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The Forum > Article Comments > Power games > Comments

Power games : Comments

By John Langmore, published 14/6/2006

After 60 years the United Nations is in crisis as developed and developing countries jockey for power.

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It's time the UN was housed in some other country.

Bolton's NSA probably has the dunnys wired too. I wonder where Robert Hill goes for a private chat?

Also it's difficult to imagine having a conversation with Bolton that doesn't call for the application of a roll of strong duct tape. I can't see how any sensible reforms can be implemented now that the US is so clearly hell-bent on world domination for their economic masters.

Until that Gorgon is slain, it's all piddling in the wind....
Posted by Chris Shaw, Carisbrook 3464, Wednesday, 14 June 2006 10:45:12 AM
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The big bad US making things tough for the UN again? The UN needs the US more than the US needs the UN.
Posted by Leigh, Wednesday, 14 June 2006 11:40:26 AM
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We all need the U N more than we need the power politics, even world domination, of the USA.The Colonial era has reached its use by date as has realist foreign policy. I note in passing that a recent bagger of the UN now calls for its services in E Timor.
Posted by untutored mind, Wednesday, 14 June 2006 11:50:51 AM
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That Bolton is an embarrassment to his country. He is the personification of everything that is bad about America with a total absence of the good American qualities. Politics aside, I hope that guy burns in hell.
Posted by Carl, Wednesday, 14 June 2006 2:07:56 PM
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Ask any New Yorker, they would love to see the UN moved - probably to some place like Rowanda where only those really interested in a United Nations would bother to go.

Because the UN has been admitting every banana republic that applies and gives them all equal votes much of the important work of the UN is totally hamstrung due to all the various personal/cultural/national and racial interests that get attached to every motion brought to a vote.

I would like to see Bolton successful in his endeavors to improve the efficiency and efficacy of the UN. And so what if he is representing the US interests? The US pays a very large portion of the UN budget so it should have a say in the way it's money is spent.
Posted by Bruce, Wednesday, 14 June 2006 5:18:10 PM
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The question is, do we really need the UN? What does it actually achieve? It makes a lot of rules without any practical means of enforcement. It offers condemnation to countries guilty of naughty behaviour. And, in an era when colonialism is apparently dead, it passes judgments and makes decisions based on western ideals.

I think we need a forum for decisions that affect the world as a whole, but the current UN doesn't seem to be doing its job too well. I don't have the answer, but I do think serious reforms are in order.
Posted by Otokonoko, Wednesday, 14 June 2006 11:12:00 PM
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Australian politician: Dr Evatt the founded of the United Nations. He never set this up for the Americans manage the everyday UN functions, not did he ever envision the prioritiy for wealthey countries. Some of the countries that they reject on the security council have larger populations that the US.
The League of Nations failed because the British Empire made it so. Once that hinderance was systmatically undermined by British, the stage was open for their mates in Serbia: the black hand: to shoot Prince Ferdinand of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Great war started just as Britain wanted.

Similarly, George Bush and his good mates: The Bin Laden Family created a great performance in destroying the World Trade Centre. Bush immediately flew the crime suspects out of the country with all the contracts. This undermined the UN. The US wanted its war at all costs for its empire, at the expensense of the blood of over 10,000 New Yorkers, 1000s of firemen.

The US followed British stragegy closely. BTW, Bush rewarded the Bin Landens with the new WTC rebuilding development contracts too. What a coincidence! Ground zero was treated as a facile trade deal between the President and the Bin Ladens. Over the blood of their own.

War today is not just arms, it is also about propaganda, media control, and forcing fear: "winning the hearts and minds of the people".

This plan will fail over time, as Gore Vidal, David Suzuki, and many other social commentators agree, the US will spend its entire budget on war after invading Iran. At this point, they are in for a shock! It is all too much to manage and they cannot possibly pay the bill. Very soon the US will be poorer than Brazil, less Credible that North Korea, and carry more shame that post WWII Germany. They will have no right to stand over the UN.

The United Nations should move to Ireland, the oldest working democracy on Earth, or Greece, the oldest conceptual Democracy on Earth. We need vision, inspiration, planning and unity, not war.
Posted by saintfletcher, Thursday, 15 June 2006 12:04:45 AM
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PROPOSITION 1

The UN is a convenient body formed from the outcome of the military victory of allies during WWII

PROPOSITION 2

The UN is ruled by the 'Security' council. Members who's primary interest is maintaining SELF interest, but without war on a scale of WWII

PROPOSITION 3

Concepts such as 'human rights' can only EXIST under a power framework as described above. In reality, there are no 'rights' there are only 'privileges' granted by those with power.

PROPOSITION 4

It is in Australia's interests to withdraw from the UN on every level which is counter to our national security and interest. Particularly where the direction of the UN is counter to our prevailing culture, social values, religious values, ethnic mix, and legislative canvass.

In such things as the UN CHARTER on Human Rights, specifically related to 'assylum seekers/refugees' and immigration and discrimination. Without apology, we either withdraw or add explanatory provisions/exclusions according to our national security, cultural security and racial/social harmony. We reserve the right to positively discriminate and re-direct people to other countries on these grounds.

PROPOSITION 5

Contrary to the popular myth, the UN is not GOD.

PROPOSITION 7 (there is a reason for no 6 :)

God is alive and well, (sorry mr Neitche) and the best thing we can do in life is Love Him with our whole hearts, and our neighbours as ourselves. (I am happy to submit myself to proposition 4 -there is no conflict whatsoever)
Posted by BOAZ_David, Thursday, 15 June 2006 8:38:10 AM
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The UN is not God but it may be our only hope for peace. It is the only forum where the diverse views of all countries are represented. Without the UN, and UN conventions, the Geneva conventions are easy to abuse. The US, the UK and Australian military is currently in contempt of Geneva conventions torturing and detaining people without reasonable cause. We are totally undermining the authority of the UN, which is a travesty.

Yes, the UN was drafted after WWII. The Bible was probably written by an imposter, Constinine in Rome, a few thousand years ago, some was probably no more than fake Roman propaganda and some was missing as it was anti-Roman, and most was translated in error. So what?

In contrast, the UN has conventions and standards are clear, precise and fair. Australia was the main architect of the UN in the first place. It would not only be an act of hypocracy to leave the UN, given that Australians wrote most of it to start with, it would actually be un-Australian.

If you comply with the current Howardesqe rubbish that simply supports the US over the UN, you are downright un-Australian. Howard's un-Australian Government came, and it will go. The consequences will remain. Some things Australians do, we do right. We invented the secret ballot. We are the only country to have compulsary voting. We started the UN. If you don't like that, mate, then move to the US. Your views are un-Australian. They are just current reactionary flashes in the pan that will come and go. The spirit of Australia is much stronger than you give it credit for. We are for more ethical than this Government wants to admit. Once people get over fear, and start thinking like Australians again, the lunatic views that we are in conflict of interest with the UN will again be obviously reduculed by the entire country. We know that this is our thing. We have no intention of letting it go of the UN, in order to grovel to bible bashers and brown-nose a few yanks.
Posted by saintfletcher, Thursday, 15 June 2006 2:58:21 PM
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