The UN: A thousand Charter Violations

[IncandescentLight]

In humanitarian aid, the UN has prevailed. What of it's original purpose, then? The first UN Charter clearly states:

"All Members shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security, and justice, are not endangered."

Under the reign of Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, the list of conflicts have been rather large.

2007

* 2006–2008 Lebanese political protests
* 2007 Bagram Air Base bombing
* 2007 Bersih rally
* Timeline of the 2007 Burmese anti-government protests
* 2007 HINDRAF rally
* 2007 Helmand province incident
* 2007 Lebanon conflict
* 2007 Zimbabwean political crisis
* 2007–2008 Ethiopian crackdown in Ogaden
* 2007–2008 Kenyan crisis
* 2008 Turkish incursion into northern Iraq
* Operation Achilles
* Afghanistan–Pakistan Skirmishes
* Al Anbar campaign
* Operation Arbead II
* Operation Ardennes
* Awakening movements in Iraq
* Battle of Delft
* Battle of Mir Ali
* Battle of Point Pedro (2007)
* Battle of Swat
* Battle of Thoppigala
* Operation Black Eagle
* Operation Bull Run
* Guerrilla phase of the Second Chechen War
* Battle of Chora
* Coalition combat operations in Afghanistan in 2007
* Operation Commando Eagle
* Operation Desert Thrust
* Operation Dragon Fire East
* Operation Eagle Ares
* Operation Falcon Summit
* Battle of Firebase Anaconda
* Operation Forsythe Park
* Operation Four Brothers
* Operation Geronimo Strike III
* Guerrilla phase of the Second Chechen War (2007)
* Operation Hammer (Afghanistan)
* Operation Harekate Yolo
* Helmand province campaign
* Operation Hoover
* Iraq War
* Iraqi insurgency
* 2007–2008 Israel–Gaza conflict
* Talk:2007–2008 Israel–Gaza conflict/merger-proposal
* Operation Kamin
* Kurram Agency War April 2007
* Operation Leyte Gulf
* Operation Lion's Leap
* List of coalition military operations of the Iraq War
* Manila Peninsula rebellion
* Operation Marne Avalanche
* Operation Marne Torch
* Operation Mawtini
* Battle of Musa Qala
* Nandigram violence
* October 2007 clashes in Hakkari
* Operation Imposing Law
* Operation Lion Pounce
* Operation Mountain Fury
* Operation Mountain Storm
* Operation Orchard
* Operation Silver (2007)
* Operation Sledgehammer (2007)
* Operation Peregrine II
* Operation Phantom Strike
* Operation Phantom Thunder
* Operation Pickaxe-Handle
* Operation Polar Tempest
* Post-invasion Iraq, 2003–present
* Operation Purple Haze
* Raid on Anuradhapura Air Force Base
* Operation Saber Guardian
* Operation Safe Teach
* Siege of Sangin
* Shinwar Massacre
* Siege of Lal Masjid
* Operation Stampede 3
* Timeline of the 2007 Lebanon conflict
* Timeline of the Iraq War troop surge of 2007
* Tuareg Rebellion (2007–present)
* Turkey–Kurdistan Workers' Party conflict
* Operation Valiant Guardian
* Violence in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict 2007
* War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
* War on Terrorism

**Source from Wikipedia

This is from 2007 alone. Imagine the list for 2008 and 2009. I say the UN needs a reform, possibly a new head. Have your say on this topic and please participate in the poll.

[dev_urandom]

A reform? Would be nice, but forget it. Most governments are quite happy with ignoring conflicts as is... why create a reform that will only complicate things?

Just changing the head isn't going to change a thing. The Rwandan genocide happened under another secretary general. And absolutely nothing happened. They sent the peace corps, but that was pure populism - they can't shoot, basically just stand there as large target with a blue helmet.

The only real successes I can think about when it comes to the UN is the aftermath of WWII and the liberation of Kuweit - both of which were influenced mainly by the US of A and their foreign interests. Besides that, the UN is just a bunch of talking goons that never get anything done, AFAIK (I may be wrong). The conference against racism and discrimination that happened recently is a prime example. Basically, Iran started calling Israel racist, most countries' delegates left the conference and Europe almost opted out. Total chaos. Which nations care about what the UN says anyway?

In essence, the UN is a front-agency of the US of A that can operate under the nomenclature of "internationality". Which is, as we all know, complete horseshit, if you'll excuse my language.

What is needed is an INDEPENDENT organization that can literally blow the lights of any nations out if it so much as peeps - and actually does so if there's any misconduct.
The veto system is outdated, too. India has ~1 billion citizens, but no veto rights??? Hmm... if 1/6th of the world population has no representation in the UN... Oh well, who cares about them as long as the West can keep exploiting cheap labor. China's veto is pretty shady, too (Taiwan vs. PRC). The same goes for countries that barely have a say on the world stage, such as the UK and France. Overall, veto rights are distributed to countries that are able to pay the highest membership fees. Even the veto itself is a pretty strange invention. What is needed: Representation by population. Restriction of the scope of the UN. Nondiscrimination laws inside the UN.

However, human psychology has taught us that even this isn't going to work, no matter how "fair" the system is. Weimar Germany was a democracy but somehow the people still managed to abuse the system - in fact, it was one of the most liberal and modern democracies around (well, except for article 48 - VERY similar to the veto power). You think this is going to work with the UN?

Ok, enough for now. Someone tear down all the arguments I have against the UN and tell me the system isn't so bad...

[myhexhax]

I voted no.

The UN should be dissolved, or the US should pull out of it.

I'd be happy with either.

No need to reform.

[zenithSmil3]

Yea, it should be reformed. Not deleted entirely as it is responsible for several NGOs that have made a difference. Charter violations is just one part of it.

I think one of the major reforms done should be on the Security Council, Veto reform. The veto is just irrelevant and slows down the effectiveness of the UN which in all honesty, is not very effective... each country is just looking out for itself and its own benefits rather than a wider perspective which is what it was made to do in the first place.

A reform is better than complete deletion of it... if it were gone, we'd spend the rest of the time trying to make a new one