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The oil-for-food scandal
If that doesn't sufficiently shake up the Tower of Babble, it should at the very least open a serious discussion into the United States' continued involvement therein.
Out of a third of all U.N. staffers worldwide who answered the survey, most believe allegations of wrongdoing are not properly vetted at the top. And heaven help the poor soul who speaks up: 45.2 percent of more than 6,086 employees and managers said they're not protected from reprisals should they report any funny business.
In a wandering opus, Secretary-General Kofi Annan says the United Nations will hone existing measures to reinforce the protection of any whistle-blowers. Stopped laughing?
When two employees went public in a new book this month about sex and booze on U.N. missions, they were threatened with termination. So, out of which side of his mouth is Mr. Annan speaking?
It's already been alleged that U.N. personnel and various foreign officials received generous bribes and kickbacks in the multibillion-dollar Iraqi oil-for-food program. Saddam Hussein reportedly pocketed more than $10 billion. Now we learn the U.N.'s rank and file doesn't trust its leaders.
Neither should the United States.
