Is the UN a "Dead" body?

In the aftermath of the First World War, leaders of all nations came together and formed “The League of Nations” in 1919 aimed at preventing similar catastrophe in future. But it miserably failed to stop the Second World War when Adolph Hitler and his axis forces ran riot bringing unspeakable misery to the people. This made the world leaders stick their heads together once again that marked the birth of the United Nations in 1945.

The military conflict we witness today the world over bears vivid testimony to the fact that even the new found formula has been ineffective in persuading warring factions to lay down arms and get back to the negotiating table. There has been blood shed in Bosnia, Chechnya, Russia, Sri Lanka, Kashmir, Palestine, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, and Ireland apart from so many tiny nations in Africa where genocides have become the order of the day and the UN has just been a silent spectator unable to play any role in resolving the crisis.

The war in Afghanistan was the end result of Al Qaeda strike in US cities, popularly known as 9/11 and one can justify the instant US reaction as there was no time for seeking a UN mandate. The decision to defend Kuwait from Iraq’s invasion can also justified in that the gulf state deserved international protection from the evil designs of dictator, Sadam Hussein.

But what is totally unjustifiable is the war against Iraq unleashed by US and its allies under the assumption that the country possessed weapons of mass destruction without adequate evidence, and above all, without UN sanction. If a senior member state of the UN which wields veto power can unilaterally carry out strikes against a member nation, it questions the very legitimacy of its existence.

Death and destruction have become an every day affair and membership in the UN has ceased to have any meaning. With five countries invested with veto power, Security Council resolutions are regularly hijacked or modified to suit the wealthy and influential. The UN has been reduced to the status of a toothless tiger and its function is no more democratic.

The UN has to shed its role of a watchdog and need to be given the mandate to draw troops from member nations and deploy in troubled areas if it has to make an impact in the world order, as otherwise, the day is not far when it will meet with same fate of League of Nations.

Swiss Banks Encouraging Corruption

If the criminal is punishable under law, the same law should be applicable to his accomplice abetting the crime.

In the pretext of assuring total privacy and secrecy to its customers, the Swiss banks have been attracting all the illicit money from the corrupt politicians and businessmen all over the world. The recent demand from the IRS (USA) that sought details of accounts of 52,000 US citizens is not surprising at all.

Asia, especially India, is one of the most corrupt nations in the world. Politicians and influential business tycoons are able to beat the system effectively with the clouts they wield in the corridors of power. All their ill-gotten money is siphoned off and parked in the safe hands of Swiss banks that assure total secrecy of their accounts regardless of the source of funds.

Another continent is Africa. Rich in natural resources like diamond, gold and other minerals, the corrupt leaders of small nations are plundering their own land and pumping gold into the Swiss banking system. Again the drug cartels of Latin America and the international arms dealers inject funds liberally into these banking channels. Swiss economy has been flourishing because of this inflow of cheap, but illicit money. There is no one to raise the voice for transparency of the transactions. Even the terrorist organizations shop around the world for arms and ammunition uses this tested route.

If UN can impose sanctions against Iran and North Korea for trying to achieve nuclear capability, why not impose similar sanctions against Switzerland for abetting corruption all over the planet?