Calling the Shots

While many Americans are just becoming aware of the United States' extraordinary dominance over the UN, Phyllis Bennis has long been a "prophet," warning of the catastrophic consequences of its disproportionate influence over this international body. A prolific writer, whose published works include Beyond the Storm: A Gulf Crisis Reader and Altered States: A Reader in the New World Order (Interlink: 1999. Edited with Michael Moushabeck), Bennis' signature work, Calling the Shots(Interlink: 1998. Edited with Michael Moushabeck), was initially pubfished by Olive Branch Press in 1996 and revised in 2000. ''The latter edi­tion examines US-UN relations at the close of the 20th century and sug­gests possible ways forward for the world body," according to its back cover promotional endorsements. The 341-page book has 11 chapters: "The Founders," "The History," "Center Stage: The Role and Power of the UN in Washington's Gulf War," "Who Rules: The Struggle for UN Democracy," "Peacekeeping, Interven­tion, and a Whole New World Out There," "Washington Keeps Its Own Peace," "Peacekeeping Goes to War: Somalia, Rwanda, Haiti, Bosnia,""UN Sanctions: The Not-Quite Warfare," "To the World's Attention," "The Exception: The Middle East and Palestine," "Democratizing the UN," and "The Laws of Empire and the UN's New Internationalism." This is followed by a 19-page appendix entitled "The United Nations Charter and Principal Organs of the UN." ...