The United Nations’ sick Saudi joke
Finally, it will hurt the UN itself, strength ening the argument of critics who believe it is morally compromised, has lost touch with reality, and needs to have its wings (and bud get) cut. This is especially true in the US where, in addition to loony conspiracy-theo rists, a broad swath of the Republican Party regards the UN with suspicion. President Donald Trump himself declared the UN as “just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time.” The international oppro brium that has met Saudi Arabia’s election to the commission will harden that view, with crippling consequences. The US gives the UN $3 billion a year, which covers 22% of the organisation’s costs.
The UN might argue that it has no control over the membership of most commissions and that Saudi Arabia was voted in by secret ballot. But this will further empower its crit ics, who will point out that the organisation is not only inept, but also impotent. If the rules allow such absurdities to occur, then it behoves the UN leadership, starting with sec retary-general Antonio Guterres, to call on members to change them.
Ok, back to sarcasm. As I write this, I imag ine the UN’S official gag writers are gathering to decide their next joke. Should they nomi nate Russia to head the Electoral Assistance Division, invite Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdo gan to inaugurate the May 3 World Press Freedom Day… or, just maybe, recommend North Korea’s Kim Jong-un as head of the International Atomic Energy Agency?