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I just saw the 1944 movie Passages to Marseilles, starring Humphrey Bogart and Claude Rains (Casablanca cast). After Bogart’s character’s death, Reigns reads a letter that Bogart’s character wrote to his son.
“That deadly battle was fought to decide your future. You are the heir to what your father and his friends have won for you with their blood. A man of good will.” It would be too tragic if we were to become too lazy again or fail again.To build a world where young people can love without fear and parents can grow old with their children. And build a world where men deserve each other’s faith.
These words also describe the world’s hopes in the creation of the United Nations as the best protection mankind can come up with from the next world war. It is the commitment of the nations of the world to resolve disputes peacefully and protect their territorial integrity. aggression by a neighboring country. When Iraq invaded Kuwait, the UN worked as intended and the Security Council voted to force Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait under the action of multinational forces.
However, in a Russian invasion of Ukraine, the United Nations Security Council would be unable to act similarly due to Russia’s veto power over such action by the Security Council. UN resolution #377 authorizes the UN General Assembly to act on behalf of the Security Council to end such disputes when its action is blocked by a veto. . The UN General Assembly has voted only two condemnation resolutions, with no action to force a ceasefire, and without consequences if not respected. Therefore, these resolutions have had no impact on Russia’s actions in Ukraine. And destruction of civilian infrastructure, atrocities and war crimes have continued for more than ten months.
The ongoing conflict on the battlefield is becoming increasingly dangerous for the Ukrainian civilian population and the world. The consistent missile attacks on Russia’s civilian infrastructure to render basic elements of life such as electricity, heat and water inaccessible to civilians far from military targets is an ongoing war crime. Human atrocities continue to be uncovered as Ukraine reclaims Russian occupied territories. Ukraine will not surrender to Russia and relinquish its sovereignty. Russian President Vladimir Putin is unlikely to survive politically after being defeated on the battlefield by Ukraine. Putin needs an off-ramp he can show the public that he has achieved his original goal of sending troops to Ukraine.
Under Resolution 377, the UN General Assembly appears to be able to force a ceasefire and establish a multinational peacekeeping force. Rather than oppose this action, Putin could have “twisted” it, citing it as achieving his announced goal of aggression. Eliminate Nazi influence, prevent Ukraine from invading Russia, and protect the Russian-speaking population of eastern Ukraine, all of which were ensured by the actions of the United Nations.
Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the Eastern Territories will be negotiated after the current conflict ends. The United Nations has recommended overseeing these negotiations as Russia faces the threat of losing its seat on the Security Council at the United Nations General Assembly if it does not agree to cancel its annexation and withdraw from Ukrainian territory. should claim.
President Volodymyr Zelensky recently bravely traveled to the United States to address the Joint Congress on Ukraine’s need to defend democracy and territorial integrity on the battlefield. Congress has approved a budget of about $45 billion in 2023 to help Ukraine survive a Russian attack. But this approach will only prolong the suffering of the Ukrainian people during the coming cold winter, and the destruction of Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure and ongoing human atrocities and war crimes will likely last him another year. will ensure US leadership at the UN General Assembly could end this illegitimate conflict by forcing a vote on action to end the military conflict under a UN-implemented ceasefire and no more suffering in Ukraine. nor will it further increase investment in weapons from the United States and NATO.
Let us hope that the US government and UN ambassadors will take bold action at the UN General Assembly and that the UN will act on Resolution 377 to end this unlawful aggression now.
Robert Viney is a Naval Academy graduate and former nuclear submarine officer who served on special operations patrols in Vietnam and the Cold War area before spending 30 years as an executive, management coach and adjunct professor of leadership. I live in Mason.
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