UN Sanctions

Regardless of what you think about the US presence in Iraq, there is one undeniable fact. The previous sanctions by the UN against Iraq and now Iran are meaningless and ineffective. Saddam Hussein considered it a game. He would allow weapons inspectors into the country but deny them access to certain facilities. Then he would make the inspectors leave entirely, only to allow then to return later and inspect areas previously off limits. Did the US take inappropriate action on information that was unreliable at best? That is a topic for another day.

The Iranian government goes even further than Iraq by publicly declaring that they will not give in to UN demands regardless of the sanctions placed on their country. It stands behind the concept that they are an independent country and have the right to do what they please. While I don't dispute their sovereignty, they also need to play by the rules of the global community if they want to be included as a respected member of that community. I do not think that the US or the UN should send troops into Iran. There has to be some other way to get them to follow the rules. The only way that will happen is if countries such as Russia use their existing relationship with the Iranian government to apply genuine pressure on them to comply.

It is time for some of the other major players in the world to get involved and do their part. Everyone is quick to accuse the US of meddling in world affairs yet they don not get involved themselves. The US spends more money in relief aid, contributions to the UN budget, providing security forces than any other country in the world. Instead of condemning the US for the things that they don't like, it is time for the world to recognize the important role that our great country plays and step up and fill in the gaps and help out as well.