REVIEW: Article

The United Nations

This past year has been a spirit-bruising period for the United Nations. The morale was deeply affected by the various attacks on the relevance of the institution. The attack on the United Nations Headquarters in Iraq on August 19, 2003, was an enormous emotional setback with the loss of so many friends and colleagues. Twenty-two people died in that blast including the Mission Chief, Sergio Vieira de Mello. Soon afterward, Secretary-General Kofi Annan withdrew all international United Nations staff members from Iraq.

Since the start of the year, the United Nations has been wooed to reenter Iraq and chart the country’s political future.

It is important to remember the depth and duration of the underlying relationship. There are a whole host of issues and operations in the longtime partnership of the United States and the United Nations where the United States is in full and active cooperation. I see signs of rebounding spirits at the United Nations.

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