have to change fundamentally and could not run by consensus because consensus reduces the speed of response and the depth of response, thus reducing effectiveness quite sharply. The UN is ineffective if you want swift action, but it, or whatever we come up with to replace it, always will be ineffective because of that need. But a talking shop provides a useful function and its humanitarian side is quite effective.
Given Israel’s response is as much a war crime as Hezbollah’s, and the fact that the troops may have been in Lebanon (or, as is more likely, disputed territory between the two that Israel captured but Lebanon still regards as its) who started this particular round of blood-letting isn’t as clear as it might seem at first.