Opinion Editorials, December 2003, www.aljazeerah.info
Human Price of the Israeli Occupation of Palestine
Israeli daily aggression on the Palestinian people
Mission and meaning of Al-Jazeerah
Cities, localities, and tourist attractions
|
Let 'global police' come under UN
Gulf News
28-12-2003
The US is contemplating proposing a global policing force. Much of the thinking behind the need for such a force comes from the experience America has had with Iraq and through its affiliation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, Nato. The problem with such a force is, who decides when it should be brought into operation, for what purpose, and who will supervise and control it. These are just basic questions - there are many others like finance and logistics - which need to be answered before any such endeavour takes shape. However, more to the point is, why should such a force be needed?
There is already Nato, which is in the process of re-evaluating its purpose in life now it realises the Cold War threat is (and was) non-existent. But more importantly, there is the United Nations, a body set up for the very purpose of establishing and maintaining law and order. What has changed the circumstances over recent years is the necessity to act pre-emptively in some cases. But when that need arises, it should be done with the full consent (preferably) or majority consent of the UN Security Council.
If a UN force is established, it can be armed and equipped with the very best that each nation can offer and be a permanent presence to counter disputes anywhere. The UN has, regrettably, to rely on nations volunteering the services of their military personnel against international disputes as and when the need arises. But if the volunteers are not forthcoming and the money is not there, then the UN has its hands tied from the start.
Far better than the US demonstrating its lack of fondness for the UN by setting up a competing force, is for America to help nations make better use of what is already there.
 |
| Earth, a planet hungry for peace |
 |
| The Israeli apartheid (security) wall around Palestinian population centers (Ran Cohen, pmc, 5/24/03). |
 |
| The Israeli apartheid (security) wall around Palestinian population centers in the West Bank, like a Python. (Alquds,10/25/03). |
 |