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■"U.N. Forces Using Tougher Tactics To Keep Peace: Congo War Is An Example; Attempt to Overcome the Failures of Rwanda, Bosnia and Somalia," by Marc Lacey, New York Times, 23 May 2005, p. A1.
The UN is trying to show a tougher side in its peacekeeping efforts, and the Congo is its first great application of this harder line. As the subtitle says, this is an effort to overcome the legacies of Rwanda, Bosnia and Somalia, otherwise known as the 1990s. The tipping point for the UN was Sierra Leone in 2000, when their own after-action report came to the conclusion that "No amount of good intentions can substitute for the fundamental ability to project credible force."
Sounds like a cry for help more than a declaration of new intent. There is only one military that can credibly project combat power around the planet. No U.S. military on the scene, then no hope for credibility. The Leviathan begets the capacity of the SysAdmin and the SysAdmin creates the possibility that the UN can become relevant again. The Iraq occupation was the best thing to happen to the UN in decades, because it made the U.S. serious about the SysAdmin function, and that competitionóand nothing elseóis what gets you the recent change of heart in the UN. It's the fear of competition, pure and simple.
And competition is good.
You want a better UN? Demand a better Pentagon! Put a leash on the Leviathan and grow the SysAdmin! Write your congressional reps and senators! And be amazed at the resultsÖ
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