NationStates Jolt Archive


The UN's hypocracy

Drunk commies
09-12-2004, 17:07
Israel has never engaged in genocide. Yet they have been a constant target of UN chastisement. Sudan is committing it's second genocide. Still the UN refuses to sanaction them. It's easy to condemn Israel because you will always have the backing of every majority muslim nation and the backing of Europe because they want to curry favor with Arabs to open up markets for their goods and ensure the free flow of oil. Since those being killed in Sudan are the poorest of the poor and the oil is controlled by the genocidal regime nobody wants to be involved.
Skalador
09-12-2004, 17:30
Might I point out that Israel has repeatedly commited military agression against its neighbour, repeatedly committed infractions on international law(for example by building that wall outside its borders and INTO Palestinian territory) and that it has caused deportation of thousands upon thousand of Palestinian from their homes in order to make room for their colonists (inside Palestinian borders, of course)?

That being said, I agree that their lack of action toward Sudan or any of the many countries on the brink of civil war is unacceptable. But the problem is, the UN does NOT have an armed body. The UN's only power is sort of a moral one: it must condemn atrocities, but rely upon industrialized countries to bother to go in the fray and bring back peace. THAT is why no action has been taken in Sudan: nobody cares because there isn't a buck to be made there.

Now before you accuse them of being useless because they can't do a darn thing, be reminded that creation of an international UN force with no ties to any country has been a project for quite some time, THe reason this project hasn't come to pass yet (and probably never will) is that some industrialized countries, most notably the USA, have opposed that project because it meant they would have to pay for that neutral army corps. The USA and a couple of other countries feels like they should be the only one holding weapons... Or perhaps that they have something to fear from should an international force be constituted?
Fass
09-12-2004, 17:35
It's spelled "hypocrisy". And it's ironic that there lies such a deep hypocrisy in the criticism of the inactions of the UN when it is the member states, especially the five with veto rights, themselves who are responsible for it...
Areyoukiddingme
09-12-2004, 17:38
It's easy to condemn Israel because you will always have the backing of every majority muslim nation and the backing of Europe because they want to curry favor with Arabs to open up markets for their goods and ensure the free flow of oil.
Don't forget Europes rabid anti-semitism.
Torching Witches
09-12-2004, 17:40
It's spelled "hypocrisy". And it's ironic that there lies such a deep hypocrisy in the criticism of the inactions of the UN when it is the member states, especially the five with veto rights, themselves who are responsible for it...
Finally! Someone who recognises that the member states are responsible for the actions of the UN, and that it isn't some "other entity" with a mind of its own.

Well done, sir!
Skalador
09-12-2004, 17:40
Why isn't anyone reacting to my well-thought post?

*boo hoo*
Torching Witches
09-12-2004, 17:41
Don't forget Europes rabid anti-semitism.
Yes, that evil Europe, where everybody hates Jews. You want to cry about it, go the relvant thread. This isn't the place.
Areyoukiddingme
09-12-2004, 17:42
Who is crying about anything but you. Europe's rabid anti-semitism is a major part of the U.N. sanctioning Israel constantly. Here is a nickle, go but yourself a clue.
Dobbs Town
09-12-2004, 17:42
Israel has never engaged in genocide. Yet they have been a constant target of UN chastisement. Sudan is committing it's second genocide. Still the UN refuses to sanaction them. It's easy to condemn Israel because you will always have the backing of every majority muslim nation and the backing of Europe because they want to curry favor with Arabs to open up markets for their goods and ensure the free flow of oil. Since those being killed in Sudan are the poorest of the poor and the oil is controlled by the genocidal regime nobody wants to be involved.

So Israel would have to commit an act of genocide before the UN would be justified in chastising their behaviour?

Interesting...
Torching Witches
09-12-2004, 17:46
Why isn't anyone reacting to my well-thought post?

*boo hoo*
Very good post.

Have you ever read this:

We Did Nothing (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0141012900/qid=1102610558/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_2_1/026-5167159-1190860)

It will make you cry.

It's the member states who are responsible for paying for the running of the UN, and for providing military force where necessary. And the big countries don't pull their weight on either count.

They have a particular habit of putting troops in at the start, then pulling them out and blaming the UN when it all goes wrong, leaving troops from places like Pakistan and India to pick up the pieces.

Like I said, that book will make you cry.
Drunk commies
09-12-2004, 17:47
So Israel would have to commit an act of genocide before the UN would be justified in chastising their behaviour?

Interesting...
My point is that Israel is constantly badmouthed in the UN while nations like Sudan are left relatively to their own devices. Since Sudan's government is vile and bloodthirsty in the extreme it doesn't make sense. Israel's so-called brutality is mainly in self defense and necessary to ensure their continued survival.
Skalador
09-12-2004, 17:48
Who is crying about anything but you. Europe's rabid anti-semitism is a major part of the U.N. sanctioning Israel constantly.

No it's not. Anti-semitism is almost unheard of in Canada, yet we support most UN resolutions against Israel. Just go look up my first post to have an idea of what Israel has done to warrant those resolutions.
Areyoukiddingme
09-12-2004, 17:48
My point is that Israel is constantly badmouthed in the UN while nations like Sudan are left relatively to their own devices. Since Sudan's government is vile and bloodthirsty in the extreme it doesn't make sense. Israel's so-called brutality is mainly in self defense and necessary to ensure their continued survival.
Agreed, but there are other reasons that israel is singled out for defending itself, while nations like the Sudan are allowed to destroy their own populace.
Torching Witches
09-12-2004, 17:49
Who is crying about anything but you. Europe's rabid anti-semitism is a major part of the U.N. sanctioning Israel constantly. Here is a nickle, go but yourself a clue.
There you go again. Rabid anti-semitism. Bollocks. Yes, there is anti-semitism, just as there is everywhere, but it's not rabid.
Dobbs Town
09-12-2004, 17:53
My point is that Israel is constantly badmouthed in the UN while nations like Sudan are left relatively to their own devices. Since Sudan's government is vile and bloodthirsty in the extreme it doesn't make sense. Israel's so-called brutality is mainly in self defense and necessary to ensure their continued survival.

No, you can call it what it is, brutality. That's what it is. I saw a number of different clips of video footage showing Israeli soldiers needlessly hitting, punching, slapping and berating unarmed Palestinians at checkpoints, as well as footage of Israeli soldiers posing and primping over the bodies of dead unarmed Palestinians, all gladhanding each other. It was on the CBC news just last night.

That's brutal. And unnecessary. And it breeds contempt. Is breeding contempt necessary to survival?
Skalador
09-12-2004, 17:54
Since Sudan's government is vile and bloodthirsty in the extreme it doesn't make sense.

So is the US government :-P

Seriosly though, that part about self-defense doesn't hold up. IF you're acting in self-defense you DON'T build a wall in your enemie's borders, you build it inside YOUR OWN borders. And you DON'T sent thousands of colonists to build cities outside your own borders, and then send in the army to protect them from those who have been evicted to make place for the colons.

Israel is being the agressor as much if not more than the Palestinians. Using suicide-bombers is inexcusable, but so is "accidentally" killing civillians by the hundreds with military operations meant to pacify newly colonized land that doesn't belong to you.
Tactical Grace
09-12-2004, 18:07
Israel has never engaged in genocide. Yet they have been a constant target of UN chastisement. Sudan is committing it's second genocide. Still the UN refuses to sanaction them. It's easy to condemn Israel because you will always have the backing of every majority muslim nation and the backing of Europe because they want to curry favor with Arabs to open up markets for their goods and ensure the free flow of oil. Since those being killed in Sudan are the poorest of the poor and the oil is controlled by the genocidal regime nobody wants to be involved.
The UN is not an impartial organisation. It exists as a forum for world leaders. World leaders are generally a bunch of corrupt untrustworthy pricks. Hence, one can hardly act indignant when someone's interest comes to the fore.
Zeppistan
09-12-2004, 18:09
Israel has never engaged in genocide. Yet they have been a constant target of UN chastisement. Sudan is committing it's second genocide. Still the UN refuses to sanaction them. It's easy to condemn Israel because you will always have the backing of every majority muslim nation and the backing of Europe because they want to curry favor with Arabs to open up markets for their goods and ensure the free flow of oil. Since those being killed in Sudan are the poorest of the poor and the oil is controlled by the genocidal regime nobody wants to be involved.


For starters, attampting to weigh comparative situations and responses is very dificult. Second, few sanctions have ever been imposed upon Israel either. And if you are trying to compare historical numbers of resolutions - well, that is also pointless. For the record, there have been four security council resolutions regarding the Sudan this year and one regarding Palestine, so clearly they are treating Sudan with more concern than Israel right now - which, under the circumstances, is expected.

As others have already noted that the UN is only the sum of it's members and has no autonomous mandate - I won't beat you over the head with that one.


But also bear in mind one other item: The UN initally was mostly set up to handle international incidents as their first priority. Israel's problems in the past have predominently been of such a nature as they have been to war with virtually all of their neighbours in some capacity or another.

The problems in Sudan, on the other hand, is largely an internal matter which the UN generally has more dificulty getting concensus to deal with. This is because it's charter explicitely forbids direct internal interference except for under limited reasons. Genocide IS one of those reasons, however it is always harder to get the member nations to care about other nation's internal problems.
Water Cove
09-12-2004, 18:57
Who is crying about anything but you. Europe's rabid anti-semitism is a major part of the U.N. sanctioning Israel constantly. Here is a nickle, go but yourself a clue.

Here's 20 Euro, go buy yourself some facts!

A fact is that European Jews are far more liberal than Israelians. A fact is that the Israelian army bulldozes towns for no reason other than to get back at suicide bombers. A fact is that Europeans don't like it when Israelians repeat the mistakes of Nazi Germany. But I guess that's too hard to understand when you're an overzealous cowboy.

The reason why no countries take action against Sudan is because it's no longer a hot topic. Or because they really don't care. Before you go off the hook again saying 'European nazis' I have to remind you the USA does nothing either. Wasn't Bush fighting some war on terror? Isn't genocide worse than terror? Simply put: no country on earth is responding. USA, UK, France, Germany, Japan, China, South Korea, Russia, Canada, Mexico, Suadi-Arabia and also your precious Israel does nothing to prevent this bloodshed. The only ones who have shown great concern are the African nations. But there is nothing they can do until the world focusses on Sudan again.

The UN only acts when its members do. They acted in Yugoslavia, Iraq, Cyprus and other places because there was support. There was no support for anything moral or righteous when China and the USSR held power inside the UN, so that's why it didn't work then, because stupid vetos which also the western countries have. Now, there have got to be Muslim nations that will veto against resolutions against Sudan because they could care less about Africans. Do remember that these will be the same Muslim nations the USA sought to bribe with regards to the Iraq war, but that is a different matter.