An Exercise in Futility
As one observes the lack of resolve shown by the UN Security Council with regards to Iran and the genocide in Darfur, its failure may be most readily explained by a brief comparison with the US Congress.The legislative process in America is diluted into two bodies, each of which must pass their own bills and then negotiate with each other on the final product (which must also be passed). The final bill is then sent on to the executive branch for approval or veto. A presidential veto is very difficult to overcome through Congress. In addition, the judicial branch can strike down laws that survive this process if they are deemed to be unconstitutional. In other words, making new laws for our country was purposefully designed as a difficult, compromise-driven process. However, when it comes to issues of war and peace, life and death, and international relations (to name a few), our government is designed to defer to the executive branch. At an international level, no one truly speaks for America except for the president and his surrogates.
In contrast, the UN's security council is made up of five veto-wielding states. The security council attempts to handle the most profound issues of the day, very much including war and peace, life and death, and international relations. The veto gives America, England, France, Russia, and China immense power, which is derived from the post - WW2 realities of the late 1940's, when the UN was established. This would be like an executive branch in America composed of five individuals, all of which had equal weight and veto power, and all of which were always from the five states that were the most populous and important in 1945.
The result is a body which is ineffective, and cannot even agree to issue statements calling the slaughter of hundreds of thousands genocide (Darfur). Security council resolutions typically appeal to the lowest common denominator which all parties can agree on, which in practice results in empty rhetoric, self-congratulatory speeches, and little else. Meanwhile, the profound issues fester, innocents are slaughtered, and the world buries its collective head in the sand. When troubles become too large to ignore (i.e. on September 12th, 2001), the US generally cleans them up and is severely criticized for it.
posted by JM @ 4:00 PM
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