No other country in Europe has more confidence in the United Nations (UN) than Norway. More than 78 percent of Norwegians polled say they continue to think highly of the UN, compared to just 44 percent (!) of Europeans in general. Norway, which is active in attempting to broker peace in trouble spots around the world, also has supplied several top UN envoys, from Terje R¯d-Larsen to Jan Egeland. That may have contributed to the large amount of Norwegians who responded positively to the European Social Survey, which quesioned 40,000 people in 20 countries about their views on the UN. Fully 78.2 percent of the Norwegians questioned said they have confidence in the UN, and Norway also gives more money to the UN on a per capita basis than any other country in the world….

possibly stupid questions so forgive me in advance, but…shouldn’t we have the “continuing membership” debate first? Could there be a better time than right now?

Sen. Norm Coleman and Chairman Henry Hyde have each proposed legislation to apply a tourniquet to US funding of the UN pending significant restructuring.

While my personal preference for restructuring involves explosive controlled demolition followed by a brigade of D-9′s pushing debris into the East River to create the foundation for a park, Chairman Hyde’s proposal is the better of the two on offer.

The answer to your question of “How much more proof do we need..?” is (for me): None. The current state of the UN and in particular the office of the Secretariat is an impediment to the organization’s stated purpose. The US should suspend payment of dues while Kofi the Kleptocrat remains in the US and in office and should exercise enormous care in vetting his replacement. If Annan cannot be removed I would support a “sense of the Senate” resolution declaring him persona non grata in the US and denying him a visa for the remainder of his life.