by Editor (Editorials, Crescent International Vol. 55, No. 1, Ramadan, 1446)
The failures of the United Nations (UN) in preventing wars for which it was ostensibly established nearly 80 years ago, are so glaring that its relevance is seriously in question. The 15-month-long zionist perpetrated genocide in Gaza stands out as the most striking example of its many failures. Why the UN failed to end the zionists’ onslaught—there is fear of its resumption—will be considered but first let us look at some other areas where the UN has failed.
It has failed in Kashmir that is under Indian occupation. The UN failed to end the Iraqi-imposed war on Iran that lasted for eight years; it failed in preventing the US war on Iraq in 2003 and the eight-year Saudi-Emirati war on Yemen. So, if an organization whose very raison d’etre is to prevent wars, why has it failed to fulfill its mission so spectacularly?
To be fair to the UN, it is only a reflection of the collective will of its 193 members but there are inherent problems in its structure. While there are two principal organs—the General Assembly and the Security Council—it is the latter that determines whether action on any issue will be taken or not. In the General Assembly, every member has one vote yet this carries little weight. It is the 15-member Security Council with five permanent members with veto power that determine all matters. Why five members should have the right to decide for the whole world has never been explained, much less justified.
The five permanent members are the US, Britain, France, Russia and the People’s Republic of China. Its policies are frequntly dictated by the US which has the dubious distinction of vetoeing the largest number of Security Council resolutions. These often relate to the egregious conduct of zionist Israel, the most diabolical entity in the world. Its rulers are neo-Nazis and do not care for human life or dignity.
The US shields it from global condemnation despite its well-documented crimes. Two leading figures of the zionist entity—Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant—have arrest warrants against them issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Far from arresting the indicted war criminal, the US welcomed Netanyahu to the White House on February 4 and has called for sanctions against the ICC. It is such outrageous behaviour on the part of successive US regimes and their illegitimate ward—zionist Israel—that has aroused deep concern worldwide. This has resulted in the UN failure to address any issue seriously.
To understand the long-list of UN failures, we must examine the circumstances in which it emerged. The organization came into formal existence in October 1945 at the end of the Second World War (essentially a war among European powers plus North America). Its seeds were planted much earlier and give clue to its successive failures.
At the Inter-Allied Conference in London on June 12, 1941, the declaration of St James’s Palace was issued (the allies referred to powers fighting against the Axis powers). By August 1941, US President Franklin Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill drafted the ‘Atlantic Charter’. It defined goals for the post-war world. In subsequent meetings, the Soviet Union and Nationalist China (not the People’s Republic of China of today) were also invited. France was brought in at Britain’s request.
The formal text of the “declaration of United Nations” was signed on January 1, 1942 by four powers: the US, Britain, Soviet Union and China. Other members were invited to join provided they signed the declaration and declared war on the Axis Powers—Germany, Italy and their allies—with whom the Allied powers were at war. Thus, the foundations of the UN were laid to serve the war interests of the Europeans and the US.
The UN Charter contains such high-sounding principles as upholding peace, preventing wars and promoting amicable relations between nations (sic). These are noble objectives but their implementation is non-existent, especially when it applies to the US, its NATO allies or the zionist entity. The Washington warlords protect their zionist ward.
In addition to the Security Council and General Assembly, there are several other UN bodies that do reasonably good work. These include the Office of the Human Rights Commissioner, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Relief Works Agency (UNRWA), and UN Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Despite the humanitarian work they do, essentially band aid solution after destruction, the Security Council blocks any serious action against the perpetrators.
The UN failure to live up to its own charter proves that this is not a suitable forum for seeking justice. The Washington warlords have hijacked the organization and use it for their own nefarious agenda.
In the nearly 80 years of its existence, the UN has not resolved even one problem. Instead, at its inception, it perpetrated a grave injustice by handing over 56 percent of Palestinian territory to the illegal zionist intruders from Europe (East and West) and North America. The Palestinians were not even consulted. The zionists perpetrated horrific crimes against the indigenous Palestinian population that are still ongoing.
With such glaring UN failure and no hope in the foreseeable future for any justice, what can be done? The first point to internalize is that if an organization is not capable of providing even the minimum of basic justice, why resort to it repeatedly? The entire global political architecture is geared toward serving the interests of the western predatory powers.
The reaction of much of the global south to zionist barbarism provides a pointer to what is possible. With the exception of India, currently dominated by Hindutva fascists, almost every country in the global south has condemned zionist barbarism.
The General Assembly that accurately reflects global opinion should have the enforcement mechanism at its disposal, not the five permanent members of the Security Council. This way, the will of the international community would be genuiney reflected in its deliberations, not the diktats of the oppressive colonial and imperalist powers.
It is time for the global south to establish a new organization beyond the UN. Its purpose and functions must be carefully formulated. It could be called the Organization for Global Justice or whatever name members of the global south choose. Its role must be determined through mutual consultation. At a minimum, it must work to restore peace, prevent aggression and create an environment for economic cooperation and development. Unlike the Security Council, there will be no hierarchy in this organization.
Its finances will come from member countries based on a percentage of their GDP. Since each member-state will have equal voting rights, big or small, there will be no feeling of being sidelined.
Members of the new organization must also commit to provide troops to confront belligerent powers that terrorize weaker states or people. If such a force had been in existence, zionist Israel could have been prevented from its genocdal assault on Gaza.
It is possible to create a better world. What is needed is imaginative thinking and seriousness of purpose. The rapidly changing global environment provides a great opportunity to forge ahead.
The multipolar global order requires an organization away from the west-centric United Nations that clearly serves no purpose beyond being a talking shop.
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