Don't be quick to judge

Ilan Behm's viewpoint foolishly judges the United Nations as a "biased institution" which shows "little to no leadership in the world."("The Joke that has become the UN," Jan. 21, 2003) He cites two anecdotes _ the failure of the UN to check Saddam's weapons and the inability of the UN to not "lead" concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Why don't we take a quick look at his analysis on the two aforementioned issues?

Mr. Behm's viewpoint did not show sufficient research on the history of UN inspections in Iraq. Otherwise it would have taken into account that United Nations weapons inspectors were forced out of Iraq on Dec. 16, 1998 _ after years of successful operations. Figures from a recent Iraq dossier printed by the Joint Intelligence Committee headquartered in London illustrate the achievements of the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM). These achievements include: the destruction of 40,000 munitions for chemical weapons, 2,610 tons of chemical precursors and 411 tons of chemical warfare agent; the dismantling of Iraq's prime chemical weapons development and production complex at Al-Muthanna, and a range of key production equipment; the destruction of 48-SCUD type missiles, 11 mobile launchers and 56 sites, 30 warheads filled with chemical agents, and 20 conventional warheads; the destruction of the Al-Hakam biological weapons facility and a range of production equipment, seed stocks and growth media for biological weapons; the discovery in 1991 of samples of indigenously-produced highly enriched uranium, forcing Iraq's acknowledgement of uranium enrichment programs and attempts to preserve key components of its prohibited nuclear weapons program; and the removal and destruction of the infrastructure for the nuclear weapons program, including the Al-Athir weaponization/testing facility.

Although I find serious flaws in the UN Oil for Food program it has, undoubtedly, slowed the development of long-range missiles and other sophisticated technology. Years of sanctions, although brutal, have handicapped Hussein's ability to secure, develop, and deploy his chemical and biological weapons stockpile. In regards to Mr. Behm's analysis on the interviews that are to take place between the UN and Iraqi scientists, it fails to note that multiple scientists have defected from Iraq in the past to provide evidence to the UN. Defecting scientists have faced a threat of assassination and are still willing to leave in order to provide evidence to the world about the atrocities of Hussein's regime. In fact, Hussein's own son-in-law and former nuclear weapons chief, Lieutenant General Hussein Kamel Hassan, defected and provided the UN with insurmountable evidence about Iraq's nuclear weapons program. He was later assassinated.

Leadership is not synonymous with being a war-mongering institution. Because the UN favors inspections and a diplomatic solution to the crisis does not and should not be a sign of ineffective leadership. Furthermore, the UN's perceived inability to deal with Arafat and the PLO is completely subjective depending on what side of the line one stands on in regards to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He talks about the UN issuing resolutions that completely favor the Palestinians. His analysis on that aspect is correct. Israel has been condemned by the UN Security council 84 times. The UN has passed 67 resolutions since 1967 against Israel for war crimes against neighboring countries. This should serve as a wakeup call to Israel. Mr. Behm argues about the "fairness" and "balance" in the UN interpretation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict _ I challenge him to visit areas of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to see for himself what "fairness" and "balance" mean to the Palestinian people.

The Israeli government continues, as recently as last week, to destroy the Palestinian infrastructure. The government destroys hospitals, shuts down universities, demolishes markets, and clears away residential areas. According to a Jan. 21 report on the BBC, the Israeli army bulldozers demolished 60 Palestinian shops and business near the West Bank town of Tulkarm because the shops had been built without city permits. I suppose the Israeli government had forgotten the obstacles they had created to stop the Palestinians from even obtaining a permit. Nigel Roberts, director of the World Bank in the West Bank and Gaza, told BBC News Online, "Very little thought is given to the severe economic implications and the impact on reconciliation."

"People are being killed and busses are being blown up," I completely agree; however, the Israeli government is in a position to stop the cycle of violence. Yet, by continuing to increase settlement-building and destroy basic infrastructure in Palestinian neighborhoods, the chance of peace not only dwindles, it evaporates.

Mr. Behm's viewpoint looks at one example of a rogue UN peacekeeping unit and uses it to characterize an entire organization. He cites the May 2000 Israeli pullback from Southern Lebanon, and the following actions of a few UN soldiers aiding terrorists that abducted three Israeli soldiers. Although that act by those UN soldiers is horrific, it cannot be used to characterize an entire peacekeeping force. UN peacekeepers span the world trying to bring peace and stability to impoverished and war-torn regions. Using Mr. Behm's logic, one could argue that the entire Israeli government is illegitimate because its head of state is a war criminal. (re: Sharon's role in the massacre of innocent women and children in the refugee camps of Sabra and Shatila in west Beirut).

I urge Mr. Behm to take a critical look at the United Nations and see for himself what programs the UN funds and carries out throughout the world. Although the UN does not have a perfect record and has implemented and still does implement programs that could garner criticism from many different organizations, the majority of its programs and the majority of its work has been and continues to be noble. Take a look at a few achievements that the UN displays and documents on its website:

1. Maintaining peace and security. By having deployed a total of 42 peace-keeping forces and observer missions as of September 1996, the United Nations has been able to restore calm to allow the negotiating process to go forward, while saving millions of people from becoming casualties of conflicts.

2. Making peace. Since 1945, the United Nations has been credited with negotiating 172 peaceful settlements that have ended regional conflicts.

3. Promoting human rights. Since adopting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, the United Nations has helped enact dozens of comprehensive agreements on political, civil, economic, social, and cultural rights.

4. Promoting women's rights. The UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) and the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW) have supported programs and projects to improve the quality of life for women in over 100 countries. They include credit and training, access to new food-production technologies and marketing opportunities, and other means of promoting women's work.

5. Eradicating smallpox. A 13-year effort by the World Health Organization resulted in the complete eradication of smallpox from the planet in 1980

6. Providing humanitarian aid to victims of conflict. More than 30 million refugees

fleeing war, famine or persecution have received aid from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees since 1951 in a continuing effort coordinated by the United Nations that often involves other agencies.

Although the UN may not hold everyone's respect, it does hold the respect of hundreds of nations, millions of organizations, and billions of people. It has a proven track record and given the chance, will make good on its goals for the 21st century.

Pritesh Gandhi is a Junior studying abroad at the London School of Economics and Political ScienceMajoring in International Relations and Economics.