>So the ultimate use for the U.N. is to manage hand-outs around the world and not much more??

They are also good at passing resolutions.

>I thought that the U.N. did considerably more than get into the middle of fights. I thought that the U.N. has acknowledged that it's poor at warring and that, in fact, it had already been agreed that should it authorize war with Iraq, that the U.S. would lead the coalition of MANY nations.

What is the U.N. good at?

>Agreed, other than for authorizing its existence and mission and start of action. The crux here is post war, including security (U.S./U.K. majorly responsible), rebuilding, administering justice, assistance in building bureaucracies for administration, school curriculum/outfitting, hospital organization and lots of other stuff that most importantly includes preparing, educating, running ELECTIONS.

What elections has the U.N. been involved in?