Can the U.S. find a substitute for the U.N.?

The Washington Times ^ | November 15, 2005 | Betsy Pisik

[neverdem]

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The Washington Timeswww.washingtontimes.com

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Can the U.S. find a substitute for the U.N.?

By Betsy Pisik
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Published November 15, 2005

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America's representative at the United Nations said yesterday that the organization must become better at solving problems and more responsive to U.S. concerns or Washington will seek other venues for international action.

    During a luncheon with reporters and editors at The Washington Times, U.N. Ambassador John R. Bolton said repeatedly that the Bush administration requires nothing less than "a revolution of reform" at the world body, encompassing everything from U.N. Security Council engagement to management changes to a focus on administrative skills in choosing the next secretary-general.

    The United Nations, he said, "has got to be a place to solve problems that need solving, rather than a place where problems go, never to emerge."

    He added: "In the United States, there is a broadly shared view that the U.N. is one of many potential instruments to advance U.S. issues, and we have to decide whether a particular issue is best done through the U.N. or best done through some other mechanism. ...

    "The U.N. is one of many competitors in a marketplace of global problem solving," Mr. Bolton said. That realization "should be an incentive for the organization to reform."

    One alternative, he said, is for regional organizations to play a larger role. He praised the Organization of American States for its work in Haiti and said he would like the African Union to take on greater responsibilities in Africa.

    Mr. Bolton, who has been directly or indirectly involved in U.N. affairs since the Reagan administration, said he...

[Prime Choice]

Find one? Why? We've already got NATO. That oughta be enough.

[GregoTX]

"Can the U.S. find a substitute for the U.N.?"

Yes. The American voters. The collective will of the people our elected officials represent. Listen to us, not the dictators, despots, and euro-weenies that make up the worthless UN.

[Manfred the Wonder Dawg]

Any house-broke dog would be an improvement over the UN. I recall with a smile the assistant UN ambassador under Jean Kirkpatrick who - on TV - suggested the UN folk get on a boat for Europe and that he would pitch in and help buy one-way tickets for them; and stand on the dock waving them a fond farewell.

[coconutt2000]

Replacing the U.N. and WTO with a military and economic alliance between the Democratic, Free countries. Dictatorships, fascists, and French need not apply.

[rottndog]

At the very least, there should be an organization along the lines of "United Democratic Nations", where member nations must be democratically elected governments--no kingdoms or dictatorships. This would leave out most of the countries currently in the U.N.

[rottndog]

Oh, yeah, and no Frogs allowed either!

[Cicero]

President Bush put a good team in the UN from the start of his first term, and he made a good appointment with Bolton, even though he didn't manage to get him confirmed.

But he has not made the case he should have made that the UN is basically a corrupt organization of terrorists and tin pot dictators, cooperating with European Socialists.

The UN serves the interests of France, and very few others.

A few years ago it would have been politically impossible to pull out of the UN. That is no longer the case. Why are we still messing around, contributing billions so they can undermine us and damage the cause of peace and freedom throughout the world?

[Congressman Billybob]

Actually, the G-8 meetings ARE a substitute for the UN. To the extent that there is a need for any substitute for the UN. Would one be talking about a substitute for the Black Death? Or, WW II? Or, the Flu Pandemic of 1917-18?

Some things just don't need to be replaced. They just need to be abolished or destroyed, and a nice grassy park built where they used to be. Sic semper UN.

Congressman Billybob

Latest column: "Historical Folly of 'Exit Strategy' for Iraq"

[wagglebee]

Why do we need a "substitute"?

We are the United States of America, we are the world's sole superpower. Our friends will fight with us, those who won't are not our friends.

[GSlob]

But is any substitute really needed? Just abolish the blasted thing and send the whole bunch of spies, pompous derrieres, spongers, parking ticket scofflaws and other undesirables packing.

[wvobiwan]

Bolton already suggests the solution, regional groups like OAS and African Union.

I bet the those career criminals at the UN are HOT. Go get 'em Johnnie!

[neverdem]

ping

[dalereed]

Kill the UN nd never allow another one under any name to begin!

[neverdem]

Thanks for the link.

[Reaganesque]

I nominate these guys:

[taxed2death]

Yea, the peanut gallery.

[Ukiapah Heep]

A steaming heap is a fitting replacement for the UN.

[wvobiwan]

Jeez! The last sentences are better than even the excerpt:

"We have one-half of 1 percent of the total [votes], meaning we pay 44 times more than our voting power," he said.
"My priority is to give the United States the kind of influence it should have. Everybody pursues their national interests. The only one who gets blamed for it is the United States."

That's gotta leave mark. Better put some ice on that Jacques.

[fatteddy]

substitute for the u.n.????? my toilet