http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?i=20021014&s=foer101402
HOW KOFI ANNAN FOOLED THE BUSHIES
Turtle Dove
by Franklin Foer

Post date 10.03.02 | Issue date 10.14.02

This article points out some serious shortcomings with Annan and the United Nations. Annan's career has been one of "failing upwards." Nonetheless, the Bush administration appears blind to his shortcomings, according to the article, and surprised when Annan is uncooperative. Powell, apparently, is responsible for the closeness between the Bush administration and Annan.

Quote:
If the Bushies want to truly understand Annan, they should read Shawcross's book Deliver Us From Evil. Even though Shawcross intended to produce a hagiography of the secretary-general, he couldn't help but convey some telling details. Just as Butler described, Shawcross shows that Annan has never had his heart in the anti-Saddam crusade, being much more concerned with ending sanctions and keeping the peace. ("He has a totally different view of Iraq from the United States," says A. Peter Burgleigh, who served as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations during the 1998 crisis.) When Annan traveled to Baghdad in February 1998, he joined Saddam in the Republican Presidential Palace to smoke Cuban cigars. Annan, according to the Shawcross account, showered Saddam with flattery. As Shawcross later recounted the conversation, Annan told Saddam, "You're a builder. You built modern Iraq. It was destroyed once. You've rebuilt it. Do you want to destroy it again?" During the conversation, Saddam took notes on a yellow pad and never looked Annan in the eyes. When Saddam didn't respond, Annan escalated the flattery. "You've taken some courageous decisions," he continued. Too bad the same cannot be said of Annan more often.