Annan to Disband U.N. Mission to Jenin

You and ThreeSeven (no offense intended if that's not right) seem to be having an active discussion and maintaining this thread, so, I was wondering, (1) how does the UN Secretary get chosen?

I don't recall it just being a "vote" (it would be tres gauche for a bunch of dictators to be cool with "voting" at the U.N.), but maybe that's how they do it. That said, the world has 1 Jewish country and (2) how many Muslim countries?

Again, that said, is Cokie, er, Kofi, (3) just catering to his power base? (I don't follow weird clubs like the UN too much, it's irritating.)

Suspecting that he is, I guess its understandable. I also understand the Muslim countries all siding with the Palestinians - for self serving, opportunistic, victimhood reasons. What that leaves us with is that the rest of the world having an affirmative obligation to shut up or try to be objective. Unfortunately, the UN makes this virtually impossible. Like the competing interests that eventually drag down socialism, the UN (with its $ and politic authority) provides a disincentive to exercise independent judgment. I think would it be fair to assume that most of the world has legitimate gains to make by siding with the Muslims (the Palestinians)

From my reckoning, most little countries (size, pop, or GNP), need help to get anything done. This has historically been a great forum for fishing for that help. By helping the 40ish Muslim countries on this issue, the Muslim countries help, say, Mozambique or Bolivia get UN funding for that new study they want done or that blind eye they want turned to the 25 political prisoners they're torturing. These countries realize the Israelis won't really be of any int'l help, so why stick their necks out for no return. I mean principle isn't exactly a big deal in a country where hands are cut off of villagers to warn them about resisting. China (which isn't small) is doing the exact same thing.

(I realize none of this is new thought, just had some questions I needed help with to solidify my rationale.)

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