A PROMISE BETRAYED

In: World policy journal: WPJ ; a publication of the World Policy Institute, Band 8, Heft 3, S. 539-550

Abstract

THIS ARTICLE IS AN INTERVIEW WITH FORMER CANADIAN AMBASSADOR, STEPHEN LEWIS. LEWIS IS CRITICAL OF THE UNITED NATION'S ROLE IN THE RECENT GULF CRISIS, CHARGING THAT THE UN MERELY BOWED TO THE DEMANDS AND MUSCLE-FLEXING OF THE UNITED STATES. THE GULF WAR WAS INEVITABLE ONLY BECAUSE AS EARLY AS SEPTEMBER 1990, GEORGE BUSH DECIDED THAT HE WAS GOING TO HAVE A WAR, AND BECAUSE THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL ABDICATED ITS RESPONSIBILITY. IN THE FUTURE, A MORE AGGRESSIVE SECRETARY GENERAL, INCREASED EFFORTS BY REGIONAL SECURITY ORGANIZATIONS (FOR EXAMPLE: THE ARAB LEAGUE) TO KEEP THE PEACE, THE USE OF UN PEACEKEEPING FORCES AS TRIP WIRES TO DETER CONFLICT, AND A MORE ASSERTIVE ROLE FOR THE MIDDLE POWERS SUCH AS CANADA, NEW ZEALAND, AND HOLLAND, WILL BE NECESSARY IF THE UN IS TO MAINTAIN ANY SEMBLANCE OF LEGITIMACY.