From: Wei Dai (weidai@weidai.com)
Date: Wed Feb 26 2003 - 11:24:30 MST
On Wed, Feb 26, 2003 at 08:20:20AM -0800, Robert J. Bradbury wrote:
> Does the U.N. charter prohibit countries from acting in their national
> interests? [I don't think it does.] If indeed it does -- then we have
> probably had dozens of countries in "breach" over the last 50 years.
Here are the relevant paragraphs from the U.N. charter:
All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the
threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political
independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the
Purposes of the United Nations.
...
Nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of
individual or collective self-defence if an armed attack occurs against a
Member of the United Nations, until the Security Council has taken
measures necessary to maintain international peace and security. Measures
taken by Members in the exercise of this right of self-defence shall be
immediately reported to the Security Council and shall not in any way
affect the authority and responsibility of the Security Council under the
present Charter to take at any time such action as it deems necessary in
order to maintain or restore international peace and security.
(end quote)
So it seems that you're only allowed to use force for self-defence, or if
approved by the Security Council. My point is that since the U.S. has
violated this several times in the past without serious repercussions,
what makes this time different?
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