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I don't think this would get us any more support from the UN.
It's going to be a while before Clinton gets this opportunity since the next president will come from Asia.
Clinton Head UN
Analysis: Clinton eyes U.N. post
By ROLAND FLAMINI, UPI Chief International Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- Former U.S. President Bill Clinton has set his sights on becoming U.N. secretary-general. A Clinton insider and a senior U.N. source have told United Press International the 56-year-old former president would like to be named leader of the world body when Kofi Annan's term ends early in 2006.
"He definitely wants to do it," the Clinton insider said this week.
A Clinton candidacy is likely to receive overwhelming support from U.N. member states, particularly the Third World. Diplomats in Washington say Clinton would galvanize the United Nations and give an enormous boost to its prestige. But the former president's hopes hang on a crucial question that will not be addressed until after the presidential elections: can he get the support of the U.S. government -- a prerequisite for nomination?
The political wisdom is that a second George W. Bush presidency would cut him off at the pass. The notion of Clinton looming large in the international arena from "the glass tower" in New York would be intolerable to the Bush White House. If Democratic candidate, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., wins on Nov. 2 the prospect of Clinton as secretary-general won't exactly be welcome either, but Kerry would find it much harder -- if not impossible -- to go against it.
After a Middle East U.N. Secretary General (Boutros Boutros Ghali) and an African (Kofi Annan) it is generally considered Asia's turn to fill the post, U.N. experts say. No announcement has been made, but behind the scenes China is already pushing the candidacy of Thai Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai, who also seems to have U.S. support. If Clinton does emerge as a candidate, however, China would most likely shift its support, the experts say.
No American has ever been U.N. secretary-general, but the United States is both host country to the United Nations and the major contributor to its budget. A hostile U.S. Congress held up its dues for years -- until the Clinton administration negotiated a payment plan for Washington's arrears. Clinton also revived U.S. membership of UNESCO though the Americans did not actually move back into their offices at the Paris-based scientific and cultural U.N. agency until after the start of the Bush presidency.
President Reagan had taken the United States out of UNESCO in protest against alleged corruption by former top agency officials.
Clinton is currently recovering from the heart bypass surgery he had to undergo last month, and this has kept him away from the Kerry campaign after a few initial support appearances. The former president has told friends and Kerry staffers he plans to resume campaigning for Kerry, but on a limited scale because his recovery has been gradual. He has talked of his interest in taking over at the United Nations since the publication of his commercially successful autobiography, which he recently said had sold 1.9 million copies. Writing the book kept him busy after leaving office in 2000, but he is now ready to channel his considerable political skills and energy into another role in public life.
There had been rumors that he would run the Third Way organization, the world Social Democratic movement he had talked of launching together with British Prime Minister Tony Blair and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. But the political alliance had come unstuck and the idea ran out of steam partly because Blair and Schroeder found themselves on opposite sides in the Bush-led Iraq war.
Putting Clinton in charge of the United Nations would be a real test of international intentions, observers say.
"Critics of the U.N. complain that it's an organization without the muscle and will to put its decisions into effect," the U.N. source observed. "There's a good chance that Clinton could significantly change that situation, and then we'll see if the critics mean what they say."
I don't think this would get us any more support from the UN.
It's going to be a while before Clinton gets this opportunity since the next president will come from Asia.
No, no, you misunderstand. Clinton wants to get head in the U.N. building.
And I do think Bush would probably support US leadership of the UN. He'd be stupid if he didn't. Clinton in the UN would be a tremendous asset to the war on terror. If Bush didn't endorse it, he'd be guilty of letting partisan national politics get in the way of the real threat...kinda like what Kerry is doing.
You beat me to it!
Clinton has quietly endorsed Bush's war on on terror if you pay attention to what he's said in the news, even said Bush was right in going into Iraq.
I think, as crazy as it sounds as a Repub. to say this, he'd be an asset in the UN at a time when, to be honest, a lot are questioning the wisdom of the continued existence of the UN.
That said, I agree with Whott - the next leader of the UN will come from the Far East.
I'd vote for Bill to head the U.N.
I second that vote! Clinton really wants to expend his horizons. He wants a shot with some exotic foreign interns. Especially if they can't speak English and testify later against him.
EDIT: I misspelled expand, but after careful review expend may be more appropriate after all.
Last edited by Useruser666; 10-21-2004 at 02:54 PM.
Not only that, but they're too poor to pay for drycleaning, which preserves the DNA.He wants a shotwith some exotic foreign interns. Especially if they can't speak English and testify later against him.
Foreign chicks, yum
I'd be all for this. , it might even prevent a Hilary run at the White House due to a perceived conflict of interest.
I predict if he gets it we'll see a push to have a new "security council" made up of Brazil, Sweden, Norway, Scandinavia, and Iceland.
Honestly? If I have to live with Hilary in 4 years if it prevents Kerry now...I'm all for it. Hilary's got bigger balls than Kerry. I'll take that trade off...and liberals should as well.
He's probably "been there, done that."
Clintons wants BUNs not to Be in the UN.
this is actually not where Hilary can hurt us the worst.I'd be all for this. , it might even prevent a Hilary run at the White House due to a perceived conflict of interest.
I think that in her heart Hillary knows she can't be elected President...but she definitely wants to change the US to "her image" of what it should be...If Kerry is elected I could see her being offerred a spot on the Supreme Court...and accepting...
It makes sense for everyone...The Domocratic power brokers get rid of the Hillary "wild card" making room for more upward mobility/presidential aspirations within the party...and at Hillarys age she would have 30+ years on the Supreme Court to rewrite the cons ution in her image...given the age structure on the court she could easily be chief justice for 10+ years and could do unbelievable damage...
be afraid America...be VERY afraid...
If you don't own your own country Joe, get yourself one. You'll love doing business with Bill!
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