Voices of the Nations

Voices of the Nations

by English Young
The Shorthorn Staff
9/29/04

Global security does not have to rest on the shoulders of the United States, which is overusing its military force, Umer Raffat said. With the support of other nations and the United Nations, the United States can reserve its resources, the biology junior and Americans for Informed Democracy president said.

This means that America does not have to use as many people and spend as much money, Raffat added.

But if the United Nations does not act on security and safety issues, the United States should use its military, said Jonathan Abel, computer science and engineering freshman and Harbison Community member, in front of about 20 students.

“If a country shows aggression toward the U.S., we must protect ourselves from extreme threat,” Abel said. “When the U.N. fails to act on issues the U.S military should be used.”

The Honors College Council held an “American Power and Global Security” debate Tuesday sponsored by the United Nations Foundation. The debate was part of The People Speak: America Debates Its Role in the World public education effort and supported by a mini-grant provided by the foundation.

Allen Saxe, political science associate professor, moderated the event. The debate was presented in a professional format in a room lined with photographs of military personnel.

Raffat and Abel debated when the United States should use military force abroad and whether working with other nations and international institutions, including the United Nations, strengthens the United States’ image resulting in a more peaceful world.

Raffat said America should use its military force for self-defense, but the United States is seeking to raise its military power instead of increasing diplomatic efforts.

“We need global cooperation from the other countries,” Raffat said. “We need other nations just as they need us. We do have a strong military, but we can make it stronger by acting with other countries.”

In opposition, Abel presented reasons on why U.S. military forces should be used to defend America alone.

Abel said the United Nations has a history of weak enforcement. In 1994, about 500,000 minority Tutsis and political moderates from the Hutu majority in Rwanda were slaughtered because U.N. officials failed to act, he said.

Raffat stood his ground and said that instead of bypassing the U.N., people should work to improve it to meet new global challenges.

Students became more involved in the debate at the end of the session by challenging the debaters with questions regarding the American stance on military issues.

“The debate was excellent,” Saxe said. “They presented their arguments in a very pleasant, calm and civilized way for such controversial and sensitive issues in a way that allowed people to think the issues through.”

Following the debate, a reception was held in which participants continued the discussion and described their views about the political election and foreign policy.

Participants at the event had diverse political ideologies and backgrounds.

“I don’t participate in debates often,” said Edward Reavis, electrical engineering senior. “I would like to participate more, but I don’t see them advertised often.”

Because the event was funded by the United Nation foundation, the organization would have to apply to hold future debates on campus.

“Debates are a great place to exchange ideas,” said Molly Alfers, Honors College Council staff adviser. “With the presidential debates coming up these issues are very timely.”