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| International | |
| UK/French bid to reform UN | |
| 2003-08-15 | |
| EFL of the EFL Janes version Both Britain and France agree that, while the UN is clearly in need of reform, many of the old reform proposals have little chance of working and have zero appeal for the USA. Take the structure of peacekeeping operations, which is bound to be exposed to ridicule yet again in the current mission in Liberia. It badly needs military expertise, money and political clout, but Washington is hardly likely to agree to any radical changes, so there is not much point in trying too hard. typically Euro, "This has no chance of working, so lets make it a priority" The same applies to the composition of the Security Council. Everyone agrees that this must be broadened to include today’s great powers rather than those who emerged victorious at the end of the Second World War. There is also a fair level of agreement that Germany and Japan should be included. Yet the chances of this happening, without inviting a flood of applications from other worthy candidates, is virtually nil. Further, the USA, which faced the French veto during the Iraq crisis, is hardly likely to relish the arrival of even more countries - such as India or Brazil - who may be even more difficult to persuade to vote in favour of US policies. So British and French diplomats are now turning the debate on its head and advocating other measures whose effect will be to avoid the old no-hope proposals but still push through meaningful reforms. The proposals include:
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| Posted by:Domingo |
| #10 If the UK does not join the EU, then they can push for it. If they want the big boys to sit at the table, the big boys better start ponying up the cash. |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-8-16 1:26:05 AM |
| #9 Yank> "I would also drop a few hints that a unified Europe under the EU probably should not have a vote for each member state and suggest the EU set a timeline for relinquishing the additional seats" I'm all for it, but UK not gonna accept it. When it isn't even accepting the other EU countries doing the whole common foreign policy thing *without* UK, do you really think it would ever surrender *her* foreign policy? Hint away as much as you want, but I think UK's gonna need more than hints before it stop being for the EU what the doureios hippos was for the castle of Ilium... |
| Posted by: Aris Katsaris 2003-8-15 9:26:58 PM |
| #8 I have a better plan. Reduce the United Nations to an unfunded, powerless debating society (I.E., current reality), disband all the unnecessary political bureaucracies that have proliferated under "UN Mandate", and send what's left to Kosovo, where I'm sure the people will "welcome" it in the proper manner. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2003-8-15 1:31:39 PM |
| #7 The canadian MP from Toronto has asked for the UN HQ. Let 'em have it, for all I care. civilian police forces with gunships. AKA Mercenaries, perhaps. Not a bad idea to finance a UN version of the French Foreign Legion. Saaayyy, why NOT turn the FFL over to the UN? |
| Posted by: Ptah 2003-8-15 1:27:45 PM |
| #6 Militaries disbanded, civilian police forces with gunships. IIRC, Kruschev made a similar proposal without the gunships. I think that all countries would be limited to 100K militia (which was also the Soviet word for police). Glad to see that the French haven't given up the internationalist dream! |
| Posted by: 11A5S 2003-8-15 12:05:24 PM |
| #5 "Blue Thunder" Is Roy Schnider around?... |
| Posted by: mojo 2003-8-15 10:58:30 AM |
| #4 Steve, "Militaries disbanded, civilian police forces with gunships" That's my fault. Horrible editing should be highlighted. |
| Posted by: Domingo 2003-8-15 10:28:27 AM |
| #3 Oh, and this is one Yankee that would love to see the US propose that Brazil, Japan, and India all get permenant seats at the United Nations. I have reason to believe the French would fight it tooth and nail so as not to see their own vote dilluted. Then the US can denounce them as simple and racist and potentially get some points with the developing world for doing the right thing. I would also drop a few hints that a unified Europe under the EU probably should not have a vote for each member state and suggest the EU set a timeline for relinquishing the additional seats. Oh, and I would further suggest that instead of building that new building the UN wants that the entire thing be moved to a new host country who can fund the construction through unpaid loans and deal with the traffic snarls and petty dictators running around. Somewhere in Europe (I'm thinking outside of Paris) would be best. |
| Posted by: Yank 2003-8-15 10:19:41 AM |
| #2 It makes sense in that they are just redefining things to be ideologically pure. Imagine handing out police uniforms to your miliary, repainting the equipment, and calling them cops. See, we have no military we are peaceful. It allows military precurement under police budgets and it avoids the humiliation of being expected to send troops abroad when you clearly only have police troops and nobody sends the police to a combat zone. And a Main Battle Tank is better than a horse when it comes to breaking up a riot. |
| Posted by: Yank 2003-8-15 10:13:06 AM |
| #1 Militaries disbanded, civilian police forces with gunships. WTF? That makes no sense at all. |
| Posted by: Steve 2003-8-15 9:33:11 AM |