>I'm afraid that if the UN does not participate, the old argument that 'Bush acting unilaterally without the UN invalidates the UN' will arise again. If the UN does not step in and participate in building Iraq, there is no incentive for the U.S. to participate in the UN in the future. It could be the continuation of the downfall of the UN.

Whatever happens it's too late. the U.S.A. already made the UN look useless to the face of the world. Not the fault of the UN but it's the end result anyway.

So now what could stop another member of the UN from doing the same?

Oh I see a possible solution to this mess. Create another organism. A higher power than the U.N. and have a bunch of countries agree to go by its rules. That is until a country decides to screw also this organism <vbg>.