While on its last leg for more then ten years, the death knell has finally sounded for the United Nations. It passed peacefully on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2006 following its atomic energy council’s refusal to condemn Iran’s nuclear energy program.

Born on Oct. 24, 1945 the United Nations was brought into this world with great idealism and pride, but almost instantly was attacked by the virus of divisive politics. At the United Nations birth, the Soviet Union used its small voting bloc to stand in the way of many resolutions on issues such as nuclear proliferation, a military force for U.N., and other measures that could have lead to a healthy and strong organization. This infighting among its members assured that there was little that could be done to overcome these divisive disagreements and the virus permanently crippled the infant organization.

The United Nations’ poor health at birth lead to a painful and sickly childhood and adolescent years. While passing through these stages of development, the United Nations was crippled by an even stronger bacterial infection whose symptoms were internal strife and failed compromises. The single largest event in its young life, the deployment of troops to the Republic of Korea, only happened because one of the five fingers on its Security Counsel hand, the Soviet Union, boycotted the proceedings.

As the United Nations progressed through its childhood and teen years, it neglected treatment as demonstrated through failed decisions like the partitioning of such places as Israel and the Kashmir region between India and Pakistan. These actions by the young and weak United Nations to restore peace and give aid later made it shy and hesitant to help settle or stop conflicts it had helped to start, events such as the various Arab-Israeli Wars or the Indian-Pakistani War of 1971. The early failures due to the virus of infighting coupled with unhealthy dissent and debate made the United Nations incapable of dealing with one of the most tragic and costly conflicts that occurred during its life, the conflict in the Republic of Vietnam in the 60s and 70s.

With the fall of the Soviet Union, the United Nations was given a chance to fulfill its potential and live up to the expectations of its parents. It was given the task of enforcing restrictions placed upon Iraq after it was defeated by a coalition of world forces in 1991. Rather than rising to this occasion and fulfilling its destiny, the United Nations proved weak and was ignored by the dictator of Iraq.

The United Nations watched every mandate passed over the course of 12 years be defied by Saddam Hussein. It was not until the United States rallied a few brave members of the body and struck down the Iraqi leader and his small power base in 2003, that the situation was resolved. While the United States was in the middle of these actions it was discovered the United Nations had a much more serious disease than previously believed in the form of its Oil-for-Food Program.

The United Nations had created this program in hopes of aiding the poor and helpless people of Iraq.

Instead, failing organs like Russia and France used the United Nations to generate millions and millions of dollars for its citizens. When these facts came to light, the now metastasized cancerous cells loudly protested those few countries brave enough to be willing to enforce the rules and resolutions.

The disease finally killed the United Nations when it refused to do its job of acting in the world’s best interests by stopping Iran’s attempt to create nuclear weapons.

Doctors said the United Nations felt no pain as it passed on due to its heavy sedation and nearly lifeless form. Flowers can be sent to the United Nations former residence in New York City and services will be held tomorrow. The United Nations is survived by its 191 member states and various world organizations such as the Red Cross, N.A.T.O., Amnesty International, and Bono. It was 60 years old.

Tom Amenta is a sophomore in communications. His column appears Mondays. He can be reached at [email protected].