Rice and UNSC

"In order to be credible, the Security Council, of course, has to act" – Condoleezza Rice Thursday, April 27, 2006

You know it's this sort of statement that annoys me. Well Dr Rice who is on the council? The five permanent members are the US, France, the UK, Russia, and China. Each of these states has its own agenda and may not agree with your ideas on the Iranian nuclear situation. If one of these states exercises its right to vote for an option other than yours, does that mean that the UN Security Council loses its credibility? The two are not linked. Perhaps you meant the UN Security Council members. This appears to be another less than subtle attempt to discredit the UN.

Certain states persist in declaring that the UN is no more if the UN does not vote in the manner that state wishes. Please get down off your high horse.

Under the Charter, the functions and powers of the Security Council are:

• to maintain international peace and security in accordance with the principles and purposes of the United Nations;
• to investigate any dispute or situation which mightlead to international friction;
• to recommend methods of adjusting such disputes or the terms of settlement;
• to formulate plans for the establishment of a system to regulate armaments;
• to determine the existence of a threat to the peace or act of aggression and to recommend what action should be taken;
• to call on Members to apply economic sanctions and other measures not involving the use of force to prevent or stop aggression;
• to take military action against an aggressor;
• to recommend the admission of new Members;
• to exercise the trusteeship functions of the United Nations in "strategic areas";
• to recommend to the General Assembly the appointment of the Secretary-General and, together with the Assembly, to elect the Judges of the International Court of Justice.

provided the five permanent members are not squabbling among themselves.