On a mailing list there is a discussion of current events. The same questions come over and over again, mostly in amazement that the US may be considering taking action without the approval of the [[wp:UN]].
I have taken the liberty of posting here what I wound up replying in part to the group, minus the things I didn’t write so I can’t show you much of the ‘debate’ part of the email.
My response in part – posted 03.19.2003 01:18:53
The UN resolutions have been repeatedly ignored by [[wp:Iraq]]. The promises from Iraq were never kept and the time for direct action has come. If the UN is no longer an instrument capable of the will necessary to enforce its own resolutions then it makes itself irrelevant, not us.
..snip..
Whether the UN likes it or not the US >must< act to counter a clear and present threat. Now, let’s leave aside for a moment whether you consider Iraq to be a threat… let’s make up a fictitious situation.
[[wp:Atlantis]] rises from the ocean. They possess nukes and the missiles to use them, but it will take a month or so to dry ‘em all out. They begin acting erratically and announce their hatred of the USA. It is clearly only a matter of time until there is a sword hanging over our heads and they become a clear and present threat to US security.
Let’s assume as well that the UN, mired in politics, fails to authorize the US to act in its own defense. We ask, they say no. They issue a resolution telling the Atlantians to dismantle their weapons and the resolution is ignored. Deadline after deadline is passed and still the Atlantians race to prepare their missiles. Still, the UN holds back from armed conflict.
AT SOME POINT IT NO LONGER MATTERS what the UN says. We >cannot< allow the US to become threatened by the arsenal of the Atlantians simply because the UN council is mired in politics.
- In the end, it is >OUR< ass on the line, not the UN as a whole.
- In the end, the US is ultimately responsible for defending its own interests.
- In the end, we MUST act in our own defense, with or without UN approval.
Because it won t mean a damn thing to us after the US is a smoking hole in the ground for the UN to finally admit it was wrong. That won’t help.
The UN is a fine arena for global politics. It is a good place to attempt [[wp:diplomacy]] and it is a good forum for trying to reach consensus.
When push comes to shove, however, the US is a [[wp:sovereign]] nation with a absolute responsibility to protect itself, its citizens and its interests. We should take the UN’s wishes into account – but by no means should we surrender our security, survival and defense policy to a voting body of nations that for the most part don’t really care what is good for us or each other.
This nation MUST not allow its very existence and right to defend itself exist at the sufferance of the Security Council.
