Should the UN have its own military?

[David Floyd]

I guess you wouldn't risk your life to save a drowning man either, now would you.

Let's be honest here. I'd certainly try to help, but if it comes down to him drowning and me surviving, or me drowning and him surviving, well, I'm certainly not gonna die. And I don't think I'm anywhere close to alone in this, I'm just more honest about it than most.

why don't you buy a hut in alaska miles from anybody and then nobody can inpinge on your rights

Unless of course I happen to be sitting on an oil deposit and the government comes in and claims eminent domain

[KrazyHorse]

I thought you were a Christian, sweetie.

[Az]

How about an army of mercenaries, similar to the French FL?

[KrazyHorse]

How about an army of mercenaries that isn't paid, but is instead forced to live off plunder, similar to the IDF?

[Az]

yeah, that would be even better. Btw, have I already posted that pic of me holding that ancient plate one of my friends has stolen in Jenin? some cool stuff over there .

[Inverse Icarus]

if the UN had a military, they'd end up being US/British troops anyway, wouldn't they?

[C0ckney]

the most important question i suppose is who would pay for it..

[TheStinger]

Getting troops would be ok, paying for their equipment would me much more difficult.

I can't see the UN buying a Navy which is what it would need to transport the troops safely or an airforce to protectthem once they are there, or heavy armour to enable them to achieve something.

[Heresson]

Re: Re: Should the UN have its own military?

Originally posted by Eli
I never thought you're that eager to finish the job your grandparents started.

Which my grandparents?
The ones whose entire village was murdered by Germans (all men), or those that were Armenian (or Jewish pretending Armenian to hide from Germans)?
You're being idiotic, Eli, as usually.

[Ned]

Originally posted by GeneralTacticus


Actually MacArthur is the perfect example of who NOT to have on a peace-keeping mission. Because of him, and him almost alone, the war dragged on for another two years, gaining neither side anything and resulting in millions more casualties and the desolation of the Korean peninsular, as well as destroying any possibility of freindly relations between the US and the PRC.

GT, Care to elaborate?

[Jack the Bodiless]

Should the UN have its own military?

Yes. It needs a rapid reaction force that could intervene before wrangling governments can get their forces mobilized, and intervene in "unpopular" areas where nations like the US won't intervene anyhow because they see no national interest at stake (like Rwanda).

Many people would volunteer to serve, it is a just cause.

However, I suggest basing it in the Sinai. It's a desolate area with good transport links (Suez canal) and conveniently close to major trouble spots in Africa and the Middle East.

[Thrawn05]

Originally posted by UberKruX
if the UN had a military, they'd end up being US/British troops anyway, wouldn't they?

That's why I have a half a mind to get the rest of members kicked out.

The US and British forces do all the work while the rest b!tch about it.... oh wait, sounds like home.

[Tingkai]

Originally posted by C0ckney
the most important question i suppose is who would pay for it..

I think I have a simple answer for that, although whether it works in practice might be complicated.

How about a tax on weapons sold by developed nations (including Russia) to other nations. The tax revenue could then be used to finance the UN force. I figure the military force would end up about a penny for every dollar collected. The bureaucrats would take the rest. Making sure the military force got all the money would be the difficult part.

[Tingkai]

Originally posted by GeneralTacticus
Possibly. You would have to solve the problems of who would command it, who would choose who commanded it, when it would be used, and where it would be based.

Presumably commanders could be picked the same way they are now.

The difficult question is when to use the force.

Let's say Quebec seperates from Canada and a civil war breaks out. If a UN army goes in and creates peace, what happens next?

Still, while there may be difficulties and challenges in creaing a UN army, if we don't do it, then how do we prevent another Rwanda. Do we just sit back and say sh!t happens while thousands of people get killed.

[dunk]

Originally posted by Tingkai

I think I have a simple answer for that, although whether it works in practice might be complicated.

How about a tax on weapons sold by developed nations (including Russia) to other nations. The tax revenue could then be used to finance the UN force. I figure the military force would end up about a penny for every dollar collected. The bureaucrats would take the rest. Making sure the military force got all the money would be the difficult part.

The UN cannot levy taxes. The charter would have to be amended and I don't think the US or Russia would like that idea. We sell plenty of weapons as well. Mind you, they aren't top of the line stuff, but we do sell a good deal of weapons to friendly countries.