Do we owe France an apology?, page 6
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reply posted on 3-6-2003 @ 02:21 PM by Leveller
Not reverse logic dude. Reverse psychology.

Quite a few things are at their most dangerous when they appear weakened. Corner a rat and it will attack with much more ferocity than if it had an avenue of escape.

The UN made itself look cornered. It forced the US to play it's hand and made itself look weakened. I say forced because of 1441. Not one country was unaware of what it was voting for. Like it or not, 1441 gave the US the green light. It set the US up for a fall by giving it the go ahead and then using every available measure to
disassociate itself with it's policeman's actions.

I know that US opinion on the UN varies greatly, however, in the rest of the world, the UN is seen as THE LAW. In everyones mind is the thought that it can never be disunited again. It has to speak with one voice next time or the general opinion is that it is finished. I don't believe that general opinion is true, but our media sure plays that premise up. Business goes on as usual at the UN today though, just as it always has.

It needed to strengthen it's hand. With the illusion of US failiure in Iraq it has literally made itself look like the voice of sanity. The next time that voice speaks everyone will have to listen.
That next time will be North Korea.

If the UN had sanctioned action in Iraq it would only have played into the hands of those who see the UN constantly bowing to the will of the US - looked upon as nothing more than a US (and West) puppet. By placing itself as the voice of reason, the UN is forcing China's hand too. They are going to have to cooperate with any action against North Korea. The US has already made itself look like the bad guy. If China flouts the UN on a second occasion, it's going to take a lot of critisism and look even worse.

As for the Iraq contracts? Well, even policemen need to draw a wage.



reply posted on 3-6-2003 @ 02:44 PM by Leveller
Originally posted by Maxwell Smart
Originally posted by Leveller
1441 reads :
"The security council decides to remain seized of that question"


The line before yours reads:

13. Recalls, in that context, that the Council has repeatedly warned Iraq that it will face serious consequences as a result of its continued violations of its obligations;

www.un.int...


"Serious consequences"?
Vaguely worded I'll agree. But nonetheless they would have known when they agreed to it that this was a green light. And why so vaguely worded? Diplomats are sticklers for detail to an almost anal degree. If the UN were against military action it would have made damn well sure to have specified that fact. Yes, the US and UK wrote the resolution, but to say that the UN didn't know what it was voting for beggars belief. They could see the army massed on the border. They could hear the US and UK war rhetoric yet they did nothing. They decided to say that although they sanctioned force they hadn't made their mind up about it.
The last sentence (your quote) means nothing. Basically they washed their hands of the whole affair and dissasocciated themselves from the war, as I have stated previously.

I think a lot of people have badly underestimated the power of the UN. They have forgotten who created it and how it works. When North Korea raises it's head, we're all going to finds out just how much power it actually has.
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