"The United Nations will end its peacekeeping mission in East Timor today, marking the country's transition to a viable and peaceful state, the international body said in a statement. East Timor President Xanana Gusmao and the UN's special representative Sukehiro Hasegawa held a ceremony in the capital, Dili, yesterday to bid farewell to the peacekeepers who have kept the country secure since 24 years of Indonesian rule ended in bloodshed and widespread destruction in 1999." More...
A sampling of United Nations related blog commentary
ATRIOS: "Franken: Meanwhile, the Coalition Provisional Authority, which we ran, has lost 8.8 billion dollars. By lost, I mean it's totally unaccounted for. Not only has Congress not "looked into" this $8.8 billion and who might have it now, but it seems that some members are completely unaware that this staggering sum, which was supposed to go toward rebuilding Iraq, is missing."
HUFFINGTON POST (Al Franken): "Right now Coleman is looking into the Oil-for-Food program, which was administered by the Security Council in the U.N., mostly by the U.S. and Britain. That didn't stop Coleman from demanding Kofi Annan's resignation without any proof of any wrongdoing on his part. There appears to be anywhere from one to two billion dollars stolen through the program - with most of that going to Saddam. Primarily the U.S. and Britain took it upon themselves to make sure that none of this money went toward making W.M.D.s. They seemed to have done a pretty good job. Meanwhile, the Coalition Provisional Authority, which we ran, has lost 8.8 billion dollars. By lost, I mean it's totally unaccounted for."
MARTIN STABE: "The most interesting thing about George Galloway's performance in the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations yesterday was the way it highlighted the major differences in style between Westminster and Washington."
Selected summary of United Nations related news and events
UN demands independent probe into Uzbek killings
'Core' UN staff returning to Afghan city hit last week by riots
Government of the Netherlands to Host Sustainable Business Conference in Conjunction with UN World Environment Day
UN meeting for South Asia seeks end to violence against children
From the UN Foundation website: "United Nations Foundation (UN Foundation) President and former U.S. Senator Timothy E. Wirth testified before the House International Relations Committee at a hearing today on UN reform. Senator Wirth outlined five key points which will be essential to a constructive reform process that achieves meaningful and lasting results. He also urged Congress to support UN reform without the threat of withholding UN dues, an action which most often is cost-ineffective and counterproductive."
Transcript of CNN's program Diplomatic License, which aired on May 15th, 2005, covering "Current Events at the United Nations."
Excerpt:
GEORGE LOPEZ, NOTRE DAME UNIV.: Well, remember, we know that $4.4 billion in Oil For Food needs to be accounted for. This may be a good deal of that. What we also know is that it is nearly triple that amount worked outside the system, with the approval of individual members of the council, and the dialogue in the media up to this point has focused almost exclusively on the secretariat and not on the member states and the Security Council.
A sampling of United Nations related blog commentary
WASHINGTON NOTE: "I have heard lots of "non-denial denials" in the past, but George Galloway's rejection and "full-body denial" of all accusations posed by Norm Coleman yesterday was as clear and resolute as could be imagined. Coleman and Senator Carl Levin clearly have access to some intelligence that makes them think that Galloway is guilty of some complicity in the U.N. Oil-for-Food scandal, but if Galloway is correct, which he declares boldly himself to be, then there is something deeply wrong with the intel we are getting out of Iraq."
THE MODERATE VOICE: "British politician George Galloway was in Washington yesterday to clear his name in the oil-for-food scandal - and came out with both verbal barrels blazing as he ripped into what he suggested was the hypocrisy of American politicians and the Bush administration."
MAHABLOG: "Julian Borger and Jamie Wilson of the Guardian dropped a bomb on the UN oil-for-food scandal so beloved by the Right, but don't hold your breath waiting for the righties to acknowledge it."
PARDON MY ENGLISH: "The United States Air Force is seeking a new national security directive which may allow the U.S. to field offensive and defensive space-based weapons systems. While it is to be expected that there will be the usual caterwauling from the "peaceful uses of space/let the United Nations govern the universe" crowd, they should be paid precious little heed."
Selected summary of United Nations related news and events
UN expert extends stay in Lebanon in preparation for 29 May elections
Senate Tries to Untangle Oil-For-Food
U.N. Taps Management Chief, Makes Reforms
Marking its 60th anniversary, UN in New York stages its first documentary film festival
UN panel urges ban on making smallpox from scratch
"Deputy Secretary-General Louise Frechette unveiled a series of reforms undertaken by the United Nations in response to criticisms of UN management from entities appointed by Secretary-General Kofi Annan and from the world body's own staff.
"Unprecedented challenges" faced by the UN have shown that the world body must immediately reform those areas that are in the Secretariat's purview and are not dependent on approval from Member States, said detailed background information distributed prior to a press briefing by Ms. Frechette." Full Story
A sampling of United Nations related blog commentary
SUBURBAN GUERRILLA: "People wonder why I'm a Jungian? Because it's the single best way to understand humans - specifically, politicians. The more loudly they scream about something, the more likely it is they're guilty of the very same thing."
ESCHATON: "The Senate report found that US oil purchases accounted for 52% of the kickbacks paid to the regime in return for sales of cheap oil - more than the rest of the world put together."
MURKY VIEW: "Given the long history of economic and military ties between Russia and Iraq, it wouldn't surprise me at all to find that Saddam sent bribes to Russia for favorable treatment."
POWER LINE: "Mary Katherine Ham live-blogged Galloway's appearance under the delightful title "Gorgeous George vs. Stormin' Norm."
NIGHT LIGHT: "Per Kevin Drum, the new Senate report says that 'the US treasury failed to take action against a Texas oil company, Bayoil, which facilitated payment of "at least $37m in illegal surcharges to the Hussein regime."