UK prime
minister Theresa May will address the UN General Assembly on Tuesday. She
seeks UN Action to Control Mass Migration Flows.
In contrast, I propose a 10-point “common sense” solution, not
UN action.
Let’s start with May’s proposal.
Theresa
May will use her first appearance as British prime minister at a United Nations
General Assembly meeting starting Monday to urge fellow leaders to do more to
control mass migration, which she’ll argue hurts both refugees and the
countries they enter.
May will
say the migrants should be encouraged to claim asylum in the first safe country
they reach.
Meanwhile
the EU’s open internal borders have allowed large population flows, with many
Eastern Europeans traveling to richer countries in search of a better life. It
was partly resentment at this that led Britain to vote to leave the EU in June.
May will call for a better distinction between these two groups.
“This is
an urgent matter — more people are displaced than at any point in modern
history and it is vital that we provide ongoing support for those people most
in need of protection,” May said in a statement released by her office. “While
we must continue our efforts to end conflict, stop persecution and the abuse of
human rights, I believe we also need a new, more effective global approach to
manage migration.”
Simple
Question
What the hell can the UN do?
The answer, of course, is nothing. And asking a political body
that cannot possibly do anything useful to solve a problem is like hoping a
wish-granting magic genie will pop out of the bottle.
Some readers may be thinking “stop criticizing and offer a
solution”. Fair enough.
Mish Ten Point Refugee Plan
1. Don’t start
wars. This especially applies to the US.
2. Don’t nation
build. This especially applies to the US.
3. Don’t
interfere in the internal politics of other nations. Universal
4. Don’t welcome
refugees with open arms. This especially applies to the EU
5. Don’t pay
bribes to halt refugee flows. This especially applies to the EU.
6. Don’t demand
other countries accept refugees they do not want. This especially applies to
the EU.
7. Don’t
criticize other countries for controlling their borders. This especially
applies to the EU.
8. Do recognize
the difference between economic refugees and political refugees. Universal
9. Do be willing
to accept Australian-style solutions of forcibly stopping refugees from
entering a country. Universal
10. Do Recognize a
nation’s first priority must be the safety and welfare of its own citizens.
Universal
If point 6 had been followed, Brexit would never have happened.
Instead of seeking UN action, how about a little common sense?