This topic is WAY too long now.
..and this won't help things!
Naso, I'm not one of those that take the free exchange of opinion/ideas as personal.
As I said, no one is getting hit by an axe handle here...that would be personal.
Dowding, you have to admit that almost all of your posts are of the accusatory, fault finding nature with respect to the UN/US/NATO/Wealthy Nations.
I think you are an idealist (and that is a good thing, BTW..I feel I am one myself. However, I also temper that with realism; I've been out in the wide-world enough to know that reality beats idealism almost every time, whether we like it or not.).
However, the world is NEVER going to live up to anyone's totally idealistic expectations. Continually complaining that they don't, barely acknowledging the good they do manage to do is unlikely to encourage them to do more.
Now, specifically, this did irritate me:
"the Chechnya conflict is very revealing, especially when looking at international relations. NATO wouldn't dare get involved here" I can't see your defense of this remark. To me it is either a blatant troll or pretty damn ill-informed. The rest of the paragraph provides no support for this statement, either.
What is "very revealing" with respect to world international relations? That NATO wouldn't "DARE" to get involved because that would be a CLEAR violation of its charter? What's revealing about that? It's surprising that they follow their own rules?
Your inflammatory tone led me to believe it was a troll. I replied sharply to that. I'd rather believe it was troll than the other choice.
Funk, exactly. I continually remind my elected reps that the much more sophisticated "old world" powers are better adapted to the delicate job of "policeman" than US Combat Troops. The day is coming when they will return. Spread the word, E-Mail the politicos. It's really easy now to mass mail Congress with a computer.
US Debt to the UN. I'm aware of it, haven't researched it or the reasons why we aren't paying.
In the meantime, though, here's a fact for you...a
FACT:
Bosnia and other overseas operations cost the United States $7 billion in 1999.
So, in the roughly 55 years of UN history, we're $10 Billion delinquent in dues.
Last year we spent $7 Billion on our overseas military committments. IIRC, I saw data that said Bosnia & Kosovo were about $5 Billion of that. This year will probably be no different.
$5 Billion in
ONE year. Half of our " 55 year delinquent dues" bill. Let's see..we went into Bosnia about 5 years ago.....
So, how about the rest of the UN pitches in on that. We'll add up what EVERY NATION that has troops in Bosnia & Kosovo has spent, divide it up equally amongst all UN members and have them send "fair share" checks to the peacekeeping nations. OK? Then we'll catch up our UN dues.
Oh, Dowding, while you are researching our UN bill, could you check on one other thing?
Please check and see how the "dues" for each nation are calculated. In other words, does each country pay equally? If not, what are the % of the UN budget that each of the major industrialized nations pays? Thanks.