A new multi-national survey by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and WorldPublicOpinion.org shows that a majority (64 percent) of residents of the 14 countries that make up 56 percent of the
world’s population favor creation of a standing United Nations peacekeeping force. Large majorities also would give the UN authority to investigate violations of human rights (64 percent) and regulate international arms trade 55 percent). Twelve of the 14 countries polled have large majorities that favor a standing UN force. Only Argentina and Philippines had less than 50 percent of their respondents in favor of the idea.
The U.S., South Korea, and Japan flew an unusual trilateral flight with two U.S. B-52H Stratofortress bombers escorted by two Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-2s, and two ROK Air Force KF-16 fighters—both countries’ respective variants of the F-16—July 11. That same weekend, the top military officers of the three nations…