by Marcus Brooks

Created on: July 24, 2007

When the League of Nations failed to prevent World War II, the U.S. pumped in their money, their manpower and their influence to create the United Nations.

The organization has 159 member nations. However, 157 of them depend heavily on Great Britain and America to bear nearly all of the world's weight. The United Nations' sole creation was to prevent a future world war. So far, that goal has been achieved. Unfortunately, dozens of regional conflicts have erupted since its inception in 1948.

The Marshall Plan, which was the blueprint on rebuilding Europe, also created the United Nations. After World War II ended, only three countries survived to be considered the so-called Superpowers; United States, Russia and Red China. The biggest threats came from Russia and China, as both Communist countries took over weakened neighbors in creating their "spheres of influence". Chinese Communist re-occupied the Manchuria province and subjugated the Nationalist opposition to the island of Taiwan. Russia kept their forces within East Germany, Poland, Romania, Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia. While pursuing the retreating Nazis, Russian troops just remained in the lands they invaded.

The UN's first serious test came in 1950. Communist North Korea crossed the 38th parallel and invaded South Korea. United Nations troops, with mostly American soldiers pushed Communist forces back across the 38th parallel in 1952. But, Red China poured 300,000 troops from the north and put UN forces into flight. A UN counterattack pushed back the Chinese. As UN general Douglas MacArthur poised to bring the conflict to mainland China, the UN relieved him of command and rapidly negotiated a ceasefire. The disputed 38th parallel became a demilitarized border and zone.

Three small tests came in 1956. Early in the year, Russia put down Hungarian freedom fighters in brutal fashion; killing over thirty thousand people. Later on, Egyptian leader, General Nasser sent tanks and infantry into the Suez Canal; directly provoking the newly-created country of Israel. Both brushfires fizzled out by UN "peace-keeping forces" being sent to maintain order. In 1954, the last remaining French army was surrounded by Vietminh guerrillas at Dien Bien Phu, Indochina. The UN sent emissaries to meet with French and Vietminh Communist parties in Paris, France. For three months, negotiations were scuttled as the Vietminh demanded a total withdrawal of French military from Indochina. France declined vehemently. They hoped to preserve the last of their "empire". But, on May 7, 1954 the Communist flag went up at Dien Bien Phu. The UN proved they could prevent devestating wars from expanding. However, they could not stop the Commmunist juggernaut.

In the United Nations more recent history, there were Kosovo, Somalia, Congo and Rwanda. The last three African nations endured horrific genocides before UN/U.S. got involved. These periods were marred by charges of indifference to black peoples' suffering, corruption, mismanagement and embezzlement. Last year, several UN department heads were indicted on those charges mentioned. A complete leadership overall has been in the works. If the casual observer looks toward the federal government; indifference to black people suffering, corruption, mismanagement and embezzlement, it sounds a lot like the Republican party influence.

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