MORAL BANKRUPTCY AT THE UN (UNITED NATIONS)

• NCJ Number: 62756
• Journal: MIDSTREAM Volume: 19 Issue: 2 Dated: (FEBRUARY 1973) Pages: 34-42
• Author(s): W KOREY
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 9 pages
• Corporate Author: Theodor Herzl Institute
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

UNSUCCESSFUL EFFORTS IN 1972 TO SECURE UNITED NATIONS (UN) ACTION ON INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM ARE DESCRIBED AND CITED AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE MORAL BANKRUPTCY OF THE ORGANIZATION'S GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Abstract

UN SECRETARY GENERAL WALDHEIM'S EFFORTS TO INITIATE UN ACTION ON INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM WERE PROMPTED BY GROWING RATES OF TERRORISM. MAJOR INCIDENTS INCLUDED THE MASSACRE OF 11 ISRAELI ATHLETES AT THE 1972 OLYMPICS, THE KILLING OF 26 TOURISTS AT AN ISRAELI AIRPORT IN 1972, LETTER BOMBS, ACT OF TERRORISM AGAINST 30 AIRLINES OF 14 COUNTRIES, AND KIDNAPPINGS OF DIPLOMATS. WALDHEIM FAILED TO ANTICIPATE THE DEPTH AND INTENSITY OF ARAB RESISTANCE TO HIS INITIATIVE, AS WELL AS ARAB STATES' INFLUENCE OVER AFRICAN COUNTRIES. IN RESPONSE TO ARAB PRESSURE, HOWEVER, HE ASSIGNED THE SUBJECT TO THE LEGAL COMMITTEE RATHER THAN TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND CHANGED THE CENTRAL FOCUS FROM TERRORISTS ACTS TO THE MISERY, FRUSTRATION AND GRIEVANCE RESULTING FROM THESE ACTS. THIS CHANGE IMPLIED TOLERANCE OR EVEN JUSTIFICATION OF TERRORISM. THE ARAB STATES SUCCESSFULLY DELAYED CONSIDERATION OF A U.S. DRAFT RESOLUTION DEFINING INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM AS A CRIME, CALLING FOR A LEGALLY-BINDING TREATY AIMED AT ITS PREVENTION AND PUNISHMENT, AND ASKING COUNTRIES TO REFUSE TO HABOR TERRORISTS. ATTEMPTS BY 14 WESTERN COUNTRIES TO SECURE SUPPORT FOR A COMPROMISE RESOLUTION ALSO FAILED. INSTEAD, THE COMMITTEE OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVED A RESOLUTION SUPPORTED BY ARAB AND AFRICAN STATES WHICH PROVIDED NO CONCRETE ANTI-TERRORIST PROPOSAL, AND, IN FACT, ASSERTED THE INALIENABLE RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION AND OTHER RIGHTS AND APPEARED TO SANCTION TERRORISM. THE RESOLUTION VOTE DEMONSTRATED BOTH THE UN'S PARALYSIS IN DEALING WITH AN URGENT INTERNATIONAL ISSUE AND THE NEED FOR MAJOR POWERS TO WORK OUTSIDE THE UN TO DEAL WITH INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM. BY ITS ACTION, THE UN HAS WEAKENED WALDHEIM'S STATURE AND HAS IN EFFECT ENDORSED FURTHER TERRORISM. (CFW)