Close Topic Options

United Nations or USA's Nations? - Page 14

I am a US citizen who wishes we would withdraw from the UN.  I don't think it serves any useful purpose for the US.  That is not to say I don't think there is any useful purpose for the UN, but I don't think we, in the US, need the UN.  We contribute, by far, the most money, and I believe the most troops.  For example, the first Gulf War was a UN action, but the US bore the brunt of that conflict both in terms of money and personnel.   That may be because we are so much larger, but I don't think we need the UN to ensure our safety.

As has already been pointed out there is only one superpower and the US is it.  Given that, how does the UN protect the US?  I think it protects smaller countries like Kuwait because united there is a greater force than just the small nation can provide on their own.  Still, look how long it took to do anything to help Kuwait when they were invaded.  

I believe the US is still in the UN because it has political value, which means nothing to me personally.  I believe we went to the UN for help with Iraq only in the hope that they would do what we wanted and then we woudn't look so bad to the world for the actions we chose to take.  I believe we were going to take the actions regardless of what the UN did, and I think we (the President and his people) knew that all along.  I don't think we should have gone to the UN under those circumstances.  

I do not believe the US runs the UN.  If we did, then they would have given us the votes in the manner we wanted when we went to them over Iraq.  The fact that they didn't indicates to me that the US doesn't control them.  We probably just wish we did!

Of course the UN took no action against us.  From a practical standpoint, what were they going to do to us?  We are their biggest source of money, troops and other resources.  This might not be in the UN's best interest to have us as members either, but if we are not a part of them there goes our money and also will they still be taken as seriously, if they are now?

I believe the European Union is becoming a powerful force with out the US in it's ranks, maybe the US should leave the UN and the UN could look to the European Union for a model on how to manage without us.  Of course, without the UN, other countries would need to be willing to have larger militaries on their own knowing that they couldn't rely on ours to help them.

That is probably as close to a political stand as I want to take because I come to this site for enjoyment.   ;D

Nations USAs Nations United

QUOTE

That is probably as close to a political stand as I want to take because I come to this site for enjoyment.

For some of us, the political discussion is part of what we enjoy :grouphug:

NightHawk

United Nations or USA's Nations? History & Civil Business Politics

QUOTE

For some of us, the political discussion is part of what we enjoy

LOL...that's so true. I'm one of those type

Page 14 Nations USAs Nations United

QUOTE

For some of us, the political discussion is part of what we enjoy :grouphug: NightHawk

Very true. And with open minds, please.

tenaheff, no offence to you personally ok? But that line of thinking has an arrogant slant to it. Not you but if the US do that, i.e. pull out of the UN. The rest of the world will perceive it as another arrogant stance and maybe there will be many more disagreements and disputes WITH the US in the future. And if there is no forum like the UN to 'discuss' or talk shop then what are the parties going to do? Obviously, the other side, whoever it may be cannot attack the US but in that case will the US launch an attack on them just because they don't see eye to eye with the US? We are still a planet of sovereign nations and as humans we cannot and do not kill each other just because the other fella does not speak the same language.

The UN for all its shortcomings, is THE only forum upon which the whole world can address issues. Remember our world is getting smaller by the day and no one nation can be on its own these days. Throughout history many past empires have crumbled because of overconfidence and arrogance.

Correct me if I'm wrong but the bulk of the costs of the first Gulf War was borned by other nations not the US! That's the difference between Bush Sr and Bush Jr.

Happy Halloween! ;D

Nations USAs Nations United

QUOTE

Correct me if I'm wrong but the bulk of the costs of the first Gulf War was borned by other nations not the US! That's the difference between Bush Sr and Bush Jr.

I would have to see some references to this.  As far as I know, almost the entire cost of the first Gulf War was born by the US.

NightHawk

United Nations or USA's Nations?

Although the US Citizens of this thread say that the US does not need the UN, it is not what this thread is really about. The basis is... who controls it. Now I am guessing you are saying that the US does not need the UN because you feel that the US is not in control of it? Are we then to say that the UN is not somehow persuaded by the US in doing its bidding?

As for the gulf war issue that seems to be very offtopic, but to satisfy what was asked I found one site that gives a break down plus graph:
https://people.psych.cornell.edu/~fhoran/gu...W_payments.html

United Nations USA's Nations - Page 14

QUOTE

Although the US Citizens of this thread say that the US does not need the UN, it is not what this thread is really about. The basis is... who controls it. Now I am guessing you are saying that the US does not need the UN because you feel that the US is not in control of it?

I can only answer for me since I am one of those US citizens who says we don't need the UN.  My view has nothing to do with who controls it.  I don't think the US controls it.  I don't see what the UN does for the US specifically.  The only thing I see from my country's membership in the UN is a great financial burden for me.  I understand what the UN does for smaller countries that need help defending themselves, but what do they do for the US?  I think we can defend ourselves by ourselves.

If the US controlled the UN, then they would have given us permission as we wanted to invade Iraq.  They did not.  I think the UN hesitates to sanction us because the member countries need us and our friendship.  Maybe we appear as bullies, but I think it is just that the greatest contributor, etc. has certain powers given them because of it.  Works like this in the business world as well.  Biggest clients get special attention.

United Nations USA's Nations Politics Business Civil & History - Page 14

QUOTE

The only thing I see from my country's membership in the UN is a great financial burden for me.  I understand what the UN does for smaller countries that need help defending themselves, but what do they do for the US?  I think we can defend ourselves by ourselves.

It is beneficial to the US to have no 'enemy' countries in the Western Hemisphere. Could you imagine if Mexico was taken over by a Middle Eastern Nation or Communist regime? The US would quake.  To prove my point... look at Cuba and Grenada. Such tiny islands, but 'big' enough to get even the US's attention.