The UN After Iraq<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

 

In the aftermath of the military victory in Iraq, the political battle between the UN and the Bush administration continues. The UN is facing a major challenge as a peacemaking institution. American officials have emphasized that the US and British military would play the leading role in setting up an Iraqi government. The UN’s role would be limited to humanitarian activities coordinating food, medicine, and other relief supplies.

 

The French and other European diplomats have insisted that the UN play a more central role. Kofi Annan has stressed the experience of the UN in nation building, and the vital element of legitimacy that UN involvement would bring to the task. An administration installed by the US, if perceived as a puppet regime, would only further alienate many Arab and European countries. Internal rivalries among different religions and tribal groups in Iraq are certain to present great difficulties. The impartial stance of the UN would be helpful in creating a viable administrative body that will serve the Iraqi people as a whole, helping Iraqis to keep control of their natural resources. In terms of American efforts at rebuilding, Afghanistan does not present a happy precedent.

 

In the panel discussing the future role of the UN, many disturbing questions were raised. Will the effect of the war on the Arab world, and most specifically the war’s aftermath, be conducive to peace and the building of democratic regimes? Or will it produce more hatred, more suicide tactics, and ever more bitter resentment of American domination?

 

The UN’s active political body is the Security Council. In the words of the Ambassador from Singapore, the Security Council is a moving target because the composition of the members constantly changes. Critics of the Security Council ask,”How can we wake it up?” The Ambassador from Singapore has answered, “It is impossible to wake someone pretending to be asleep.” Nevertheless, the internationalization of problems travelling across borders is forcing nation-states to begin to recognize that their self interest lies in coping through negotiated cooperation. At present, this seems to be in opposition to America’s political goals.

 

Sashi Tharoor, Undersecretary General For Communications says,”We’ve been here before when the Security Council was hamstrung by disagreement among the great powers, all accompanied by dire predictions about the body’s future. We know it would be premature to write our obituary.” In a session with the Values Caucus, Tharoor remarked that life in the UN is a constant balance between idealism and realism.

 

Sylvain and Phyllis Ehrenfeld are respectively IHEU representative and AEU’s National Service Conference representative at the UN.