Sir, – Following the killing of six UN aid workers in Gaza, António Guterres, the general secretary of the UN, said that the lack of accountability is totally unacceptable. Perhaps this is a watershed moment, as we stand helplessly by, wringing our hands, while rogue states, with impunity, murder those peace workers who were only there to alleviate the terrible suffering of innocent men, women and children. When will the world say enough is enough, and do something about it? It seems clear to me, as night follows day, that the UN is now seen by many as a toothless tiger to be kicked around at will and ridiculed as a total waste of money, resources and effort.
For as long as those five UN permanent Security Council members have the veto that protects them and their evil surrogates from any worthwhile sanctions, the killing will continue unabated.
The time for action is now, not tomorrow or next week or next year, because it could be too late if nothing is done immediately. Ireland has many outstanding diplomats who could push for an end to the veto and to have it replaced with a majority voting system on issues of peace and security. All it needs is for the political leadership to give the order to make it happen. I am not so naive as to think it would be easy. It would be a difficult and lengthy process, but the alternative is to accept a further descent into anarchy. – Yours, etc,
BOBBY CARTY,
Templeogue,
Dublin 6W.