The United Nations' Role in Peace and War.

international | anti-war / imperialism | other press Monday December 14, 2009 06:36 by Denis Halliday

"The UN of the arms dealers - the most disreputable and yet profitable business on earth."

"As Bill Clinton and Madame Albright liked to say – the United Nations is there to further the best interests – of US foreign policy. However, to be fair, other States undoubtedly see it much the same way, but are more discrete and lack ambitions and military capacity for global empire!
And now we have President Obama, who wants to work with the United Nations and be a player rather than to dominate and control. Sounds good. We await the reality as he expands the war in Afghanistan, keeps Bagram airbase prison full of the tortured and uncharged, finishes off the destruction of Iraq, refuses to end the occupation of Okinawa, has the thick skin to criticize China for human rights abuses when America itself has a deplorable record, and now militarily threatens Iran! Not exactly the sort of new player we had hoped for perhaps! But let’s keep our fingers crossed..."

The United Nations' Role in Peace and War.
"The UN of the arms dealers - the most disreputable and yet profitable business on earth."

by Denis Halliday

Global Research Public Lecture, Montreal, December 1, 2009 Some times the New York Times does the right thing. This morning the Editorial (December 1, 2009) condemned the Swiss referendum vote to prohibit the construction of minarets on Mosques throughout the country. And on the Op. Ed. Page Bob Herbert quoted Eisenhower “ I hate war, as only a soldier who has lived it can, as one who has seen its brutality, it futility, its stupidity.” He added, and “:every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and not clothed.”

And especially thank you Professor Chossudovsky for this opportunity to speak in Montreal. And to listen, and to learn from audience reaction and comments.

As you may have guessed – this is not intended to be a ‘feel good’ review of the UN. We are here to think, and consider something different, something better. Something representative, something respectful of international law: committed to equality of nations and people. An organization that really believes in a single standard of behaviour and treatment for all... and not double standards as of now.

Rest of Lecture Here:
Dec 1 2009 Montreal Lecture by Denis Halliday: "The UN of the arms dealers - the most disreputable and yet profitable business on earth."