Posted by Jim Lindgren:
Diplomad with More UN Posing.--
Diplomad continues its string of reports on UN tsunami efforts in
Asia. It seems that the UN is [1]trying to take credit for US and
Australian efforts:
A colleague came back from a meeting held by the local UN
representative yesterday and reported that the UN rep had said that
while it was a good thing that the Australians and Americans were
running the air ops into tsunami-wrecked Aceh, for cultural and
political reasons, those Australians and Americans really "should
go blue." In other words, they should switch into UN uniforms and
give up their national ones.
Now you all know that The Diplomad is not a cynical or suspicious
being, but there is something funny going on here . . . what could
it be? Could it be a genuine concern for local "cultural and
political sensitivities" that would be offended by the presence of
Aussies and Yanks in their own military uniforms saving thousands
of lives? Maybe . . . or, might it not be an odd coincidence that
just after the infamous Mr. Anan (see prior posts) says the UN will
be setting up air traffic control in Aceh, the UN wants to show
that it has an ATC system operating? What better way than to
continue in the UN tradition of taking credit for others' work? And
this just before Mr. Anan arrives in Indonesia on January 6.
More [2]today:
Day 9 of the tsunami crisis. . . .
In this part of the tsunami-wrecked Far Abroad, the UN is still
nowhere to be seen where it counts, i.e., feeding and helping
victims. The relief effort continues to be a US-Australia effort,
with Singapore now in and coordinating closely with the US and
Australia. Other countries are also signing up to be part of the
US-Australia effort. Nobody wants to be "coordinated" by the UN.
The local UN reps are getting desperate. They're calling for yet
another meeting this afternoon; they've flown in more UN big shots
to lecture us all on "coordination" and the need to work together,
i.e., let the UN take credit. With Kofi about to arrive for a big
conference, the UNocrats are scrambling to show something, anything
as a UN accomplishment. Don't be surprised if they claim that the
USS Abraham Lincoln is under UN control and that President Lincoln
was a strong supporter of the UN. . . .
More on "The UNcredibles": WFP (World Food Program) has "arrived"
in the capital with an "assessment and coordination team." The
following is no joke; no Diplomad attempt to be funny or clever:
The team has spent the day and will likely spend a few more setting
up their "coordination and opcenter" at a local five-star hotel.
And their number one concern, even before phones, fax and copy
machines? Arranging for the hotel to provide 24hr catering service.
USAID folks already are cracking jokes about "The UN Sheraton."
Meanwhile, our military and civilians, working with the super
Aussies, continue to keep the C-130 air bridge of supplies flowing
and the choppers flying, and keep on saving lives -- and without
24hr catering services from any five-star hotel . . . . The
contrast grows more stark every minute.
References
1. http://diplomadic.blogspot.com/2005/01/unsanity-update.html
2. http://diplomadic.blogspot.com/2005/01/almost-funnny.html
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