Pax Nortona – A Blog by Joel Sax
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Uniting for Peace
Posted on March 19, 2003 in Appeals and Goodwill Peace
The United States has brought us to the brink of war. I am one of those who simply does not think George W. Bush is speaking in good faith and I do not support the military action.
A German friend send me the following URL which allows you to send an email message to the 400 plus ambassadors of the General Assembly. After reflecting on what signing this might do to others’ perceptions of me, particularly my fellow Americans, I signed it:
Dear U.N. Ambassador,
President Bush appears determined to wage war on Iraq despite the world’s opposition, despite the progress of UN weapons inspectors, despite the liklihood that an unprovoked war will foment, rather than eliminate, terrorism. The Bush Administration has threatened to attack Iraq even without the authority of the UN Security Council. This constitutes both a threat to world peace and to the very integrity of the UN as an institution dedicated to “the maintenance of international peace and security.” Time is running short. This disastrous war must be prevented.
Therefore, I urge you to band together with other nations in support of a “Uniting for Peace” resolution against an unprovoked invasion of Iraq.
As you know, Resolution 377, adopted by the UN in 1950, was made for situations precisely like this one.
Uniting for Peace provides that if, because of the lack of unanimity of the permanent members of the Security Council (France, China, Russia, Britain, United States), the Council cannot maintain international peace where there is a “threat to the peace, breach of the peace or act of aggression,” the General Assembly “shall consider the matter immediately..” The General Assembly can meet within 24 hours to consider such a matter, and can recommend collective measures to U.N. members including the use of armed forces to “maintain or restore international peace and security.”
Such a “Uniting for Peace” resolution could require that no military action be taken against Iraq without the explicit authority of the Security Council. It could mandate that the inspectors be permitted to complete their task. It seems unlikely that the United States and Britain would ignore such a measure. A vote by the majority of countries in the world, particularly if it were almost unanimous, would make the unilateral rush to war more difficult.
Uniting for Peace can be invoked either by seven members of the Security Council or by a majority of the members of the General Assembly.
Clearly, it our last best hope for fulfilling the mission stated in the UN
Charter: to “save succeeding generations form the scourge of war.”
Please act now. It’s not too late.
The only caution I give to others who might sign this is that there could be political or even legal repercussions from signing this, given the mind of our present administration. Of course, nothing might happen. The Bush maladministration might take this to be another futile gesture. Or maybe it could propel us into World War III. I shudder at possibilities, including that of blizzards in the Congo. (See Mute Troubadour’s tag board to understand this reference.)
Folks, any sane person is jumping at shadows in this mess. Let’s not let it prevent us from making considered, reasonable, hopefully effective stands. I think signing this letter is one such stand.
