The United Nations fails to impress

Re “The world’s scapegoat,” Opinion, Aug. 20

Paul Kennedy’s Op-Ed article is perplexing. While he seems to defend the United Nations, he supplies ample ammunition for its detractors.

Kennedy claims that “the United Nations is a scapegoat for the failures of the leading governments to agree or to act.” Using the word “scapegoat” makes the United Nations seem a blameless victim. The word “cover” would have more accurately cast it as an accessory for criminals. Among the great disservices of the United Nations is that it allows governments to claim honorable intentions for ignominious positions and actions.

Even Kennedy’s more charitable angle makes it clear that the United Nations is at best effete. If the U.N. is “nothing more than an assembly of sovereign nation states,” then if sovereign states can agree, they don’t need the U.N. If they don’t agree, the U.N. cannot facilitate agreement. Either way, it is useless.

ILAN SANDBERG

Jamaica Estates, N.Y.

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Kennedy’s point that the U.N. can only be what its member nations make of it is certainly true. However, his references to current conditions in Lebanon mistake the real issue by focusing on the fireworks. It is the same error the secretary-general made by accusing Israel of violating the cease-fire.

The U.N. could take an active role to block the rearming of Hezbollah. That is exactly the kind of duty a police force can perform. Keeping new armaments out of Lebanon would keep Israel out of Lebanon.

REX STYZENS

Long Beach