No. Nyet. Non. Through The Years With The U.N. Veto

By Rebecca Winters

Even if the U.S. finds a way of getting nine members of the U.N. Security Council to approve an Iraq resolution, the likelihood is that at least one nation will veto it. The veto, a privilege of the Council's five permanent members, has been exercised 252 times since the U.N. was founded in 1945. It has killed many U.N. initiatives over the years, though it occasionally has been circumvented. But if the U.S. heads for Iraq in spite of a veto by France or another permanent member of the Security Council, it would mark the first time a Council member flouted a veto. Other noteworthy nay votes: --By Rebecca Winters

THE ISSUE When Egypt nationalizes the Suez Canal in 1956, Israel, France and Britain attack

THE VETO London and Paris reject the Council's cease-fire resolution

THE AFTERMATH The U.S. takes the resolution to the General Assembly, which demands a cease-fire. Britain and France withdraw

THE ISSUE The Soviet Union invades Afghanistan in 1979

THE VETO The Security Council passes a resolution condemning the invasion, earning a nyet from the U.S.S.R.--one of 121 vetoes by the Soviet Union or Russia

THE AFTERMATH The last Soviet troops are not withdrawn from Afghanistan until 1989

THE ISSUE U.N. Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali is nominated for a second term in 1996

THE VETO Calling Boutros-Ghali's reform efforts "halfhearted," the U.S. vetoes the nomination in a closed session

THE AFTERMATH Kofi Annan takes over the top U.N. job

THE ISSUE In 1997 the Guatemalan civil war is ending; the U.N. wants to send in peacekeepers

THE VETO Angry with Guatemala for its warm ties to rival Taiwan, China votes the idea down

THE AFTERMATH Ten days later, China rescinds its veto; in return, Guatemala stops pressing for U.N. membership for Taiwan

THE ISSUE In March 2001 violence in the Middle East is escalating, leading to deaths among Israeli and Palestinian civilians

THE VETO The U.S. rejects a resolution to send U.N. observers to the Palestinian territories, saying it's an unbalanced approach

THE AFTERMATH The observers stay home