Unilateralism – it’s what many critics argue has alienated the United States from much of the world, tainting the progress of such presidents as Kennedy, Reagan and Clinton, who tried to foster cordial relations with the international community. Painting the world as black and white (a common tool of the Bush administration) is not only detrimental to America’s international relationships, it’s arrogant and inherently wrong. However, this argument does not apply only to the United States simply because it is our nation that has developed the concept of preemptive war and a feeling of independence from the United Nations.
The idea of multilateral cooperation and international trust applies especially to fledgling states. The reforged nation of Iraq, which is far from self-sufficient in virtually every area, is not ready to handle the issue of Saddam Hussein’s fate. Not only would it be unwise to forfeit an international criminal to a nation torn by numerous factions and burdened with instability, but it would demonstrate, once again, an American disregard for the United Nations.
| “The United Nations still contains a world court comprised of a cross-section of our international community.” |
Some might argue the United Nations deserves no place in the decision-making process surrounding Hussein or others from his regime, saying only a portion of the United Nations’ members participated in the invasion, making the international organization irrelevant. This assertion is an extension of the arrogance of the Bush doctrine. Hussein is guilty of violating numerous Chapter 7 resolutions, and if that doesn’t warrant U.N. involvement, then his crimes against humanity should. True, Hussein is not the only leader who has violated U.N. resolutions and committed horrendous crimes against multitudes of innocent people – but the issue at hand is no longer whether or not invasion was justified.
The somewhat pitiful-looking man whose face has been virtually omnipresent in our media of late was once a powerful and vicious dictator guilty of reneging on his agreements and slaughtering innocent people.
Whether or not the United Nations agreed with violating Iraq’s sovereignty in retribution for the infraction of Chapter 7 resolutions and the violation of human rights is not the point – the United Nations still contains a world court comprised of a cross-section of our international community.
Any legal justification for the invasion of Iraq falls under international law, making our international court the only organization entitled to deciding the fate of the ousted leader. The United Nations needs a chance to demonstrate to the world that it will no longer tolerate a disregard for its resolutions, and the United States now has a chance to provide that chance.
While the Iraqi people undoubtedly deserve a say in the fate of their former oppressor, they do not deserve to completely decide the fate of an international criminal. Additionally, critics around the world would argue – and maybe rightfully so – that the current Iraqi government acts as little more than an American puppet, and will continue in this fashion until stability is accomplished and the United States relinquishes all control. Obviously no such assertion can be made about the United Nations. The United Nations was designed to function as a forum for international deliberation, and any nations who wish to play a role in the resolution of our international community’s current dilemma need to use the International Court of Justice as it was intended.
A multilateral consensus on the issue of Hussein will mend wounds between the United States and the international organization it once respected, and will assure that justice is served. An organization built on the ideology of the free world will not allow an authoritarian figure such as Hussein to escape without retribution.
If we want to avoid turning Hussein into a martyr, then we cannot afford to allow accusations of unilateralism (whether against the United States or the American-influenced Iraqi government) to plague his trial. Submitting to our international legal system will restore the relevance of the United Nations, mend diplomatic fissures, prevent Hussein from becoming a martyr and assure that justice is served.
The divergent interests of certain members do not mean the United Nations is flawed or irrelevant; it demonstrates an effective representation of international opinion – something the United States should once again respect.
