Editorial

The Beginning of the End for the United Nations?

Last week, the United Nations Security Council adopted an American resolution which not only legitimizes the U.S.-British occupation of Iraq, but also gives the Americans control of Iraqi oil revenues. The resolution was adopted by a vote of 14-0, with Syria boycotting the vote in protest. Despite earlier indications of opposition to the resolution by France, Germany and Russia, all three countries voted for it, indicating that they are seeking to mend the rift with the U.S. which took place during the countdown to war.

The Security Council proved its impotence when it failed to take any action to defend the territorial integrity of a member state - Iraq - which was the victim of an illegal invasion by the United States and Britain. However, it has now completely disgraced itself by putting its stamp of approval on the consequences of that illegal war, in complete violation of the United Nations Charter. The extent of the capitulation of the Security Council members is indicated by the fact that there was not even an attempt to place time limits on the U.S. occupation. The United States and Britain have simply been granted the "right" to administer Iraq for as long as they see fit, reducing it to the de facto status of a colony.

The failure of the Security Council to stop the U.S. war on Iraq is understandable; the Security Council has never been able to effectively stop aggression by a military superpower because of the veto of the five permanent members. However, legitimizing a colonial occupation is unacceptable. It is difficult to imagine what role remains for the United Nations Security Council now that it has converted itself into a rubber stamp for American imperialism and colonialism.

If the Security Council is incapable of defending the Charter of the United Nations and is incapable of preventing or even opposing wars of aggression, then serious questions must be raised about its continuing relevance. Furthermore, if the UN Security Council is irrelevant, then what role does the United Nations itself play? Is there a need for an international talk shop to which no one listens? Will its role be reduced to that of organizing international aid for the victims of imperialist plunder, a role played by the Catholic Church in an earlier era?

These are questions which need to be addressed by the international community. There is no doubt that there is still an urgent need for an international body which can preserve the peace and defend the territorial integrity of the smaller and weaker nations. However, it is increasingly doubtful that the United Nations in its present form can play such a role. If it is to avoid the fate of the League of Nations, the UN must implement drastic reforms aimed at democratizing all of its institutions and establishing the General Assembly as the sole decision-making body. As a start, the Security Council veto of the five permanent members must be abolished and all resolutions of the Security Council must be subject to ratification by the General Assembly. Only in that way can the United Nations become a genuine force for peace and security in the world.