UN, in what way does the UN benifit the US?

[NUKE]

Can anyone explain what good the UN is to the US? What benifit does the US enjoy by being a member of the UN?

[Nash]

You spelled "benifit" wrong.

[Nash]

erhm... to answer your question seriously, and kind of ignorantly because, well that's what I do....

Try to picture a world made up of hundreds of countries, with no one gathering place.... with no embassies... no diplomats... no formal way of communicating.

Seriously... picture that for a sec.

It won't answer your question, and it's not really a good defence of the current system... but I think it should at least lend some kind of perspective on what there is.

[NUKE]

Originally posted by Nash
erhm... to answer your question seriously, and kind of ignorantly because, well that's what I do....

Try to picture a world made up of hundreds of countries, with no one gathering place.... with no embassies... no diplomats... no formal way of communicating.

Seriously... picture that for a sec.

It won't answer your question, and it's not really a good defence of the current system... but I think it should at least lend some kind of perspective on what there is.

I guess my point ( not stated or implied, mind you) is that the UN benefits plenty from the US....while the US does not benefit at all that I can see. The relationship is one way it seems.

The US would probably be better off not being a UN member state.

[Nash]

K, like I said, I'm kind of ignorant on the subject... Can you first explain how the UN benefits from the US' involvement?

As it is, and except for the general benefit of having open lines of communication, I can't figure out how anyone is benefiting.

[NUKE]

Originally posted by Nash
K, like I said, I'm kind of ignorant on the subject... Can you first explain how the UN benefits from the US' involvement?

As it is, and except for the general benefit of having open lines of communication, I can't figure out how anyone is benefiting.

The member UN nations benefit by having a "voice" in the world that they would otherwise not have. The US gives the UN a voice plus CASH. No US, no UN.

The US gains nothing that I can see.

[Nash]

Originally posted by NUKE
The US gains nothing that I can see.

Nor can I.

But maybe we're not looking hard enough.

[NUKE]

Originally posted by Nash
Nor can I.

But maybe we're not looking hard enough.

Pretty intelligent statement . The US would seem  to be getting some kind of perceived benefit in order to continue the relationship.

I just don't see it myself.

[Nash]

Originally posted by NUKE
US would seem  to be getting some kind of perceived benefit in order to continue the relationship.

That's what I reckon too.

Time for the smart kids to jump in here.

[JB88]

no.

[Nash]

(JB88 is one of the smart guys)....

[JB88]

one among many friend.

[Lizking]

There are embassies and Ambassadors without the UN.  The percieved benefit is that a forum is provided for discussions of issues that effect more than one country.  The actual beneit is zilch.

[Dead Man Flying]

Think geopolitically.  The UN provides legitimacy to global decisions and gives the United States another tool to protect or otherwise provide support for other nations that share its world view.

If the United States leaves the UN, what happens to Israel?  What happens to Middle East dynamics?

Also, the UN appears to act as a protector of the international status quo.  While we may dislike it because it inhibits our ability to engage in actions that strongly disrupt the status quo, it also serves as a useful device for maintaining relationships and policies that benefit us.

-- Todd/Leviathn

[JB88]

yep.