Re: From the other axis
As a representative of Old Europe (Belgium), I'll argue that the basic reason behind the UN was to avoid pre-emptive war, which had been experienced through Germany and Japan at the start of WW2.
When I heard that pre-empyive war was slowly being accepted in the US public opinion's mind (as well as tought at West Point, for instance), I felt very much ashamed to also be half american (through my mother).
International laws have principles every country needs to apply. If the biggest and strongest one doens't do that anymore, then it's chaos.
Raoul