Well, the U.S. is part of the U.N., isn't it? There are arguments that say we should get out of it, and there might be good reasons to do so. But as long as we are in it, we might as WELL use it to our advantage. I think you think I'm saying we should pay homage to the U.N. I am not: on the contrary, I'm saying we should use the lousy world bureaucratic system to our benefit: God knows they stick it to the USA every chance they get!
Your statement above about dictators flouting a resolution sounds to me like the arguments given before the Iraq war by Democrats: "Why aren't we invading North Korea? Why aren't we invading Iran? Why aren't we invading a hundred other places where things are brutal?" And those questions have been adequately answered by the administration. We can pick and choose, to our national interest, how to enforce whatever Resolutions the U.N. can't or won't enforce. Our enforcement doesn't make the U.N. stronger, it makes us stronger. Qadaffi didn't give up his programs because of U.N. action...he gave it up because of U.S. action. UBL isn't hiding in some feces-covered cave now because of the U.N.'s strong arms: he's batting the flies away from his stench pile because of the USA's strong arms.
I disagree with the thought that my argument "elevates" the U.N. in any real sense.
Elevating the U.N. would be to turn over our foreign policy decisions to them, ala John Kerry or Howard Dean. That isn't going to happen. NO permission slip is needed, as GWB said the other night.