>Chris
>
>You mention the Balkans quite a lot as a demonstration of UN uselessness, a reason why it (insert pejorative here).
>
>Just for interest, what is your "take" on what happened in the Balkans?
>
>The UN certainly acknowledged its failure and identified a number of things that must be done better in future. Would you agree that the Security Council's allocation of only 7400 peacekeepers rather than the requested 34000, was part of the failure?
>
>Are are you also referring to more recent problems, e.g. where disagreements over the International Criminal Court threatened the UN's ability to continue (successful) peacekeeping efforts in the Balkans and elsewhere?
>
>JR

John;

One thing that deeply disturbs me about the UN is its failure to resolve the conflict with North Korea. Since 1953 we have not signed a peace treaty to end the “Korean Police Action”. Hostilities can break out at any time and then it will be time for debate.

Tom