Where's the UN ?

[FirstLight]

Okay, so either the UN has no authority and is just a symbolic figure, or they have some say when it comes to countries attacking eachother...(I may be a little naieve and out of the loop, but am I not correct to think they have some pull here?)

so why have I not heard ANYTHING about the UN stepping in to stop Israel's agressions? This is over the top violence, and now there are ground troops involved, this is an all out invasion to overtake Gaza...so again i ask

Where's the UN?

[HeresyLives]

1. UN is not an autonomous body.

The Security Council makes UN decisions, and that involves the US.

[FirstLight]

2. so what?

still no statements? no call for council to meet? WTF?

[Posteritatis]

3. If the US doesn't want the Security Council to speak, the Security Council will not speak. (nt)

[HeresyLives]

6. Sect'y General has spoken out.

But if the Security Council doesn't make a decision, nothing happens. And since Bush has been in, the Security Council has been hamstrung on what it can do.

[Sal Minella]

4. Israel just ignores the UN whenever the council expresses an opinion Israel doesn't like.

So the U.N. is just saving its breath, is my guess.

[hack89]

13. Many countries ignore the UN

if it is in their best interests. Israel is no different.

[spanone]

5. the UN has barely existed since bu$h* neutered them in the run=up to illegal iraq invasion

[Mudoria]

7. The UN?

Where were they when the terrorists were firing missles into Israel?

[Duckhunter935]

8. Both sides should stop

The only thing I have heard is that the UN stated both sides need to stop not just the Israelis

[Balbus]

9. Exactly where they ought to be...

Out of sight - out of mind.

[HeresyLives]

11. Well that would leave the US

as the world's policeman, exactly what you've been complaining about all this time.

[shayod]

10. Where's Blair??

Where indeed!! And in all of this where is the UN "Peace Envoy" to the Middle East - Tony Blair!! Even if he IS toothless why is he not speaking out against this genocide!
Having said that, even if the UN DO act Israel will ignore them. The hard truth is that the only country that can stop this is the U.S. If the US Gov tell Israel flat that they will put a complete halt to the money and support they give them - and MEAN IT - Israel will have no choice but to pull back. Naturally there is no chance of that while monkey-boy remains in the White House, but let's hope that Obama has the balls to do it after Jan 20th!!

[muriel_volestrangler]

14. He's on holiday. No, seriously, that's why he's not involved

(Interviewer) Have you spoken to Tony Blair in his role as Middle East peace envoy?

(Gordon Brown) "Tony's on holiday at the moment. (He) issued a statement and his work is very important to what we are doing."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/jan/04/interview-gordon-brown-world

[muriel_volestrangler]

12. Security Council resolution blocked by US and UK

UNITED NATIONS, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Arab countries called an emergency session of the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday to debate the violence in Gaza, demanding in a draft resolution an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militants.

The evening session adjourned without a vote being called and diplomats said negotiations would be held in coming days over the draft, which Western delegates described as unbalanced and focusing almost entirely on Israel's actions.

The resolution, presented by Libya, called for "an immediate ceasefire and for its full respect by both sides." It also demanded protection for Palestinian civilians, opening border crossings into Gaza and "restoration of calm in full."

It denounced "the excessive, disproportionate and indiscriminate use of force by Israel" but its only mention of Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel was a vague reference to "the deterioration of the situation in southern Israel."

http://www.reuters.com/article/homepageCrisis/idUSN31386497._CH_.2400

Libya presented the Security Council with a draft resolution drawn up by the Arab League calling for an immediate ceasefire, but the United States and Britain said it appeared biased because it did not mention the Hamas attacks.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/399774/1/.html

[Sensitivity]

15. The U.N. Charter and financing gives the U.S. absolute veto over its action. U.S. has blocked even

token resolution much less any effective action.

[taterguy]

16. New York City

Next question

[StudsT]

17. Israel and the U.S. practice an old form of exceptionalism when it comes to domination

wonder how they will feel when it is practiced by other great powers down the road... doesn't really matter since they won't be able to do a damn thing about it, as that is how exceptionalism works.

and so it goes...

StudsT

[MiniMe]

18. Blair and Sarkozy (Yeah, I know it's spelled wrong) are on their way

The US blocked a cease fire resolution. Come on January 21

[KharmaTrain]

19. The Same Place It's Been For 60 Years...

Demogauging. Nothing more, nothing less. It hasn't served any real useful purpose in the Middle East as Israel has always faced a lot of political games and posturing there...not a true fair hearing on issues.

The UN's "peackeeping" role in the region has been dubious at best...there to separate the sides, not to intervene. When Nasser told them to get out in 1967 before his planned invasion, they couldn't high tail it out of the Gaza and Sinai fast enough. Had it been left to the UN there would have been no peace process at all.