Greetings,
This may have already been  mentioned but to agree with Yus, let me say that
Kofi Annan WAS the head of the UN Peacekeeping Mission during the Rwanda
genocide. He knew months ahead of the intentions of those mass murderers and
his office took no action to prevent the attrocities. Incredibily there was
a UN peacekeeping force in Rwanda at the time and the British commander did
alert Annan's office as to what was about to unfold.
I think Annan and co. felt that the West, esp. the U.S. who would have to
cough up the funds and other logistics did not have the appetite to be
involved in African affairs (actually they never have) especially after the
Somali debacle.
Still he especially, should have been more vocal rather than falling in line
with his patrons! He is the African! In Africa's moment of need, Kofi was
silent! Nearly one million murdered as a result.
In retrospect, it is we the peoples of Africa that should be more proactive
in solving our problems. Too often though, our parochial views prevent us
from seeing the big picture.

latjor

>
><< A while ago we had a discussion Kofi Annan's lack of participation in
>African
>  affairs. His tireless efforts spent mediating the dispute between the
>  Palestinians and the Jordanians proves my point that the man has some
>  leverage. Leverage which he could definitely use better to influence
>African
>  crises.
>
>  In my piece, I described the UN Secretary General as part negotiator and
>part
>  provocateur, roles which he is fulfilling in the present Mideast crisis.
>  However, based on his lack of participation in present and past African
>  crises, I believe his tenure as Secretary General will be marred by his
>  unwillingness to help his own continent in times of extreme need.
>
>
>
>  JERUSALEM (Oct. 14) - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan worked into the
>early
>  hours of Saturday trying to arrange a summit to halt the explosion of
>  Israeli-Palestinian violence.
>   >>
>
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