By Syd Baumel

Months ago, the Bush administration began taunting the Security Council with the "i" word: either it cans the new UNMOVIC weapons of mass destruction inspection and disarmament program in Iraq and permits the US and its ally/ies to bomb and invade the country into compliance or the United Nations will become "irrelevant."

That strategy didn’t work, and the US alliance has moved on to a new one. Rather than confine itself to making its case with hard evidence, rational argument, and moral persuasion, it has resorted to an unprecedentedly aggressive campaign of arm-twisting to win the votes of the so-called middle six Security Council member nations. 

It now is open knowledge that in retaliation for future rejection of the Bush administration's plans for Iraq it has threatened to:

• reduce its $20 million annual aid package to Angola 
• withdraw support for Guinea and Cameroon’s efforts to obtain loans from international lenders
• hold up congressional approval of a free-trade agreement with Chile 
• and boycott Mexican goods and services.

Yet on another level it’s a new high. Countries everywhere, including those on the Security Council, are experiencing another kind of arm-twisting. But instead of being elitist, unrepresentative and undemocratic, it’s popular and grassroots. The people – "the street" – are speaking out as never before on what they want their United Nations to do, and the overwhelming majority are saying patient pressure and diplomacy must be given a thorough chance before the grave resort to massive force – to "shock and awe" – is even to be considered. The people have no bribes nor threats to offer, only their right to protest at the ballot box or on the streets. 

As important as it is to bring a dangerous regime like Saddam Hussein’s "to heel," it is even more important to bring the world’s leaders to heal, to force them to act with the will and interests of all the world's people foremost in their minds. "The street" can and must help keep the United Nations honest, relevant, and legitimate.

Syd Baumel is editor of The Aquarian.