by
MilanSturgis | October 30, 2009 at 01:42 am
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Yesterday the UN Mission in Kabul announced it was going to review its policies and presence in Afghanistan in the wake of the attack on its guest house on Wednesday. This is an all too familiar scenario as it was the attack on the UN headquarters in Baghdad in July 2003 which precipitated its exit from Iraq. At that time the then Bush administration downplayed the importance of the UN in state building and its role as a vital agent of reconstruction, but as events have shown the UN’s departure slowed if not reversed events in that country after its departure. Today the UN is involved in every aspect of recovery and development in Afghanistan. The World Food Program is feeding millions of Afghans daily, the World Health Organization continues to bring basic health care to rural areas that have never seen heath care before while UNICEF is maintaining and expanding programs for children from schools to orphanages for the forgotten victims of the war. The role of the UN is often unseen and unspoken but both vital and appreciated by the recipients. If the UN pulls back or even pulls out it will leave a hole that would be impossible to fill. The US’s reconstruction efforts has been enormous and continues to grow, Canada has been just as active in its efforts but no one country could step in and take the place of the UN efforts. The departure of the UN from Iraq signaled a victory for those who prefer chaos over order, violence over peace. The same is true today in Afghanistan, there are those who would prefer the UN simply depart with it’s aid programs-let’s hope they don’t. We cannot afford another 2003 scenario to be repeated today.
Truemors
The Importance of the UN
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (11)
at 03:28 on October 30th, 2009
I have seen the work of the UN first hand in Bosnia and other trouble spots in the world.
In Bosnia the UN was instrumental in training police forces in conjunction with the military. The International Police Task Force did a tremedous job of delivering training to Serb police and others.
Unfortunately what the public sees is the discord in the UN Assembly and its impotence against rogue states.
This is a great post, Milan. Thank you for this.
at 05:00 on October 30th, 2009
I believe you have the mandate and capacity confused which often happens and is the point of my piece today. I spent nine years in the Balkans as a diplomat and I disagree with those that dismiss the UN's efforts out of hand. Additionally, having two tours in Afghanistan I have witnessed UNAMA's capabilities in relieving the strive of over thirty years of war. Finally, working closely with UNMiK in Kosovo while stationed there with US State Dept. I saw their work first hand and the assistance that they provided to Albanian, Serbs and Roma. To paint the UN because of the failings of the Dutch in Srbenica is an indictment on the national caveat of the Dutch not the work of the UN.
at 05:23 on October 30th, 2009
I also resent the fact that the UN only walked up and down the streets in the Balkans. Ask Major General Lou MacKenzie about that at the Sarajevo airport. Yes he had difficulty with the UN Command in New York, because they did not man their ops center 24/7. Romeo Dallaire in Rwanda had the same probem.
I worked closely with the IPTF in Sarajevo and their work was excellent. We worked out a training program for the Serb Special Police and I had two great policemen working with me on this.
Let.s not confuse Administration with the the players on the ground.
Security is a given for any UN or NGO organization to be effective.
The UN is ineffective in providing security because of the commitments made by member nations.
Dallaire asked for more forces in Rwanda, but that request remained unanswered, even by the U.S. Canada over the years has contributed significantly to peacekeeping forces around the world. A fact that I am very proud of as a Canadian.
The Srebenica incident that involved the Dutch requires more study. I think it is too easy to criticize them without knowing the details of their decisions or indecisions.
In summary the UN is only as effective as the sum of its member nations.
at 15:42 on October 30th, 2009
Cowpoke: I find it interesting that Americans hear over and over that the US sticks its nose in too many places, but then gets criticized for not putting more troops where the UN wants them. As of today, the US Military is still in existence first and foremost for the protection of American interests. I worked with the UN also while serving in the military and my experience is that the folks on the ground are indeed dedicated and earnest about their mission, but the leadership is petty and more interested in political gain than anything else.
at 16:52 on October 30th, 2009
I couldn't agree more Tired Dem. General MacKenzie when in Bosnia tried to contact the UN in New York. The Ops Centre there was even run by a Canadian General, who later became Chief of Defence Staff here, but he could not reach anyone. He lays it all out in his book "Soldiers Made me Look Good".
We had a time from the mid 70s to close to 2000, where being a politician in the Army as an officer was more important than professional competence, in order to get promoted.
I think with the advent of Afghanistan this has changed.
at 07:12 on October 30th, 2009
Good piece, I have a lot of respect for the UN and what they do. As in the case with any organization, people would like them to do more I'm sure, but the work they are doing is vital and necessary in my opinion.
at 07:24 on October 30th, 2009
I agree and reiterate once again. The UN is only as effective as the sum of its member nations.
at 07:53 on October 30th, 2009
The UN is our best tool for peace, unfortunately it is all to often being undermined by the Veto rights of the five.
Getting almost two hundred nations to co-operate and work together is no easy task. Especially in cases of conflicts, where National interest may conflict with what may be the right thing to do.
We need to reenforce the UN and not weaken it.
at 08:14 on October 30th, 2009
Thank you Milan for honoring the U.N. as they bridge the gap between rich and poor in developing and countries in conflict and promote a culture of peace through health, education and welfare.
The following is in part their mission statement in peacekeeping.
Peacekeeping operations may consist of several components, including a military component, which may or may not be armed, and various civilian components encompassing a broad range of disciplines. Depending on their mandate, peacekeeping missions may be required to:
at 08:27 on October 30th, 2009
a211423, those are all mandates that go on behind the scenes. The MSM seldom reports on this work. They are interested in drama only, so consequently you only hear of UN Missions being bombed or of hostages taken.
at 17:02 on October 30th, 2009
Roy we have had this discussion before, even the all mighty USA can't isolate itself from the world. The UN, even if it sometimes seems incompetent, is a forum for nations to talk. When you see newsclips from the UN you see the rhetoric that Ambassadors want their countries to see. I would wage that a lot of things are resolved in backrooms. This, of course, is hidden from the public just like bribery by party whips to get votes in Congress is hidden.
As for a small peacekeeping force stopping the massacre in Rwanda, Romeo Dallaire would differ with your assessment and he was there, as was one of my close friends.
Dallaire still suffers from severe PTSD and has attempted suicide several times. I recommend for you to read his book "I shook hands with the Devil" to get a clearer picture of Rwanada.
That comment if related to the conflict in Afghanistan could also be made, that a small American Force could handle the Taliban and Al Quaeda, since they only have small arms and some improvised explosive devices. How could that possibly be a match for NATO Forces.
To conclude this discussion, I can only say that NO MAN IS AN ISLAND and NEITHER IS ONE COUNTRY
Negotation takes give and take. You don.t get anywhere by bullying.