Maybe I spoke too soon (again!) earlier today when I expressed a certain skepticism regarding the forthcoming Volcker Report on the UN Oil-for-Food scandal. The Financial Times has a somewhat more ominous take on what’s in store for the Kofiklatura. (How’s that for a neologism? I like it if I do say so myself.)
The man appointed to oversee a management shake-up at the United Nations has warned that it must brace itself for wide-ranging reform amid criticism that extends beyond the ranks of the American right.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Mark Malloch Brown warned the UN that there could be worse to come and that its management would feel the consequences from an investigation into allegations of corruption in the “oil-for-food” programme, which the UN administered for Iraq. (hat tip: Amazon #24)
Ah, so now you are a neologist committing neology. I am looking forward to the report on the doings of the Kofiklatch, KK for short.
Tarring, feathering, and permanent assignment to the Congo would seem appropriate for these clowns.
We should also move UN headquarters there and refuse to pay for any conferences held anywhere else.
I predict the UN would collapse in a year.
Roger—you are a sweetheart!
I didn’t get a chance to open the paper today until dinnertime, and then I just about jumped out of my chair!
(Actually, I pretty much did jump out of my chair, so I could get to my computer, pull the story, and get it to Roger.)
The headline was huge.
Basically, the entire point of the article was that it’s not just the ‘right-wing’ criticizing the U.N. anymore. It’s everyone. This point was repeated in at least 3 paragraphs.
It’s possible we’ve reached a tipping point.
Let’s hope.
Personally, I’ve lost all patience with the U.N.; at a gut level I’d like to see the place shut down. If we’re to have ‘international institutions’ and an ‘international community,’ let’s start over again and create an organization of democracies, or of regional organizations as Walter Russell Mead discusses . . .
I have no idea whether that’s what should be done. It’s what I feel.
The one thing I do know is that if the U.N. is going to stay in business, which no doubt it will, then it has got to be radically reformed. It has got to adhere to basic rules of transparency and accountability.
This passage is incredible:
I hopw Kofi Annan is swept out with the dust when it all settles. Then, the next head of UN must not be a carbon copy of him. I know the position is supposed to go to someone from the Asian countries, but is it set in stone? I’ve been reading suggestions on who this person should be and Clinton’s name comes up often.
The Republicans would never back Clinton, much less allow him to get the UN post. It would be an extrodianirly foolish move for them to allow Clinton to have such a podium.
BTW, I say that being neither a Clinton hater nor a Republican. Sane politics just dictates you don’t give such an independent “voice” to a member of the opposition.
Beyond that, it is traditional that the Secretary General job not go to a superpower. Clinton simply will never get the job and he knows it.
Mmmm, yeah. I’m going to go ahead and wait for some proof before I think this means anything. One, I’ll have to see if the report is as scathing as it should be.
Two, I’ll have to see if the report has any affect at all.
John Moore- The Congolese have their own problems; let’s not inflict the U.N. on them too. Although, I hope you are right about the imminent collapse of the U.N.
Call me crazy, but many years before this started (many, many years) I complained openly about certain countries even being eligible to join the UN, let alone have any sort of vote or chair any commitees. (Alphabetical rotaion? How absurd.) Let them be observers; not “members”, until they get their doo-doo together. A major house cleaning or complete dissolution is in order.
I’m with Less Nessman. But, I’m not optomistic. If it’s anything like CBS’s “investigation”, we’re in for a rude awakening.
Sorry, that Alphabetical “rotation”.
While I’m an optimist by nature I am pessimistic about any chance for meaningful UN reform. It is an institution poorly constructed to meet the challenges of a past era and fully corrupted to suit the purposes of an international kleptocracy. It can’t be reformed.
Now, going only slightly OT, I’m finding that to be a fun and provocative little treasure trove. Get it, you’ll like it!
ì(hat tip: Amazon #24)î
I originally thought that I would spend no more than two reading Animals in Translation : Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior by Temple Grandin and Catherine Johnson. It has now been over two weeks and Iím still learning new stuff regarding the animal kingdom. I strongly urge everyone to purchase a copy.
ìPersonally, I’ve lost all patience with the U.N.; at a gut level I’d like to see the place shut down. If we’re to have ‘international institutions’ and an ‘international community,’ let’s start over again and create an organization of democracies, or of regional organizations as Walter Russell Mead discusses . . .î
The UN will not be shut down. It should be merely marginalized. The real work will occur outside its walls. Starting a new organization immediately would result in too many hard feelings and ruffled egos. We should not be overly concerned with dotting all the ìiîs and crossing all the ìtîs. Tacit and informal understandings are often good enough.