After reading the transcript of Obama's UN General Assembly speech, I can shockingly say that I was actually impressed with a couple of things he brought up. He didn't apologize for defending American interests, he stressed the importance of mutual, global interest, and most amazing, he stated that "this cannot be solely America's endeavor. Those who used to chastise America for acting alone in the world cannot now stand by and wait for America to solve the world's problems alone.....[N]ow is the time for all of us to take our share of responsibility for a global response to global challenges." A call for other nations to pitch in, now that's a novel idea!
However, I do keep in mind that this was still the 44th President of the United States talking, so naturally, I had issues with what he had to say. He mentioned four pillars that are fundamental to the global problems at hand. Let's take a look at them.
1) International nuclear disarmament. He mentioned that he is working with Russia to reduce production of nuclear warheads. This sounds very nice if we were making a feel-good film where the world becomes a better place, but it's not. Without delving into Jewish notions of Messianic thought, it is safe to say that we do not live in a world where all nations would honor an NPT.
First, we are in an age where we're discussing alternative energy sources. Based on waning oil supplies and the harmful effects of coal production, we very well might be heading towards an age of nuclear power.
Second, historically speaking, Russia hasn't honored such an agreement. Sure, you had SALT I and SALT II, but diplomatic negotiations didn't bring the collapse of the former Soviet Union. Not only do you have to overcome Russian political corruptness, but you have to deal with the fact that the wounds of the aforementioned collapse are still fresh. Russia was once a great world power, and if they're motivated by shame and finding an opportunity to regain their honor in the global sphere, they'll take it. Russia isn't the only issue. Iran is developing nukes, as is North Korea. Both of these are rogue states, and neither one are going to relinquish their change to gain better favor in regional geo-politics. When everyone is on the same page, we can discuss disarmament. In the interim, let's be realistic about other nation's intents.
2a) The Pillar of Pursuit of Peace. Issue #1 I had with this pillar is his take on Afghanistan and Pakistan. The naïveté on the issue is something I have posted on lately. Obama is ordering our troops to nation-build in Afghanistan, but at the same time, he said today that "[D]emocracy cannot be imposed on any nation from the outside." Defeat al-Qaeda by nation-building in Afghanistan, not exert democracy on other nations--sounds like to conflicting ideas to me.
2b) "We will work with the UN and other partners to support an enduring peace." Since when has the UN ever had the militaristic muscle to bring about peace? As soon as Egyptian troops approached the border in the Sinai Peninsula, the UN troops skedaddled, and Israel had to fend for itself in the Six Day War. The UN also didn't do anything to help those in Rwanda. And as for Kosovo, that was primarily the power of NATO that resolved that conflict. The reason that nobody takes the UN seriously is because they don't have the hard power to coerce their will on others. This won't occur because there are way too many nation-states with way too many conflicting self-interests. Plus, the notion just reeks of elitist authoritarianism on a global scale.
2c) Obama discusses building a lasting peace between Israel, Palestine, and the Arab world. It's nice that Obama wasn't shaking his finger solely at Israel this time. But at the same time, how is natural settlement development just as morally egregious as blowing up innocent civilians? And stating that the Israelis have been occupying Palestinian land since 1967? I'm no historian (although I do my fair share of reading), but Palestinian nationalism didn't even exist until the 1970s. The man has chutzpah to state that Israel is occupying land, implying they have no right to it. If the issue were land, I might accept the argument. But since land has been offered to these people since the Balfour Declaration, history tells us that it's anything but. Also, why hasn't Saudi Arabia or Jordan helped an Arab brother out? I guess it's more amusing for them to be a wedge to help eradicate the "evil" Zionist entity.
3) Preserve our planet. The primary issue brought up in this pillar is cutting back on CO2 emissions. As the article below attests from Reason Magazine, a libertarian entity, the probability of cutting emissions that low is essentially nil. The sad part is that Obama is not mentioning nuclear power. It’s. only type of energy that acts as a “baseload resource” (i.e., being able to meet bulk-power demands) without emitting CO2. This is one of the few areas where I admire the French because they’re 80% nuclear, and their country hasn’t had any meltdowns.
http://www.reason.com/news/show/136257.html
4) A Global Economy that advances the opportunity for all people. I only suggest that Obama read “Cool It” by Bjorn Lomborg because Lomborg discusses prioritizing global issues by focusing on what’s most economically pragmatic while at the same time resolving most problems. Knowing how Obama has treated issues domestically, he will throw money at the problem, just on an international level.
Conclusion: Tackling all of these problems sounds dandy, but the truth is that the UN is ineffective at preserving human rights. I thought the ineptness of the Oil-for-Food Programme would have been sufficient evidence. The fact that 30% of U.N. resolutions have been against Israel should also tell you something about its anti-Semitism. Since its inception, it has been incapable of fostering any national, let alone global, peace. As long as other nation-states act as separate, distinct nation-states, the UN cannot act with any real authority.
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