The UN

The 19^th and 20^th centuries were scarred by immense bloodshed and brutality. Two world wars being fought left half the globe in total devastation and chaos. In 1945, leaders from 51 countries signed the UN charter which would prove to be pivotal in aiding countries to maintain peace and help spread the ideas of democracies. In San Francisco, the United Nations came into existence with the world hoping that it would aid in preventing further bloodshed and chaos to a century which had witnessed the brutal effects of war and destruction. The end of the Cold war was a crucial period for the United Nations as the U.S and the Soviet Union working together would help their cause in providing effective peacekeeping across the world. The increase in their military and funds provided to make their arsenal stronger was evident. Peacekeeping, is a technique which was developed by the United Nations to help control and resolve chaotic conflicts.  Despite being funded and aided by some of the world’s global powers such as the U.S, numerous wars and chaotic situations particularly in Africa have gone unnoticed. The U.N’s effective role in providing aid and relief for countries which have been tormented by natural disasters have helped it transform into a moving force and a basic global need. Nonetheless, its role as an effective peacekeeper remains in question. The world’s finest political and economic analysts, powerful leaders have all questioned and doubted its usefulness and relevance in providing justice and safety for all. The horrific chaos in Rwanda, Syria, Bosnia and Kashmir has once again put the United Nations under the spot light, leaving its role as a peacekeeper in question.

The United Nation’s main charter was to take collective measures to prevent any threats to peace and to suppress those who showed acts of aggression. Nonetheless, supra-national force has never been a realistic, commanding fighting military. Its military lacks the strength, command, control and intelligence required to stop and prevent attacks of terror and destruction. Its inability to prevent any threat has been evident since the end of the cold war. According to Terence O Neil’s article “UN Peacekeeping: Expectations and Reality”, in August 2000, the report of the panel of the United Nations Peace Operations issued by the UN secretariat acknowledged the fact that the U.N had failed in providing effective peace keeping measures. The Rwanda situation was a clear example of how the U.N’s lack of authority and military strength resulted in thousands of innocent casualties. The U.N forces were obliged to withdraw from the Rwanda genocide atrocities during the 1990s.  This was yet another result of poor efforts in turning aggression into a peaceful resolution. The Annan plan in Syria according to Brian Klein of CNN, was a failure from the start. The author suggests that the interim government to guide Syria into a post-dictatorship future seemed to be a far -fetched effort.  Bashar Al-Assad, was to step down from his post and also met with U.N officials to allow their troops to enter Syria. However, after Annan’s departure, Assad’s army began brutal assault. Helicopters, gunships and fighter jets occupied Syrian cities leaving the country in immense chaos and thousands of casualties. An estimated $17 million was authorized for the 150 military observers and 105 civilians. The U.N’s peacekeeping budget which is around $ 7 billion leaves its critics in questioning its military usefulness in preventing any forms of aggression.  Countries such as the United States, Japan and Britain who are members of the general assembly, heavily fund the U.N in terms of strengthening its military providing them with state of the art arsenal. The global economic turmoil has left leaders of these super powers questioning its role in funding a military which has failed on numerous occasions.  Nonetheless, its goal in preventing any forms of aggression and threat to countries, a peacekeeping budget of $7 billion in this economic turmoil is simply unacceptable, especially if one takes a look at the results it has produced over the years. 

Despite receiving such immense criticism over its peacekeeping policies, all is not gloomy for the world’s leading peace organization. Its remarkable efforts in providing health initiatives support for refugees, education and aid in countries which have been affected by natural disasters has worked to perfection. The United Nation’s role in ensuring that that poverty stricken children receive proper food and education has been its greatest highlight and it should continue in promoting awareness amongst people in helping these poor children in countries such as Africa and Asia. Peacekeeping has provided a platform for countries to build on in order to maintain global peace. However, the outrageous costs and poor results of this mission has left numerous doubts on the minds of global leaders from the U.S, U.K and Japan who believe that investing those funds in their own military will prove to be a prudent method in enhancing its own military strength as well providing peace and tranquility amongst nations which have been marred by acts of terror and destruction.  It’s a modern day driving force in the world today in providing awareness and useful aid to developing countries, but one must question its ability to restore order in regions which continue to cause chaos. It’s time we place our money and trust into a military which will provide results and live up to the U.N’s main charter, something it has failed to do, leaving the world at risk for further acts of terror and war.