A couple of thoughts. First, the US has done a lot to weaken the UN because there are countries which don't completely share the US agenda.

Second, regarding Iraq, the UN had inspectors in the field who were doing their job. Bush and Rumsfeld said that not only did Saddam have WMDs, but that the US knew where they were. And wouldn't give the UN that information.

And when they did, the UN inspectors found nothing.

And, maybe most importantly, the invasion of Iraq was against the UN charter and against international law. Why should member nations enter the fray in Iraq when it is an illegal and unpopular war?

What would you tell the family of a serviceperson killed in Iraq if you were foreign? That their son or daughter died because the US illegally invaded a country and now wants help?

Nope. Bush and the neocons said they'd do it alone, and in effect told the rest of the world to shove it. (Except for the mercenaries called the "Coalition".)

If Russia had done the same thing, I wouldn't want Americans dying over there to help out Putin.

Arf