My recollection is that when, a decade ago, the Secretary General for the next ten years was to be selected, the US was quite strongly opposed to Kofi Annan and tried to thwart his bid. I don’t recall who the US favored in his place, but in the event the vote (obviously) went against us, we ate our disappointment, proclaimed we’d be happy to work with the Kofster (like we could say otherwise, given the vote was democracy, one country one vote, in action), and the rest is, as they say, (sordid) history.

If my memory is correct, it looks like the US had Mr. Annan pretty well figured out even then.

In passing — a thousand thanks Claudia. A great many of us appreciate what you do and take heart from it. Plus, we use the tools you provide us, each in our small way.

Brian