IN A STORM
I cannot explain it. But, there is a lesson in it for each of us.
From my place as a “crew member”, I do not question why my Captain has, apparently, decided to support Secretary-General Anan in his present difficulties of being involved in United Nations in-fighting.
To my rather limited scope of awareness, it seems that the Secretary General has knowingly, or thorough neglect, allowed the occurrences of a highly improper exchange of funds designated to be spent in oil-for-food relief work in Iraq. Payments have gone to individuals rather than to the Iraqi people as planned. Lists of such who gained in personal wealth from the UN project include the name of the Secretary General's son as a recently- hired employee of the French-associated banking firm which handled the actual exchanges. I, along with many others who kept seeing and hearing such allegations came to believe there had a measure of hanky-panky along the way. Poppa was amazed, shocked at first, but the more it was said he knew when his son had been selected to fill the rather obscure post, the less convincing his words became. Nothing has been done about it so far.
Our Ship of State has only recently departed on another four year voyage into the unknown and this is no time for any of us to be rocking the boat. We have had subjects aplenty with which we can be occupied such as the re-alignment of efficiency for all those cabinet positions now under new departmental heads. In fact, the emergence of this Anan business serves as somewhat of a relief from the resignation of cabinet secretaries with some, I'm sure.
For the common citizens among us, all these changes are expected and should be accepted in the sense that something is being done. Anything, I suppose, can be said to be better than nothing.
It will be interesting in the future to see how this acceptance of works out in the long run. It maybe that President Bush has chosen well in supporting the Secretary-General at time when the UN is not the most popular American idol by any rating. The UN needs our continued support if it is to endure; be modified along lines of common fairness and equity for all rather than being destroyed because of dishonest activity by some.
It may yet be that the United Nation will develop some worthwhile teeth, talons and stamina of its own but it can't if it is killed. Right now, within out own country we have political factions waiting for some signal for them to dismantled the entire UN. That would be a sad occasion, but those of us who saw the ideals of the old League of Nations vilified know it can happen. Dropping Anan right now could be seen as such a sign.
A.L.M. December 12, 2004 [c492wds]
