Posted on 23-5-2003
UN-Spun
The UN security council today overwhelmingly approved a resolution
that lifts stringent sanctions against Iraq and confers what
it hopes will be accepted as post-facto legitimacy on the US
and British aggression, and thus signaled the end to any hope
that the UN can act on the side of humanity or nature. Cynics
have for decades said the UN is a front acting in the interests
of trans-national corporations. The cynic's case is proved.
The 14-0 vote saw Germany, France and Russia - the security
council members most vehemently opposed to the war - line up
behind resolution 1483, which provides a limited role for the
UN in Iraq's post-war reconstruction. The vote handed control
of Iraq's oil resources to the occupying powers. Only Syria
refused to endorse the resolution, its seat at the council table
in New York remaining empty during the vote.
The final resolution represents a compromise, but leaves the
underlying goal of the US and its allies intact: Washington
and London, as occupying powers, remain firmly in control of
Iraq and its oil wealth "until an internationally recognised,
representative government is established". Fine words that
barely even pretend to hide the naked body of brute strength.
The French and Russian attempts to maintain their place on Iraq's
sea of oil have failed in the face of US and UK military brutality
so all sides promptly capitulate according to the might is right
doctrine, a doctrine that has at last come un-spun, or should
one say UN-spun.
The British ambassador to the UN, Sir Jeremy Greenstock, said
he hoped the near-unanimous support for the resolution would
"mark a return to sustained consensus" in the council.
Which means consensus is back, everybody consents to do what
the US - the current imperial power in the world - wants. Disagreement
with the US demonstrably carries the price of economic, political
and military attack, in that order.
The empire srikes back, Iraqi oil is again safely in the hands
of the seven sisters. However 6 billion humans and the rest
of nature far from being back under heal will express our increasing
resentment in a myriad of ways, because that, is human nature.
|