A Seat At the Big Table

[dv8nation.livejournal.com]

So President Obama has come out in favor of giving India a seat on the UN Security Council. I for one really support this.

India certainly fits what one would expect from a Council member and as the world's largest democracy I think they provide a nice counter-balance to China. Also, we're talking about the only other nation that can claim 1/6th of the human race. Yes, Pakistan isn't too happy about the idea but nukes or not they don't have enough weight politically to shoot this down. So culturally, politically and economically adding India to the Council seems like a great decision to me.

Thoughts?

Comments

[devil-ad-vocate.livejournal.com]

It's a nice political gesture toward India, but it would require a complete restructuring of the UN Security Council.

That's not in Obama's job description.

[mijopo.livejournal.com]

To clarify, what he proposed was giving them a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. I'm opposed to giving anyone else a permanent seat on the UN Security Council as that's just a recipe for more UN inaction. I'd rather work towards eliminating permanent seat status entirely, but certainly not towards granting that status to even more countries.

[abomvubuso.livejournal.com]

Good strategic move to counter China, but coming a bit late i think. In a sense that India already is asserting its own role, geopolitically. Even if its temporarily coinciding with the US interests at the moment.

[underlankers.livejournal.com]

It's also a sign that the United States is at least in some areas of the world bypassing Cold War alliances to deal with a post-Cold War world. It's frankly one of the better decisions of the Obama Administration as far as foreign policy is concerned.

[thies.livejournal.com]

Will result in no change either way. Cheap way to stroke India's ego.

[gunslnger.livejournal.com]

I have no problem with India being on the Security Council and I welcome our new Indian overlords.

[prader.livejournal.com]

I think the U.N. should be abolished.