Are you saying that because the US benefits so much from a corrupt UN, US should not be so quick to criticize it?

Sadly, your article implies that the U.S. pays and pays and pays into the UN system. You neglect however to note that the U.S. benefits more in terms of procurment contracts than any other government. NY Mayor Gulliani even counter anti-UN arguments during his tenure by noting that NYC alone earns about $3 BILLION a year by hosting the UN – more than the U.S. pays in in annual dues.

Let’s be balanced. The UN members states (not some mythical unitary UN) allow corruption in the system to continue. The U.S. taxpayers score big in terms of GDP as the host country.

First, it has been a disillusionment to learn that the the general assembly runs UN and the majority clearly prefers a UN that provides their diplomats with an unearned international platform, keeps the international community – such as it is – from interfering in their sordid affairs, supplies jobs for its citizens at the expense of Western nations, and will continue as an otherwise powerless organization.

Second, I do not believe in the integrity of the organization, nor in its intent or ability to fix itself. While I am not placed where I have personally witnessed serious malfeasance, I regularly see so much petty graft, goldbricking, and low-level malfeasance that I have a hard time believing the Secretary General when he protests that the more serious allegations are not real.

Third, my lack of faith in the organization encourages suspicions that cover ups for things like oil-for-food go very high, perhaps to the S-G’s office. Hamlet was right to be dismayed to find “that one may smile and smile and be a villain.” I think the Volcker Commission findings could be the top of the tip of the iceberg.

Fourth, from a managerial perspective, the place is not organized to accomplish work, rather to provide sinecures for international drones. There is no meaningful discipline among the workforce other than what honest individuals themselves bring to their desks every day, and those poor good souls are outnumbered. Is there a discipline process for rank and file miscreants? Technically yes, but the process is so laborious and the rules so byzantine that nothing managerially useful comes of it. It’s a better tactic to assign non-performing staffers to meaningless jobs where they cannot harm your department. There is no shortage of meaningless jobs.

Fifth, the resignation of Mr Burnham says a lot to me. He is the kind of leader that a healthy organization would support with enthusiasm. At UN he was met with sullen resistance.

Bottom line (imagine! somone at UN who thinks in terms of results!) – I simply cannot accept that UN will fix its problems or, in fact, discipline anyone, including its most senior people. When it may appear that it is doing so, keep you eye on the person and see where they eventually re-emerge.

You are on the right track(s) – don’t stop.