United Nothing

Forget the notion of rewriting history. Lets talk about hand-crafting reality. In 1990 United Nations resolution #660 condemned the invasion of Kuwait by Saddam Hussein. There were numerous other resolutions passed which included economic sanctions, naval blockades, authorizations for the use of force, and formation of military coalitions. In addition to this invasion and the siege of the Kuwaiti people, Saddam murdered many of his own people which included the use of chemical weapons.

This same United Nations officially recognized Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge as the rightful government of Cambodia until 1997. Under this regime between 1975 and 1979 over 2 million Cambodians died, most killed during the "cleansing", and many more from starvation and disease in Pol Pot's agrarian revolution.

Both Saddam and Pol Pot were psychopaths. Both men were guilty of mass murder and unspeakable crimes against humanity. One was protected by the UN through "official recognition" and one had two wars waged against him by UN sanctioned coalitions in which hundreds of thousands of people died, was eventually removed from power, convicted for his crimes in an international dog-and-pony show trial, and executed.

We've heard the official story justifying the use of force against Saddam as a fight for freedom of an oppressed people and the disposition of an evil and dangerous tyrant. I'm fairly certain that no one knows the official story justifying the official recognition of Pol Pot who is responsible for atrocities so heinous as to be described as the incarnation of Hell on Earth.

Based on these two examples and the inconsistent application of power and interest in human rights, one must ask what the function is of the United Nations? To whom do they answer and who do they serve? Whose agendas do they support? Who holds them accountable? What about the accountability of governments that misuse UN authority to pursue their own agendas?

Maybe its time to pass People's Resolution #1.