In search of a U.N. redeemer [Archives:2006/936/Viewpoint]

Editor
As United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan has been doing his utmost to save whatever is left of the U.N.'s prestige as an international governing body. However, his failure to keep peace during 1994's Rwandan genocide never has given him the chance to take over the reins of his own throne. Now that this position soon will be vacant, the search is on for the next individual to take charge of this troubled institution. Speculations suggest that the upcoming candidate will be from Asia this time. Yet the most important factor about this decision is that if the U.N.'s position is to be redeemed globally, this individual must be strong enough to face the world's superpowers.

In light of today's world, it seems that the U.N. preamble stated in its charter is wishful thinking. To bring this spirit back to life, the U.N. needs a man like Scandinavian Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold, who had the personality and strength to stand up to both Cold War superpowers in the late 1950s. In a Jordan Times article last month, Jonathan Power contemplated this question. He concluded that there is perhaps only one person who can resuscitate the U.N. and make the big powers work together again: the soon to be ex-prime minister of the United Kingdom, Tony Blair. Power believes that he is the only one on the horizon who has the stature, the entree and the skills to make the U.N. at last live out its true potential.

In light of recent developments in the UK and Blair's deteriorating reputation, this conclusion may not be entirely acceptable. Especially if you need someone to stand up to Washington, you need someone who has had a history of independent political stances at least. Because of Blair's policies, to the general spectator, the UK's global position seems as a follower of the United States. And both countries gave very little attention to U.N. decisions in their alleged War on Terror in the Middle East, for example. Moreover, the U.N. needs an individual with no historical burden; otherwise, he will be chained to his political mistakes and not be able to be his own man.

I feel that the U.N. needs an individual with a revolutionary vision, someone who has enough courage to restructure the whole institution and someone who is popular enough to gain approval easily. The U.N. needs someone under whom it will be reborn again. Perhaps the U.N. needs a woman this time. After all, women are the natural life bearers, aren't they?
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