Fooled Again

Charles Krauthammer points out the problems with trusting in diplomacy in a world where nuclear weapons are proliferating.

If the U.N. is really going to work, it is going to have to recognize that most of its members are not committed to its ideals of equality, peace, tolerance, democracy and freedom. Rogue states see diplomacy as a technique for gaining time, while they complete what prohibited activity they're engaged in. Diplomacy with North Korea failed because we naively trusted in the honesty and good will of its regime. Iran has amply demonstrated that it is determined to develop a nuclear weapon, having obtained plans and instructions from the A. Q. Khan network, and only needs extra time to complete it, after which it will be free to ignore world opinion, since it will have its own deterrent.

Taking a matter to the U.N. is only worthwhile if we want to table it. When there is a problem like Rwanda, Bosnia, the Congo or Darfur what is needed is action not diplomacy. Millions of people have been murdered, raped, forced from their homes, etc. because the rest of the world has trusted the U.N. to "handle the problem."

The problem with the U.N. was built in at the beginning. By giving all states an equal vote, without regard to their form of government, their human rights records, their history of peacefulness with their neighbors, etc., democracies basically gave up the potential for good that the new organization might have had. Even when the U.N. does what's right, it fails to complete the job, as in Korea and Iraq in 1991.

Now we know that the U.N. has become infested with venality, greed and power grabbing, as people from third world nations infiltrate its bureaucracy and don the mask of diplomacy, while enriching themselves with graft or through rich and prestigious prizes and awards. And what can anybody do about it? Only sit and watch while protesting, but not too loudly, for that would be undiplomatic.

It is a good thing to resolve problems through discussion and compromise. That is one of the marks of a civil and advanced society. However, it must be recognized that there are people who only participate in such efforts as a pretense, to avoid discovery and punishment of crimes or to hamper the application of justice. You can supply your own examples. In such cases, the moral result must involve force, but the U.N. is toothless.