If UN peacekeeping missions around the world seem to be ineffective, perhaps it's because they are run the same way the United Nations runs itself: badly. The disaster in Somalia is merely the latest example. Recently, American troops from the Army Rangers crashed in on what they thought was warlord Mohammed Aideed's headquarters. In fact, it was a building filled with UN workers. But, wait a minute. Were they just UN workers? Some press reports indicated that they were Somalis hired by the UN who in fact were loyal to Aideed. Given the UN record of mismanagement, this type of foul-up is to be expected. That's why giving the UN more power is such a scary thought.
Nevertheless, since the end of the Cold War, many world leaders have urged a larger role for the UN in international affairs. Some have advocated a bigger UN peacekeeping role, while others argue for expanding UN responsibilities for environmental protection and economic development, particularly in the Third World. Rich and poor nations alike applaud a more activist United Nations. In the industrialized world, environmentalists hope that the UN will save such natural resources as the rain forests, many of which are located in the Third World. Meanwhile, leaders of poor Third World countries are happy to see UN funds for environmental and development issues flow into their treasuries.
The best recent example of plans for an expanded UN role in environmental and developmental issues was last year's UN Conference on the Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro. One hundred and twenty heads of state attended this Earth Summit, where they signed agreements on everything from biodiversity to global warming. Although the Bush administration distanced itself from these unenforceable agreements, the Clinton administration signed the biodiversity agreement on June 4, 1993, and has otherwise endorsed the goals of the summit.
More recently, the United Nations has found itself thrust into the role of world policeman. It has 14 active peacekeeping missions around the world, from Angola to Cambodia. More than 80,000 troops are assigned to UN missions, which vary in size from 40 (India/Pakistan) to 25,000 (former Yugoslavia). The estimated cost of the Cambodia presence alone for 1993 is $2 billion.
REVIEW OF UN ACTIVITIES NEEDED
Although there is merit to some UN peacekeeping role, the world body's dramatic expansion into this and other areas since the end of the Cold War demands a thorough review of UN goals and priorities.
In general, a broad expansion of responsibilities is a big mistake for two reasons: (1) poor
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