Kofi Annan, himself, may also be targeted soon. Even though he has only just started his second term, and even though he is immensely popular, Kofi Annan has recently become stronger in his public exasperation with Sharon's behavior. Given the recent pattern of arrogant American diplomacy, one cannot help but suspect that, but for Colin Powell and Shimon Peres -- who have a strong rapport with the secretary-general -- the anti-Iraq and pro-Sharon hardliners in the Bush administration will soon begin a campaign to invite Annan to retire.
It's likely that they will first suggest that he could retire with honor and that this decision would be for his own good. If that strategy doesn't work, they will likely accuse him of managerial incompetence and inability to work well with member states combined with yet another threat to withhold dues.
If the U.S. purges continue and rise to higher levels, other UN member nations may regret their pandering to Washington as they see the entire post-World War II framework of multilateralism start to disintegrate.
By Ian Williams, Foreign Policy in Focus, May 9, 2002
Ian Williams (uswarreport@igc.org) writes for Foreign Policy In Focus and is the author of "The UN for Beginners."
Reprinted with the permission of the publishers, AlterNet.org. Please visit:
http://www.alternet.org/
It's likely that they will first suggest that he could retire with honor and that this decision would be for his own good. If that strategy doesn't work, they will likely accuse him of managerial incompetence and inability to work well with member states combined with yet another threat to withhold dues.
If the U.S. purges continue and rise to higher levels, other UN member nations may regret their pandering to Washington as they see the entire post-World War II framework of multilateralism start to disintegrate.
By Ian Williams, Foreign Policy in Focus, May 9, 2002
Ian Williams (uswarreport@igc.org) writes for Foreign Policy In Focus and is the author of "The UN for Beginners."
Reprinted with the permission of the publishers, AlterNet.org. Please visit:
http://www.alternet.org/