Posted on 07/26/2005 5:48:04 AM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection
Real estate mogul Donald Trump should bid on a United Nations renovation contract if he thinks he can do the job cheaper and better than anyone else, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said.
Trump told a U.S. Senate hearing last week that the United Nations would commit to a boondoggle of immense proportions if it goes ahead with its plan to renovate the outdated United Nations secretariat, a project it says will cost about $1 billion.
Trump predicted that if the U.N. continues with its proposal, the cost will balloon to $3 billion. And he argued that he could do the job for $700 million.
"If that's the case I'm sure he will get the contract and so I would encourage him to bid," Annan said Monday.
U.N. officials say their plan for the renovation is sound and express skepticism at Trump's claims.
Christopher Burnham, a former Department of State official recently appointed to oversee the building project as the U.N.'s undersecretary-general for management, told the same Senate hearing the United Nations would run "a lean, mean operation."
The 38-story U.N. headquarters is dangerously out of date. It has no sprinkler system, is packed with asbestos, and loses about 25 percent of the heat pumped into it in the winter.
Somehow, this isn't even the least bit surprising......... hmmmmmm
The UN needs to be moved to Somalia, Zimbabwe or Havana.
Have you ever seen Trumps home? The U.N. doesn't or shouldn't have that kind of money to pi$$ away.
Sounds like a good project for "The Apprentice".
Perhaps Annan should get his son to pony up some of the food-for-oil money.
I don't trust Donald Trump any more than I trust Kofi Annan.
The UN is a "boondoggle of immense proportions".
Oh yes, and I'd be more than happy to help!
Trump has a history of bringing huge jobs in under budget and ahead of schedule. I would trust a businessman with his vast experience before I would ever trust a bureaucrat on a project of this size.
How about the UN just move the hell out of this country! No new building, no new anything. Just get out!
I'm stuned! You mean Kofi is actually going to forego his hugh $2 billion dollar profit on a $1 billion dollar project?
Yea.. the liberals want Donald Trump to help them, but, when Donald Trump wanted to build the WTC the way it WAS, they said no.
There is a perverse notion in bureaucracies that using business people is corrupting. Remember the screeching about Cheney's Energy Task Force? My God! They interviewed people who know the business. That completely contradicts Washington DC SOP:
The effort's leader must be completely ignorant about the topic.
An even better idea!
Which is exactly why Trump should not get the project. The last thing any patriotic American needs is a more efficiently operating UN.
Let it suffer.
Let it die.
I heard Trump's testimony before Congress on this on Hugh Hewitt's show and it was a flipping hoot. I think that you can read/hear it at radioblogger.com (and Hugh may have a link too). Upon listening, you'll want Trump to get the job as it will save the US hundred$ of million$...
Trump to do renovations?He just builds.What about the crew on "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy"?They simply work miracles with interior design,and while they're at it they can give Kofi and friends fashion makeovers.Maybe they can use it in an episode?Feedback anyone?
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