UN a failure - Canadian PM

by **Folic_Acid** » Fri Apr 30, 2004 2:06 pm

This article took me completely by surprise. While I have great respect for my Canadian friends, I never expected to hear a PM say this, much less a Labor PM. Interesting...

article

PM hopes to extricate Canada from UN box

By JOHN IBBITSON
Friday, April 30, 2004 - Page A4

WASHINGTON -- With yesterday's landmark speech, Paul Martin tacitly acknowledged what Canada's foreign policy establishment has refused to accept for decades: that the United Nations is a failure, for which there is no solution....

by **Colonel Ingus** » Fri Apr 30, 2004 2:21 pm

Wow!

Some truthful news from a rather unexpected quarter.

Wow again!

by **Folic_Acid** » Fri Apr 30, 2004 2:26 pm

Looks like Kerry's even starting to distance himself from the UN. In his speech today at Westminster College, he called for NATO to take charge in Iraq, rather than the usual UN rhetoric. I imagine he doesn't want the Oil for Food debacle rubbing off on him.

Of course, it's a little strange to call on NATO, considering that much of NATO is already involved there; and, of course, since it was the French who primarily benefitted from the Oil for Food graft.

Maybe Bush is right after all...

by **Chacal** » Fri Apr 30, 2004 2:56 pm

I think nobody here has great respect for UN, but there's currently nothing to replace it. At least Paul Martin suggests a replacement.

by **Murgatroyd** » Fri Apr 30, 2004 3:07 pm

Originally posted by Chacal
I think nobody here has great respect for UN, but there's currently nothing to replace it. At least Paul Martin suggests a replacement.

I dunno, I don't think there can be a unified international body that works efficiently without substantial military power. Economic sanctions will only go so far - and they're not fair to the civilians in whichever country they're applied upon, not to mention, they don't work very well. Any international body that wishes to influence other nations effectively must have a sizable military force. Otherwise we'll just get more scenarios such as Rwanda and Iraq. Rwanda where nobody did anything, and Iraq where somebody did something and everybody else complained - but in the same sense - did nothing. Not to mention, the post-WWII superpower arrangement is no longer valid. I'd say it's time for a change, but I'm not very hopeful - League of Nations, then the UN, then whatever's next, and no doubt, there will be another after that.

by **Jeffro** » Fri Apr 30, 2004 3:09 pm

nevermind...my thoughts are usually shot down, so why waste my breath...

by **Folic_Acid** » Fri Apr 30, 2004 3:11 pm

I think it'll be a long time before you see an international group with a real military force. That'd be a serious cession of national sovereignty that I doubt most countries would be willing to make.

by **Colonel Ingus** » Fri Apr 30, 2004 3:14 pm

I just can't see an international body being effective without sufficiemt force to back up compliance with their dictums.

You've got a great debating society and not much else.

And from a nationalistic standpoint I doubt any nation would want to give up their self determination to suborn themselves to such an organization.

by **Colonel Savage** » Fri Apr 30, 2004 4:33 pm

Eventually (and by eventually I mean several centuries from now), both national and international governing bodies will be completely defunct - giving way to one all encompassing planetary government. Same rules apply to everybody, no ifs ands or buts.

However, this won't happen until there's a need for it, ie. we colonize other planets or discover sentient life somewhere else. So let's get our space programs into high gear and find us some alien ass to kick!

Nothing will bring the world together faster than the threat of monsters from outer space.

by **SavageParrot** » Fri Apr 30, 2004 4:50 pm

What happened to The Thunderbirds? Now there was an international body you could trust. Devolve power to Tracy island I say they'll sort it all out.

FAB

by **Murgatroyd** » Fri Apr 30, 2004 5:25 pm

Originally posted by Jeffro
nevermind...my thoughts are usually shot down, so why waste my breath...

No they're not, you're wrong as always!

/sarcasm

by **deathBOB** » Fri Apr 30, 2004 5:29 pm

So? We dont listen to the UN no as it is, whats the difference?
The UN has been practically powerless for a long time...

by **Jeffro** » Fri Apr 30, 2004 10:10 pm

Originally posted by Murgatroyd
No they're not, you're wrong as always!

/sarcasm

thx for the "/sarcasm and smilies"...

You all know how I am :freak:

about detecting that stuff and I usually get over defensive about it...

by **MMmmGood** » Sat May 01, 2004 1:34 pm

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1516&e=2&u=/afp/20040430/od_afp/britain_un_dustbins_040430134733

Thanks to Fark for the link

by **Colonel Ingus** » Sat May 01, 2004 3:15 pm

Unfortunately MMmmgood we have seen over the last decade or so how incompetent the UN is when it comes to taking out the trash.

UN a failure - Canadian PM

UN a failure - Canadian PM

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