Sounds like a plan.

Learned a new word, did we?

Let's get this going!

If Kofi is W's 'rent boy' at this point, just why exactly did he rush off to Teheran to ensure our coordinated pressure on Iran was deflected?

Color me unconvinced - deeply.

maybe W wants the iranians to make his day.

I don't think he can, I thought the next head was from Asia?

There's rules about these things.

Why not just promote Bolton?

So all that effort to write the US Constitution, the Federalist Papers and all, was a waste of time? All that really mattered was one person?

Look, the UN is *designed* to be corrupt. Redesign it first, with as much effort as it takes to do any constitution (and then some; this is bigger), then get back to me.

There's going to be a UN--do you really want an effective, democratic one or one that we control?

Mr. Judd;

Those are effectively the same thing.

Selecting the UN Secretary-General

The Secretary-General is appointed to a five year term by the General Assembly, on recommendation from the Security Council. The candidate must receive at least nine votes - including those of all five permanent members - in the Security Council. [...] Advance discussion and political compromises generally ensure the recommendation of a single candidate, usually from middle powers and with little prior fame, who is appointed by acclamation. While high profile candidates are frequently touted for the job, these are almost always rejected as unpalatable to some governments. [...]

Although there is technically no limit to the number of five-year terms a Secretary-General may serve, UN Secretaries-General normally spend two terms in office and, by convention, are chosen on a rotational basis among the world’s geographic regions. [...] While the rotational practice would now strongly encourage an Asian be selected in 2007, there are rumblings that Eastern Europe (technically a UN regional group) have not fielded a SG in the UN's 60 year history. [...] (While it is also true that no Secretary General has originated from North America or Oceania, these geographic regions fall respectively into the Western European and Other [WEOG] and Asian UN geopolitical groups.) [Ha!! North America is "Other", and Europe gets named, and receives top billing. Talk about putting the cart before the horse... M.H.]

A few informal rules also govern the selection process. The most known is that a national of a permanent member - China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom or the United States - is not allowed to stand for the post, as it would center too much power in one government, depsite the [purported] independence of the SG position. [...]

Posted by: Michael Herdegen at January 29, 2006 3:07 PM

Yes, they've already said they'd waive it for Clinton too.