After watching a detailed report on, of all things a German English-Language satellite broadcast (The Journal from DW-TV) about the situation in Mumbai, today's Zero Punctuation, and the fact I've bought Deus Ex for the fourth time last week, I've thought hard on the subject of a UN-based Counter-Terrorism agency. In this modern age, most politicians are screaming the evil threats of Terrorists, Militaries are gearing up for smaller scale urban warfare and CT actions, does the idea of a UNATCO-like body sound:
1) Possible,
2) an effective measure,
3) an example of cultural differences being put aside to back neo-con/alarmist conservatives agendas unite nations against terrorism
& 4) not going to lead to a MJ12 type global coup?

UPDATE: The Counter-Terrorism divisional Chief for Mumbai was killed in the attacks today.

Again I've just heard theres a warning about the New York subways or something possibly being bombed in the near future.

Something like UNATCO is not only possible but is actually a reality already. The "UN Peacekeeper" forces that get sent in to different places when unrest sprouts up are pretty much a light version of what UNATCO was in DeusEX. It's only a matter of time before the UN talks enough countries into turning control of their militaries over to a "multi-national" command of some kind to form something just as powerful as UNATCO. The one world government is going to happen. The first steps towards it have already been made.

Isn't that a little different from what I said?
I suppose the Security Council is what you're referring to in that respect.

I think an efficient UNATCO type organisation is long over due. A few rotating platoons or specialists that can be flown at the drop of a hat bomb. Wouldn't be overly expensive given general cost commitments.

A unit trained and/or staffed by a combination of SAS and IDF (Israeli Defence Force) personnel is going to make terrorists shit their pants.

They would however need a quick authorisation system. Something like a request from the targeted nation plus one Security Council sponsor with a serious report/screening process after each event.

what be amazingly usefull except if deus ex taught me anything this will lead to a giant conspiracy theory and a plague and i really dont think its worth the risk...
then again if we give control of UNATCO to somebody that isnt creapy as all shit it might work...

I kinda envisioned more along the lines of Rainbow...

May I point out the effectiveness of previous UN endeavors as an example as to why this would be unsuccessful?

geee... conspiracies and plague or fear of public transport...

I think a Unatco could work, even if it does get out of hand like Deus Ex shows us, they'll end up going to far and all will reset.

well there is one way to calm the fears of people like me we need two brothers who are cyborgs and we should be fine so just find two cyborgs who are brothers and im fine with it

I think it would be better if such an organisation acted as a publically acknowledged group, ignore all the stuff about conspiracies with Cyborgs and AIs with a fetish for Greek myth.

The problem, as with other forms of control, is who actually controls it. I'm all for world police, but controls would need to be in place. Do we stop full scale rebellains? Do we help countries that aren't on the level? Etc

I still like the idea, because regardless I think it'll create more peace.

Btw, what was the rainbow reference you made earlier? I am not familiar.

Rainbow Six is based off a Tom Clancy novel, Six is the codename of John Clark, the leader of Rainbow in its first appearance, being a major star the novel is titled after his full codename, Rainbow Six. The first game has some meshing with the novel, everything after that has no links at all.

Rainbow is very similar to this proposal:

rossatdi:
I think an efficient UNATCO type organisation is long over due. A few rotating platoons or specialists that can be flown at the drop of a hat bomb. Wouldn't be overly expensive given general cost commitments.

A unit trained and/or staffed by a combination of SAS and IDF (Israeli Defence Force) personnel is going to make terrorists shit their pants.

They would however need a quick authorisation system. Something like a request from the targeted nation plus one Security Council sponsor with a serious report/screening process after each event.

No, Savage.

McCooo:
No, Savage.

Wuh?

World police?

Didn't Team America try that already?

Chickenlittle:
May I point out the effectiveness of previous UN endeavors as an example as to why this would be unsuccessful?

Exactly. For instance, the United Nations mission in Sierra Leone, in which a not insignificant number of peacekeepers were actually collaborating with the rebels they were meant to be fighting. The UN's problem is that it draws inneffective troops to it's peacekeeping endeavours, big nations don't want to give troops, so nations with poorly trained militaries give the troops for the $1 million/month/battallion payout. Any UNATCOesque organization would have the same problems.
Edit- Yes, UNASMIL did eventually succeed, but only when Britain sent a bunch of troops in to dig them out of the hole they were in.

Liverandbacon:

Chickenlittle:
May I point out the effectiveness of previous UN endeavors as an example as to why this would be unsuccessful?

Exactly. For instance, the United Nations mission in Sierra Leone, in which a not insignificant number of peacekeepers were actually collaborating with the rebels they were meant to be fighting. The UN's problem is that it draws inneffective troops to it's peacekeeping endeavours, big nations don't want to give troops, so nations with poorly trained militaries give the troops for the $1 million/month/battallion payout. Any UNATCOesque organization would have the same problems.
Edit- Yes, UNASMIL did eventually succeed, but only when Britain sent a bunch of troops in to dig them out of the hole they were in.

It's not just this; it's the UN's unwillingness to actually act on something. In Rwanda, for example, Canadian Peacekeepers were sent in, but not allowed to fire their weapons. A number of them were killed during the genocide, so the UN decided to send in troops to extract them, rather than defend the country they were there to keep peace in. Then there's nuclear issues, the Veto powers nations get, etc.

Eyclonus:
I kinda envisioned more along the lines of Rainbow...

Zippy would kick those terrorist's arses.

I'm not sure how Bungle, George, Jeffrey or Rod, Jane & Freddy would hold up in a proper fire-fight though...

Pointless since each country has it's own special forces and agencies trained for anti-terrorism and aren't too willing to expose their training secrets.

If they ever did it would be little more than publicity stunt to show a more cohesive UN.

rossatdi:
A few rotating platoons or specialists that can be flown at the drop of a hat bomb.

You just gave me an excellent idea.

UNATCO sounds like a nice idea. But I'm only in if trenchcoats and sunglasses are standard-issue.