The Foreign Service Journal, December 2008

than those agreed to at Kyoto. The U.S. must step up at the Copenhagen treaty negotiations with a full readiness to lead the way toward these new restraints, while leveraging its readiness to get others to follow. This is the number-one priority for the world and one that can only be managed under a United Na- tions umbrella. Peacekeeping. When Pres. Obama takes office, the U.S. could be $2.5 billion or more in arrears to the United Nations, mainly because of the rising peacekeeping bud- get for 18 missions around the world — all authorized by Washington. The new administration will want to wield firm leadership in the Senate to get our U.N. debt paid. America’s indebtedness, particulary for a sum that seems insignificant in comparison with other large security expenditures, is a source of great frustration both at the U.N. and among our friends. The new administration will need to seek ways to be more supportive — financially, logistically and politically — of U.N. peacekeeping, possibly even including new ways to authorize American forces to work directly with the U.N. on such operations. The United Nations’ peace- keeping efforts are not always successful, but they are the best tool we have. There is no alternative in most cases. On Darfur, the new administration should offer sub- stantial logistic support and put its full weight behind bringing the U.N. peacekeeping force to full strength. Iran. The Security Council will be considering yet another U.S. resolution on sanctions against Iran. The International Atomic Energy Agency is still trying to mon- itor and inspect the Iranian program, with ever-greater Iranian reluctance as the sanctions agenda grows. The new U.S. administration should work toward far more assured international inspections and even participation in Iran’s nuclear program. However, such an approach will require Washington to deal directly with Tehran. The U.S. and others might need to take a strategic decision that, since the U.N. sanc- tions have not achieved the goal of stopping Iranian enrichment of uranium, direct approaches to Iran might lead toward more effective ways of limiting the country’s nuclear program to peaceful uses and significantly increase access by the IAEA and other international monitoring bodies. Midterm Objectives: U.N. Renewal The immediate challenges for a new administration at the United Nations should not be undertaken without a view to strengthening that institution. But a renewal will take time and intense diplomatic work with other delegations and with the U.N. secretary general. A new American face and a new style in New York will go a long way toward re-establishing the U.S. as a believable and important mediator on the many steps needed to help the United Nations become less dysfunctional as an or- ganization and more relevant to the 21st century. Renewal, Not “Reform.” American critics, particu- larly members of Congress, have generally interpreted “U.N. reform” to mean that the organization will work harder yet spend less money, through measures to encourage efficiency and budget reduction. While those are desirable goals, the new administration should pursue a broader vision of how best to strengthen the U.N. The term “renewal” could help get around talking only about money with Congress. For the U.N. to become a func- tioning partner, much has to change; it will not be easy. The U.S. should be constructive, not begrudging or patronizing (as it has often been in the past), and operate behind the scenes. The Security Council. Pessimism persists about changes in the makeup of the United Nations Security Council. Yet a group of member-states has laid the groundwork for bringing countries like India, Japan, Brazil and South Africa into the council as quasi-perma- nent members. Such an expansion can be accomplished during a new administration if the new U.S. team devel- ops a strategy of listening, showing flexibility and closing a deal without obvious American pressure. There will be costs and some countries will be unhappy, but no other step would so significantly add to the sense of inclusive- ness in this core U.N. body. The Secretariat. After two years in office, Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon will have an opportunity, with the support of a new U.S. president, to revisit personnel F O C U S 18 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 8 The next administration should seek a seat and a leadership role on the Human Rights Council to help to improve the workings of that new and controversial body.