When success is softball...

John Boonstra - June 25, 2009 - 11:48 am

Not everyone, evidently, is as unconvinced as we are that Ban Ki-moon is "the world's most dangerous Korean." Pegging off the rather tendentious Jacob Heilbrunn FP piece of that title, Michael Keating at World Politics Review concurs that Ban's tenure at the UN has not been far short of failure.

There's no need to pussy-foot around the UN's shortcomings, and, for his part, Keating acknowledges the tremendous pressures put on the S-G office, as well as the enormity of the challenges that the UN confronts. Yet Keating's claim that "[i]t's not that anyone expects the U.N. to solve these problems" belies, I think, the lofty expectations that most people actually have of the UN, and particularly of its most visible personage, the S-G.

You see people's high expectations most anytime you hear someone lament that "the UN" isn't doing enough about whatever geopolitical issue happens to be boiling that day. So even when a top UN official does issue a strong statement about, say, the trammeling of human rights in Iran, the organization as a whole is panned for not "doing" enough to protect Iran's people. And with pretty much no one else paying attention to the ghastly continuing conflict in eastern DR Congo, the UN is the only one on whom to hang our hopes for a solution. Unsurprisingly, those outsized expectations turn out to be quite the albatross for the UN when, in fact, a war that few countries are actually interested in resolving painfully deteriorates.

But the deeper flaw in Keating's criticism -- and one that I think most people simply silently assume -- is the way he dismisses out of hand those UN operations in tough climates that actually have worked.

With the exception of softball assignments like Liberia -- an acknowledged success story -- U.N. peacekeeping operations have hardly been worth their expense.

Why must an "acknowledged success story" be condescendingly equated to a "softball assignment?" The fallacious implication here is that what the UN does well, it does well because it is easy. Liberia was wracked by years of civil war, torn apart by rebel groups, devastated by human rights violations and child soldiery, and driven into the ground by one of the most rapacious of recent dictators, Charles Taylor. If that's "softball," then I don't even want to know what the major leagues are like.

Yet into this volatile mix came some 15,000 UN peacekeepers, and, over the course of the last six years, they have, in fits and starts, helped Liberia reach the state it's in today: relatively peaceful, with improving infrastructure, a growing economy, and Africa's first elected female head of state. And all this for about $600 million a year -- a bargain compared to, say, what the United States is paying in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Not all peacekeeping missions have been as successful as the one in Liberia, to be sure. But neither, I would contend, have any of them been abject failures. In even more difficult cases like DR Congo and Darfur, UN peacekeepers are the only ones doing anything on the ground. To suggest that these missions "have hardly been worth their expense" -- especially when that expense is so comparatively low -- offends both the very real successes they have had and even the notion that something should be done about these conflicts at all. Not every brutal civil war in an oft-ignored part of the world, it turns out, is that easy to solve.

(image of an UNMIL medical officer, from UN Photo under a Creative Commons license)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1) Subscribe to these comments

Devid @ Mar 19th 2010 9:36AM

I enjoy seeing websites that understand about my search. I truly loved your site. I hope I find new article in this site. Thanks | Thanks for taking the time to discuss this, I feel can find any information in article .
ucvhost | cheap vps | ucvhost

REPLY »

maskem @ Mar 12th 2010 9:15AM

Thank you very much for comments. I stainless steel industry

Paslanmaz
Subject to our customers the most valuable in catia you are satisfied because of superior service, our company vermekden, Metal industry professional bi bi Krom Korkuluk as many projects are finished without error but the work behind Yapdığın years to pass despite durmakdadır. Lama with our range of stainless steel safety rails ladder Cubuklu planting, planting pipe, profiles of vertical and bi very practical in this regard we consider our options in Your principle to move towards open-minded and enlightened future yansıtmakdayız your light.

The present floor of the glass barrier in the world of the aesthetic, continuous self-improvement and innovation company that is open to the samples as we have seen, as do professional staff that work with the received error-free delivery etmekdedir. Coordination with the Merdiven Korkuluk Modelleri customer about the need Stainless Glass catia work required during the assembly process and push all the problems that may arise in the whole effort to overcome göstermekdedir. Respect for customers and orders you to their specific requirements to deliver on the day çalışmakdayız.

Plexiglass Acrylic Material has been applied to our stairs to see the stylish is that we all dream of.
As a company we all take our responsibility as the top steel metal material into the plexi acrylic material that we modern-plexi catia sunuyoruz Paslanmaz Celik. Paslanmaz customers now prefer the bi-wing intellectuals are too. Let us introduce these products worldwide sizlerlede point to the potential increase of the feedback sizlerinde let your thoughts keep in mind this oluşumcu imported materials designed to let its elegance.

take our responsibility as the top Camlı Korkuluk Coordination with the customer about the need Stainless Glass catia work required dur

Yellow Rengdeki bi (rice material) Barriers to the stairs modern stairs with plexi acrylic material to be in want. Metal mining sector this material very interested in Pleksi Korkulukdeveloping technology and growth duyulmuştur.Pirinç-plexi korklukları stairs within our countries the most preferred product is a yellow brass material

Decision on the subject for years for corruption to guarantee Paslanmaz Çelik Küpeşte that we have given guarantees to satisfy our valuable customers in the context of all our efforts göstermekdeyiz.

Countries around the world, especially in Russia and Paslanmaz Merdiven Catia options within the interior of yellow brass stair rails

Bölümdelerde kullanılmakdadır. Self-protection materials and equipment for your bright outside, and a protective varnish ready for assembly as Paslanmaz Metal installed after being brought bi edilmekdedir condition.

French Balcony how often do in the construction sector Paslanmaz celik as both the visual elegance of the building on my floor, but he kulan through the years in terms of corruption against any decision

to be resistant to the stainless steel balcony Paslanmaz Korkuluk railings with çeşitlü alternative sizlerleyiz.Umarım to give you the right kaaraı have not be late.

Largest known in the sense of pleasure as you enjoy one of our Luxury Apartments to our terrace to sit in our seyretmekdir our landscape. You also need a family with children in terms of
Pleksi Merdiven
security and life safety at the forefront If we should keep. In our company we have made metal decorative terrace balustrade with stainless steel and modern terraced and add beauty to you

rails and accessories, our products and Yatak Başlıkları our company Protections Services Visit vermekdedir.Sitemizi Thank you very much for you.

The Brass Bed Products, Water Pump, plexi Pump, Pirinç Yatak Başlıkları Brass Bar ayaklıklıgı, avizeler.Sarı Stairs design, bar glasses Emirates, Sehba models, luggage transport, rice custom design

Turkish Dublaj Filmler dvdrip film Foreign Film at Amazon movies
I like sprinkler Income / I Co ...
Kana Susadım - Jennifer

Kadir İnan Türkçe Dublaj Film (Kota Friendly)
Forum Topics Posts Last Post
Turkish Dublaj Mp4 Movies

Yabancı Mp4 Filmler Türkçe Film izle Kota Friendly rights?
Mp4 Yerli Filmler (Kota Friendly)

Our company with an experienced team to give Ankara car rental services in the area at full speed so that all customers continue etmektedir.Bu time to ensure customer Oto Kiralama satisfaction is our first great work of our staff, we have entered into. Rent a car and our team our capacity for BMW hire, Mercedes hire, Esenboga Airport transfer, rent a audi in areas such as genişlettik.Müşterilerimizin demands and expectations of our work in accordance with the shape, happy to make a goal to make focused.
Now we have to make it easier to rent a car in Ankara.

Ankara will also rent a car the person or persons to secure the tools Ankara Oto Kiralama they can rent. Whether you rent bmw, audi if you want to rent only, as in every industry we have in our conditions, they are, at least 1-year license and 23-year-old owner, trade group, at least 4 years Experience otolardan have to hire the person or persons

Your ears will no longer everywhere
Spy phone software is not a system that is installed remotely. I just want to listen to know the number of people that do not allow you to listen to people. casus telefon Spy phone software you want to listen to the person's phone, the phone will need to install manually so remote installation is impossible.

travesti olgan about life
"Hello, Olga 4 months before I was using the name ELÇİN.
But everywhere because of imitations and
travesti extensions, unfortunately, is uncomfortable for ELÇİN ismininde extension that I changed my name as Olga, Olga uzantılarıda hopefully soon:)
1.83 m tall and 66 pounds originally born 26/06/1980 sivas long years of my life but I have to pass for izmirde I see myself as izmirli. In 2000, Ankara had come to say hello to me in my life I have been Shemales.

here

Forbes Turkey's, "The Rich 100 Turkish" list Hosni Özyeğin,chat siteleri with $ 3 billion fortune "richest Turkey" reputation, while in second place in the list, Mehmet Emin Karamehmet 2.9 billion dollars, the third order Sarik Tara with 2.6 billion dollars in assets received.

EN RICH TURKISH ÖZYEĞİN
Forbes Turkey's, "The Rich 100 Turkish" list,adanalı according to the information given at the meeting to explain that, Hüsnü Özyeğin with $ 3 billion fortune "The Rich Turkey" retains the title. In

second place with a fortune worth chat siteleri$ 2.9 billion Mehmet Emin Karamehmet located, while the Sarik Tara, 4.1 billion dollars in 2008 even if the wealth is in the remote is in third place with 2.6 billion dollars.

Husnu Ozyegin, Turkey's richest ever be a maximum capacity chat siteleri of the domain name while the last 2 years its place in the top of the list is protected. Mehmet Emin Karamehmet with its shares in Turkcell Holding and Çukurova is Turkey's second richest person in the position is.

Sarik Tara, in 2009 it had yetenek sizsiniz lost $ 2.5 billion to 1 billion dollars to replace, was ranked third in the list.

"The Rich 100 Turkish" total wealth, fame this algülümyear was 87 billion dollars. This figure is the last one year, $ 31 billion was added to the wealth and total wealth increased 55 percent compared to previous year's shows

Last year "The Rich 100 Turkish" reputation compared to 2008 belgesel total assets of almost half the value, 111 billion dollars had fallen to 56 billion dollars, 36 dollar billionaires in the back and had 13 people between them or the coach carrying the surname Sabanci was no one.

This year, three of the Koç family individual Semahat dizizamani Arsel, Rahmi Koç and Suna Kıraç's "league of billionaire" ndeki back into place. Sevket Sabanci, Ahsen Özokur, Aydın Doğan, Deniz Sahenk, Erman Ilıcak, Faruk Eczacıbaşı and Turgay Ciner "billionaires league" nde took part.

THE FIRST TIME TO LIST billionaire SUZAN SABANCI DİNÇER INPUT
This year, carrying 28 units billionaire surname in 3 coach, Sabanci has sevgikafe 2 people carrying the surname. Sabanci family's total wealth of 13 individual 10.3 billion dollars, while a total of 8 members of the Koç family wealth 7.1 billion dollars.

Last year "billionaires league" What bid farewell this year that 12 people in addition to the list of Mustafa Latif Topbaş, Mehmet Basaran Rushdie and Suzan Sabanci, when attached to Turkey's number of dollar billionaires has reached to 28. Suzan Sabancı Dinçer filmizle the list of billionaires for the first time as input and 26 takes place.

This year "The Rich 100 Turkish" klipizle among 12 new names taking part, 4 returned to their contact list. Among the new printer list Tuba, Kazim Türker, Mehmet Avni Kiğılı is located.

TWO NEW billionaire VAR
Forbes 100 for the first time this year,canlıdiziizle "billionaire" title the two names, Habash, Chairman and BIM Chairman Basaran Mehmet Rustu Mustafa Latif was Topbaş.

REPLY »

davidgarso @ Feb 16th 2010 11:34AM

I like this woman. She included that all voices within those communities, whether it be directly or through local organizations, must be heard. revizyon ile organize matbaacılık brnckvvtmllttrhaberirevizyon ile organize matbaacılık brnckvvtmllttrhaberirevizyon ile organize matbaacılık brnckvvtmllttrhaberilidaoyun oynaoyun oynafilm izleare particularly vulnerable to discrimination on any other grounds, including gender, ethnicity, or disability."

REPLY »

Add Your Comments
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image. Ignore spaces and be careful about upper and lower case.
  • Related Sites
  • UNITED NATIONS FOUNDATIONS
  • UN WIRE
  • Join Us On
  • t
  • f