Despite being arguably the most powerful nation in the world, the United States often finds itself at odds with other countries and international organizations when it comes to responding to human rights violations. For example, the United States is often in conflict with the United Nations, an organization established in 1945 to  help promote world peace and solve global problems, such as human rights violations, through international cooperation. Although the U.S. government was heavily involved in the development of the UN, many commentators assert that America should not look to the UN as a partner when responding to human rights abuses.

One reason given for why the United States should pursue its own solutions is that the UN gives too much credence to nations whose human rights records are highly suspect. This became especially evident in...