by Gary O'Neill

Created on: January 13, 2008

The UN Security Council is a body with 15 representatives that make decisions that are binding on all other members of the United Nations. Ten of the 15 representatives come from nations that are chosen to serve 2 year terms on the Council, and five of the representatives come from the permanent members of the Security Council: the United States, the United Kingdom, the Russian Federation, France and China. Each member of the Security Council is appointed leader for a one month term in rotation. Libya's turn to lead the Security Council is approaching.

The United Nations Charter includes the objectives of peace, Human Rights and establishing conditions for justice. If the UN is to remain credible as an organization to bring about these ideals, its leadership must not only reflect those ideals, but reflect the best of those ideals. In addition, leadership requires integrity, vision and competence. Libya falls short in its adherence to the UN ideals and in these leadership qualities, and is therefore unqualified to be the leader of the Security Council, even for a month.

Libya's modern history begins with its independence from UN trusteeship in 1951, making it even younger than Israel. In 1969, the government was overthrown by Col Qaddafi, who has been the ruler ever since. The country is governed by a series of local councils, using a blend of socialism and Islamic principles to govern. The country has no written constitution, and there is no system of checks and balances between the legislative, judicial and executive branches of its government. Under Qaddafi's rule, the Libyan nation sponsored terrorism through the 1970's and 1980's, culminating with the newsworthy in-flight destruction of Pan Am flight 103 over Scotland. It has also had a long simmering clash with neighboring countries, particularly Chad, over territory.

While the Libyan government has begun to turn away from terrorism and confrontation with European and African nations, it is by no means close to the ideal of respect for peace, human rights and justice that motivates the UN. The government's small steps toward responsible governance and international relations are most welcome and should be encouraged, as they have been by the United States and Europe.

Providing the symbolic responsibility of leadership of the UN to Libya, however, is premature. They have not gained the leadership stature or confidence on the part of the modern world needed to assume this important position of leadership. Libyan leaders have not demonstrated the ability to develop a vision for achieving the UN ideals, and their previous instances of misleading the international community on issues such as terrorism and weapons of mass destruction compromise their integrity. Now is not the time to elevate Libya to this important leadership position.

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