Some unprecedented news today, folks. Never in the history of the United Nations has a U.S.
President taken the chairmanship of the powerful UN Security Council. Perhaps it is
because of what could arguably be a Constitutional prohibition against doing
so. To wit: Section 9 of the Constitution says:
No Title of Nobility shall be granted
by the
United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under
them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present,
Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or
foreign State.
Nonetheless, the rotating chairmanship of the council goes to
the
Barack Obama will cement the new co-operative relationship between the
The topic for the summit-level session of the
council on September 24 is nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear
disarmament – one of several global challenges that the
UN officials also hope a climate change debate on September 22 will give
fresh impetus to the search for a global climate deal at
Here is what the UN Security Council does. Picture Obama as the Chair of this committee with this power.
Under the UN Charter, the functions and powers of the Security Council are:
* to maintain international peace and security in accordance with the
principles and purposes of the United
Nations;
* to investigate any dispute or situation which might lead to international
friction;
* to recommend methods of adjusting such disputes or the terms of settlement;
* to formulate plans for the establishment of a system to regulate armaments;
* to determine the existence of a threat to the peace or act of aggression and
to recommend what action should be taken;
* to call on Members to apply economic sanctions and other measures not
involving the use of force to prevent or stop aggression;
* to take military action against an aggressor;
* to recommend the admission of new Members;
* to exercise the trusteeship functions of the
United Nations in “strategic areas”;
* to recommend to the General Assembly the appointment of the Secretary-General
and, together with the Assembly, to elect the Judges of the International Court
of Justice.
No American president has ever attempted to acquire the image of King of the Universe by officiating at a meeting of the UN’s highest body. Obama apparently believes that being flanked by council-member heads of state like Col. Moammar Qaddafi — who is expected to be seated five seats to Obama’s right — will cast a sufficiently blinding spell on Americans.
He undoubtedly hopes that the horrid state of the nation’s economy, turmoil over health care, and a summer of racial scapegoating will pale by comparison. This role as UN Security Council chair will allow him to make decisions, influence legislation and resolutions, and set the agenda