Liberal Lunatic of the Day (3/28/2005)

Kofi Annan, the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, is said to be struggling with depression and considering his future. Colleagues have reported concerns about Annan ahead of an official report this week that will examine his son Kojo’s connection to the controversial Iraqi oil for food scheme. Depending on the findings of the report, by a team led by the former US Federal Reserve chairman Paul Volcker, Annan may have to choose between the secretary-generalship and loyalty to his son. American congressional critics of the UN are already pressing him to resign over the mismanagement of the oil for food program and even his supporters have been dismayed by the scandals on his watch, including the sexual abuse of children by UN peacekeepers in Congo.

Annan’s moods , according to one close observer at the UN were like a “sine curve” and that he appeared near the bottom of the trough.

Annan’s son, Kojo, 29, was employed by a Swiss company, Cotecna, but left before it won one of the contracts under the oil for food program. Last week it was disclosed that he received up to $400,000 from the company. The UN confirmed that Kofi Annan met three times with executives of the firm, twice before the award of the oil for food contract and once afterwards. New scandals continue to erupt. One revelation last week was that the UN had agreed to pay legal fees for Benon Sevan, the disgraced head of the oil for food program, out of the funds raised from the Iraqi oil sales.

“Kofi Annan is going to find his position increasingly untenable,” said Nile Gardiner, an expert on the UN at the conservative Heritage Foundation. “There is a strong possibility he will resign voluntarily because of his declining credibility.” In the end Annan’s feelings may be more decisive than the facts.

Poor Kofi, it look’s like the gravy-train is about to reach the station and just like a true liberal he's relying on his emotions, "(his) feelings may be more decisive than the facts."

The United Nations has been a complete disaster on his watch because he has spent all of his time posturing, pontificating and taking bows. He has systematically ignored real-world problems. He turned his back on the human-rights disasters and genocides in his home continent, while protecting Saddam Hussein and his buddies’ and kid’s oil scam.

Annan’s mood swings are described as “like a sine curve.” That’s a pretty good diagnosis of severe manic-depression. I guess the manic, grab-all-you-can cycle has ended and now it’s time to pay the piper. A proper world leader doesn’t get depressed when thinks go badly. This is just another sign of the weakness of the man.

If we absolutely must have a United Nations, why must it choose its leaders from the most backward of third-world countries, where graft, corruption and kickbacks are a way of life? Why would any reasonable person think that someone accustomed to these practices would behave differently once they arrive in Manhattan?

I, for one, will be glad to see this guy go and I’ll bet you anything he doesn’t return to Ghana, ranked 75th in the world’s GDP and with a 35% unemployment rate. I don’t think the bride will like it there. My guess is he will choose a life of luxury and privilege in Paris, where he will be fawned over by French dilettantes – all paid for by the United Nations. Talk about rewarding failure.

What is the Secretary-General’s job anyway? And if we must have one, why can’t it be filled by someone from a real country?

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.