Our sword raised by United Nations

Today it seems the middle east and in fact the world is poised on the precipice of a very great change. This appears to be an opportunity for humanitarian and civilised nations to take the lead in decisively seize an opportunity to unify a historically very unstable region, that of the middle east. It would seem that the instrument of this monumental opportunity should be the global conscience of the United Nations. Clearly there is both a morale and humanitarian mandate to liberate these peoples from tyranny and violence and tragedy that this brings into the lives of millions of innocents.

In 1791 the Irish statesman Edmund Burke offered us this; 'Those who have been once intoxicated with power, and have derived any kind of emolument from it, even though but for one year, never can willingly abandon it. They may be distressed in the midst of all their power; but they will never look to any thing but power for their relief.', hence the tyrants reluctance to relinquish power.

Much of Edmund Burke's commentary is both appropriate and frankly poetic (He is Irish after all) requirement for the United Nations security council to act as soon as practical before matters deteriorate and widespread anarchy and suffering on a catastrophic scale overtakes us as the potential for shortsighted civil war destroys the infrastructure in these our most vulnerable nations. It boils down to what is needed in the region which is a robust, credible and effective landforce. Airpower alone (however inspiring President Obama's commitment to the resolution of matters in the area is) will not suffice, it well understood (perhaps regrettably) that victory in these matters requires effective control of the ground by land forces.

Burke again offers us two very important considerations; firstly 'neither the few nor the many have a right to act merely by their will, in any matter connected with duty, trust, engagement, or obligation.' suggesting we must act on bvehalf of the family of man. More importantly we need to see that this resposibily now lies with us, 'All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing', thank you Edmund Burke.

With these thoughts at the forefront of our collective conscience we must act with a confidence, humanity and determination; our 'sword raised by united nations'.