India and the U.N.
By Gus Bilirakis
The Washington Times
February 20, 2008
The Allies created the U.N. Security Council at the end of World War II and charged it with maintaining international peace and security. Five nations were granted permanent membership at a time when the Soviet Union occupied half of Europe, China was the most powerful Asian country and Great Britain and France controlled worldwide empires.
During the 60-plus years since then, the permanent membership roster has remained static in a world radically transformed by global economic and security power realignments. The U.N. Security Council was established before anyone ever heard of NATO, the European Union or other effective security and economic alliances. Once formidable European empires have disappeared, and in the past two decades we have witnessed the disintegration of the Soviet Union, a resurgent Russia and the Chinese shift from ideological communism to authoritarian capitalism.
In today's international landscape, power is diffused and Islamic extremists pose a worldwide threat to moderate governments and democracy. The new foreign policy imperatives of democratic nations are to counter the rise of extremism and roll back global poverty through economic opportunity and enhanced political freedom.
Not all permanent members of the Security Council agree on these core objectives. Accordingly, the council must be reformed to ensure our goals are realized.
Rather than remaining on the sidelines when it comes to implementing reform at the United Nations, the United States and likeminded nations should actively advocate reform of the U.N. Security Council, beginning with permanent membership for the world's largest democracy: India. Read more...
