Clinton interested in UN Secretary-General post

[Grojlach]

Analysis: Clinton eyes U.N. post

By Roland Flamini
UPI Chief International Correspondent

Washington, DC, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- Former U.S. President Bill Clinton has set his sights on becoming U.N. secretary-general. A Clinton insider and a senior U.N. source have told United Press International the 56-year-old former president would like to be named leader of the world body when Kofi Annan's term ends early in 2006.

"He definitely wants to do it," the Clinton insider said this week.

A Clinton candidacy is likely to receive overwhelming support from U.N. member states, particularly the Third World. Diplomats in Washington say Clinton would galvanize the United Nations and give an enormous boost to its prestige. But the former president's hopes hang on a crucial question that will not be addressed until after the presidential elections: can he get the support of the U.S. government -- a prerequisite for nomination?

The political wisdom is that a second George W. Bush presidency would cut him off at the pass. The notion of Clinton looming large in the international arena from "the glass tower" in New York would be intolerable to the Bush White House. If Democratic candidate, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., wins on Nov. 2 the prospect of Clinton as secretary-general won't exactly be welcome either, but Kerry would find it much harder -- if not impossible -- to go against it.

After a Middle East U.N. Secretary-General (Boutros Boutros Ghali) and an African (Kofi Annan) it is generally considered Asia's turn to fill the post, U.N. experts say. No announcement has been made, but behind the scenes China is already pushing the candidacy of Thai Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai, who also seems to have U.S. support. If Clinton does emerge as a candidate, however, China would most likely shift its support, the experts say.

No American has ever been U.N. secretary-general, but the United States is both host country to the United Nations and the major contributor to its budget. A hostile U.S. Congress, which held up payment to the United Nations for years, blocked an attempt by the Clinton administration to re-enter UNESCO in 1995. President Bush in September 2002 addressed the United Nations and announced the United States would rejoin UNESCO while said he . The nton administration negotiated a payment plan for Washington's arrears. The Clinton administration proposed rejoining; the move was blocked in Congress. In February 2000, the U.S. finally paid some of its arrears to the UN but excluded UNESCO. President Bush stated that the U.S. would rejoin UNESCO in September 2002 while urging the United Nations to back a resolution authorizing an attack on Iraq. President Reagan had taken the United States out of UNESCO in protest against alleged corruption by former top agency officials.

Clinton is currently recovering from the heart bypass surgery he had to undergo last month, and this has kept him away from the Kerry campaign after a few initial support appearances. The former president has told friends and Kerry staffers he plans to resume campaigning for Kerry, but on a limited scale because his recovery has been gradual. He has talked of his interest in taking over at the United Nations since the publication of his commercially successful autobiography, which he recently said had sold 1.9 million copies. Writing the book kept him busy after leaving office in 2000, but he is now ready to channel his considerable political skills and energy into another role in public life.

There had been rumors that he would run the Third Way organization, the world Social Democratic movement he had talked of launching together with British Prime Minister Tony Blair and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. But the political alliance had come unstuck and the idea ran out of steam partly because Blair and Schroeder found themselves on opposite sides in the Bush-led Iraq war.

Putting Clinton in charge of the United Nations would be a real test of international intentions, observers say.

"Critics of the U.N. complain that it's an organization without the muscle and will to put its decisions into effect," the U.N. source observed. "There's a good chance that Clinton could significantly change that situation, and then we'll see if the critics mean what they say."

http://washingtontimes.com/upi-break...5642-9944r.htm

[Felix The Assassin]

EXXXcellent! Especially with all of their latest publicity, exxxcellent.
I think this would be a great post for the man. Now when W. finishes his 2nd term, and we put Hillary in the big house in 08, how's that gonna work?

[Illumina Drathiran'ar]

I was actually thinking the same thing, Felix.

[Aerich]

Think of the politics being discussed at THAT dinner table should both those events occur. [img]graemlins/wow.gif[/img]

I also think that it would be a good post for Clinton. When Clinton speaks, everybody listens, even those who don't really want to.

[shamrock_uk]

Without wishing to be the sole opposing voice, can anybody think of a single foreign policy success that Clinton had...? He is very popular yes, but really didn't accomplish much on the international stage.

But hey, seems like a good idea if it'll rally the American people behind the UN

[John D Harris]

Here's one for ya, The Rush-man, said all this nearly 4 years ago, that Clinton wanted the UN job. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Shammi, it will take a whole lot more then Billy-boy to get the Americans behind the UN, Like a complete overhaul of the UN.

[Timber Loftis]

Originally posted by shamrock_uk: Without wishing to be the sole opposing voice, can anybody think of a single foreign policy success that Clinton had...? He is very popular yes, but really didn't accomplish much on the international stage. But hey, seems like a good idea if it'll rally the American people behind the UN

Damn straight!! We'd all be better off if Kosovo were handled like Iraq!!!! And we were soooo much better off when Bush scrapped Clinton's roadmap for the Middle East -- erm, until Bush took it back of course.

And thank God we got rid of all that climate change treaty stuff, because the world really hated us when we were still at the table!

[John D Harris]

Originally posted by Timber Loftis: Damn straight!! We'd all be better off if Kosovo were handled like Iraq!!!! And we were soooo much better off when Bush scrapped Clinton's roadmap for the Middle East -- erm, until Bush took it back of course. And thank God we got rid of all that climate change treaty stuff, because the world really hated us when we were still at the table!

That wouldn't be the road map that lead off to the wreck of trusting the PA to accept 98% of all they wanted? How dare anybody come up with a road map that didn't give them 100%.

As for the Climate stuff who cares if they hate us! What the "Hale" are they going to do about it? To quote Earth Wind & Fire "Nut'n, absoluty nut'n"

Yeah 10-12 years later I believe they finnaly got the lights turned back on in Kosovo. Any bets on how long after we leave before they start up fighting again? [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Azred]

Well, if Clinton vying for the UN Sec-Gen position leads to increased support for the UN, then I would have to oppose that. Of course, I oppose anything that leads to support for the UN.

My own opinion aside, I would have to guess that he'll probably get it.