John Kerry's position on

Role of the United Nations: With the United States currently in war without the backing of the United Nations, the question remains: Should the United States seek a permission slip to defend itself against possible threats?

Description of candidate's position: John Kerry believes that the United States can not win the war on terror with military strength alone. He believes that we must work with other countries instead of walking alone. He sees allies as giving us more hands in the struggle, yet would never let them tie our hands and prevent us from doing what must be done. Kerry sees the present war against terror as not only the United States' war, but the entire international communities' war. In the presence of danger Kerry would not wait for the green light from abroad, yet he would not push away those who share the burden. February 27, 2004, from the Kerry website.

Quotation from the candidate: "I will never cede the security of the United States of America to any other nation or to any institution, and that's not what I or any one who suggested respecting the U.N. process has ever talked about. I'll take whatever action. No one will be tougher in fighting the war on terror than I will. But I'll do it in a more effective and more respectful way than George Bush has by bringing allies to our side, by not rushing the war in a way that has overextended the armed forces of the United States, cost us billions of dollars because we weren't willing to be patient to bring other people to share the burden." February, 22, 2004, ABC Exclusive interview.

Assessment of the proposal:

Positive: Anthony Westell, former senior associate at the Carnegie Institute for International Peace reports that with the United States' resentment for U.N. authority it will be clear for all to see that the United Nations is without power or influence when U.S. interests are involved &endash; and that's most of the time in most of the world. He also reports that the U.N. may survive as an international welfare agency, but not as an organization to keep the peace. Leaders of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), which represents 40 per cent of world's population, will send a strong call for the United Nations to play a leading role in the war against terrorism. They expressed support for the role of United Nations and also agreed to intensify ASEM co-operation in the fight against terrorism.

Negative: Zell Miller disagrees with John Kerry and his views on the role of the United Nations. In his key note address at the Republican Convention Miller said the following: "Senator Kerry has made it clear that he would use military force only if approved by the United Nations. Kerry would let Paris decide when America needs defending. I want Bush to decide. John Kerry, who says he doesn't like outsourcing, wants to outsource our national security. That's the most dangerous outsourcing of all. This politician wants to be leader of the free world. Free for how long?"

Comparison: While both candidates express the notion that they would protect the lives of Americans at any cost, Kerry believes that we must work with other countries instead of walking alone. He believes that because this is not just America's war we should not have rushed into it without the backing of the United Nations. Bush believes that the United Nations had its chance and did not act on it, and as he said in his speech in Roswell, New Mexico: "we will never seek a permission slip to defend the American people."

Link to Bush's issue page.