What earthly good is the United Nations?

Question

Today, an American diplomat, an officer with the US Agency for International Development, was shot five times in the hand, shoulder and stomach in Khartoum, in the Sudan and his driver was also killed

The shooting happened the day after a joint African Union-United Nations force took over peacekeeping duties in Sudan's war-torn Darfur region. Splended job they are doing. The UN promised to send 26,000 peace keepers, but only sent 6,000 to that region where genocide has been going on for years.

Anti-Western and anti-US feelings are said to be running high in Sudan, because of Western criticism of Khartoum's policies in Darfur. Well, exactly who does approve of genocide? Why isn't the UN stopping the slaughter?

Answer 1

This is a complicated issue that cannot be simply answered, but I will try and cover some of the basics.  First of all, it appears the shooting you are refering too was a targeted murder and not the act of some rebel group gunning for foreign aid workers.  This is well outside the jurisdiction of the UN or any other international body and should be dealt with by the Sudanese police.

Secondly, the UN is only as good as what its composite countries provide.  In this case, Sudan itself has demanded that no U.S. forces be part of any peace-keeping effort and the force be made up of AU forces.  Unfortunately, these forces are woefully undertrained and undermanned.  They simply cannot provide the support the UN is asking for.  It can be argued that the Sudanese government is responsible for this lack of manpower by making its demands.  The UN cannot go in without a higher mandate.

Third, the UN is incapable of issuing sanctions because China, along with Russia's tacit approval, has veto power and does not wish to see a valuable trading partner issued with sanctions.  If you want to see change, it is the Chinese government that needs to be pressured (the genocide games campaign has proven that it can be at least somewhat effective in this regard).  

The links provided can offer you more information.  To answer your initial question, the UN is a deeply flawed organization, but it COULD help things in Darfur if China and others were to take a stand.

Answer 2

Your question and comments describe our countries condition well. Another George Bush democracy success story? Since this Republican administration has come into office, the world wide Anti-Western reputation has become a staple in almost every country. We are laughed at, and no longer respected. Vote. And bring America back to what it should be!

Answer 3

The UN is a corrupt, impotent organization that doesn't have the ability or power to follow-up on it's promises worldwide.  

For all of the promise of positive change that the UN  represents it only delivers negative results of equal proportion.

Look up and Review the Oil-for-Food Programme (Iraq) and the United Nations Children's Fund to find UN mismanagement, fraud and corruption.

The UN is a organization that we should send off to Brussels and keep it off of US soil.  We then would not have to allow despots and dictators who are at war with us walk on our nations soil with impunity.

Answer 4

What earthly good is the US police force ? people get killed every day by guns in US cities...

Instead of typing your computer, why don´t you go there instead and register for UN forces if you are so smart and think you can do the job better than they do ?

Answer 5

The UN is UNnecessary!!!!!

Answer 6

The Bali junket on global warming was taxing; they'll get around to genocide someday

Answer 7

United Nations could list Human Supremacst beliefs as cause of Global Warming. Could make Genocide against Wild Life as serious as against humans make people value life more  especially if U. N. has balls to do something   Put in laws UN. has to oppose Human Supremacy. If enough people bug UN with demands maybe something will be done though seems not. Pass laws other countries.Demand equipment to enforce measures.

Answer 8

It's degenerated to just a detrimental discussion group by rich diplomats with no practical good that I can see.

Answer 9

The United Nations is about as useful as a snow storm in July.