United States, Mind Your Own Business

Of all the countries in the world to demand the United Nations' Secretary General, Kofi Annan, to step down, the United States of America should be the last. We have ignored the UN on many fronts, and have heavily criticized it for some of its inactivity in crisis situations when the inactivity has often been largely due to the lack of US participation. If the United Nations is not as strong as we think it should be, there is one country that we should point our finger at as the cause: The United States of America.

The recent criticism from the US toward the UN stems from the UN's "Oil for Food" program. The program, now referred to as a scandal, is purported to have directly benefitted many world tyrants including Saddam Hussein. One notable figure involved in the scandal is the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's son, Kojo Annan. It is on the grounds that Kofi's son is involved in the "mess" that some US Senators are calling for Kofi's resignation. This revelation further frustrated many US politicians who were already calling for Kofi's resignation after he made comments a few weeks ago that suggested that the US violated International Law by invading Iraq.

Although I must admit that Annan seems to be less helpful than he could be in such hectic times, I know that he isn't as incompetent as the US media would like the public to believe. He is a well respected man worldwide, and has an incredibly impressive resume. And, it's worth noting that the United States is the only member of the UN that is calling for his resignation.

Among his many accolades and accomplishments, there are probably two that stick out the most. He is the first United Nations Secretary General to be elected to a 2nd term, unanimously I might add. Typically that position last just one term, and the next representative is from the next Continent in the 6-Continent rotation. Despite protocal, the UN representatives thought enough of Kofi Annan to re-elect him.

In 2001, the Nobel committee honored Kofi Annan with the Nobel Peace Prize. He was given the award, jointly with the UN as an organization, for his efforts towards peace throughout the world. The committee even noted that Annan had added "new life" to the UN.

For some reason, I don't find such realities as grounds for demanding a resignation. And the notion that Kofi Annan should step down because of his son's doings is preposterous. His son is a separate entity and being. It's not like his father told him to commit crimes, and while you're at it give me a 30% cut!

But fine. Let's say that Kofi Annan is corrupt and should step down from his post as UN Secretary General. If that's so, let people who actually care about the well-being of the organization say so; not the country that failed to comply with UN rules on war by pre-empting a war without a UN resolution and who's lack of concern is a major reason that the oil-for-food program turned so corrupt in the first place.

It's not uncommon to hear political critics of the UN (as well as many right-wing citizens) call the UN a weak organization, and say that it doesn't do anything beneficial for the world. That we don't have to wait and listen for what the UN says or thinks, but that we (the US) can do what we want to do, when and how we want to do it.

I also find it interesting that these same critics often explain away US President George W. Bush's many Presidential failures by saying that he was President during really tough times and so couldn't focus his attention on many of the social and economic issues that face us in this country. If that's the case, just imagine what Kofi Annan has to deal with. Everything that was tough for GWB (9/11) was also an issue for Annan, on top of a profusion of other tragic issues throughout the world. So why doesn't Annan get the same pass for some of his oversights, like the Oil-for-food program, that Bush gets?

So my point is this, if the UN is so insignificant and so weak, then why do we care who's in charge of it. Furthermore, if Annan and the organization are so incompetent, why don't we truly participate in the group and build it up from the inside out instead of openly beating it down with harsh words of reprimand from the sidelines.

And finally, since we are the only major country that is so critical of the UN, and the only country calling for Annan's resignation, why don't we just shut up. It's my understanding that unless you're on the team, you can't call the shots. With respect to the UN, we definitely aren't on the team, and therefore don't have the right to call the shots.

So why don't we just take care of us, continue to ignore the UN, pre-empt war somewhere else, and frankly, just mind our own business!

-Maelstrom