i think that aside from all the semantics and arguments about right and wrong, who said what and what weapons weren't where... we can probably all agree that in light of 9/11 and the growing terrorist threat at hand, the UN is not only innefective at dealing with suchs threats (other than through appeasement) and that it was time to start drawing some difinitive lines in the sand with rogue regimes.
of course, a person in Montreal might have a different perspective that the average American... but that hardly changes the fact that the UN is useless and was nowhere near effective when it came to dealing with Iraq back when it was a universally accepted fact that Saddam had weapons of mass destruction, was stealing all the oil for food money and squandering it on palaces while child mortality rates were creeping up to 15% and that he was in no way, shape of form cooperating with the UN. he was a terrible person, doing terrible things and no one disputed that he had more sinister intent.
i don't think the UN should pay for Iraq... but i do think Iraq is a problem that was largely created by the UN.
there is no right or wrong in war and warfare. there is only national interests, survival or death. there have been several hundred armed conflicts that the UN did not stop since its inception and countless millions of lives lost. why would any country place its own security in the hands of the UN if they did not have to? some have to... some don't. France, Russia, Syria and other rotating members could certainly care less about the threats the US faces unless it is one that affects them directly. If not, then every issue is simple political currency to be spent on the world stage.
even with the UN being the biggest humanitarian organization on the planet, it has still killed more people than it has saved through its own ineptitude and unwillingness to act. thats something to think about... while pointlessly discussing the Security Council, the political process and International law.
... to protect the peace, you must prepare for war.
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