U.N. blasts Cisco, others on China cooperation

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Let's agree on this...

The UN is an advising body with no real power, its power comes from the agreement of its member states to comply with its resolutions, yet has no power to enforce them. What enforcement or actions it can take are a direct result of the amount of support those states provide.

Predrag, I would argue that you are correct, the U.S. has made some heavy handed moves in the UN owing to our belief that since we fund a great deal of its operations (you would probably be able to come up with a figure better than I, but I'm sure a vast percentage of the UN's budget comes directly out of the American Taxpayer's back pocket) we feel we have a right to steer its course. Perhaps more so than we should.

As for your dismissal of American's role in WWII, lets be honest, it was 60 years ago. It does not give us an all-access pass, it does however speak to the fact that we are known to carry a big stick, and we sometimes swing wildly. A lot of American's take the French and German (and general euro) anti-american rhetoric as jealousy. I think its more accurate that both nations were extremely shamed by that war. To this day their roles as fallen nation and aggressor in that conflict, and the arguable notion of Americans "coming to the rescue" make it easy and understandable that even the French, who benefited more than most from America's involvment, feel the need to rebel against the larger more "selfless" country, in that case. And, like in any sporting event, the undecideds always side with the underdog - thus a great deal of anti-american sentiment.

Still, it does not give the U.S. carte blanche in the U.N., nor should it, and it demands that the U.S. be given some deference when the UN says it will spend x billion dollars and means, essentially, that the U.S. must spend 7/8x billion dollars. So give them some credit. But in fact the superiority complex we've been nursing through the cold war and to today is something that needs to be shed, even if it was justified for a short time. This despite that we should look to (at least the new, glorified history of) WWII as a model for a legitimate reason to intercede militarily.

Back to the UN. I don't think it should be given any sort of actual authority. Doing so nullifies individual nation's ability to govern themselves. That would give actual authority and power to unelected sons and nephews of ruling elite and granting them the rights inherant in unearned control. Dismantling it is equally foolish, as despite its awful corruption, diplomatic immunity bull, rampant cronyism and disgusting two-facedness, its at least a forum for nations with a gripe to complain at.

Isn't that, actually, what we're all doing here? I mean, we don't actually do anything, yet we get to hear what the other side is saying and (hopefully) consider it. I wouldn't want to live in a world where that wasn't happening. Just like I don't like a world where the internet is censored, or where, because China says so Google has to give out home addresses and maiden names of any anti government poster. As long as its free access and free speech for all, then its fair. Even the irish guy needs to take note, not allowing some idiotic neo-nazi access is just going to enfranchise them to say "the government doesn't want you to hear this because its right". If you allow it though, and then the whole site is bombarded by furious hackers and millions of angry emails, then that's the free market baby. The site collapses, their arguments are reduced to fine ash, and it was man's own good sense that did it. Not some government saying it has good sense and doing it for us. Does the american guy you were arguing see this? Do you? I hope you both do. Because if what I wanted to say here was something you didn't want to see or hear, then that's all the more reason for posting it.

Posted by: banquo79   Posted on: 10/31/06 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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