M,

In some ways I agree with you. The UN has becaome something that isn't too effective. It is not what the 'dreamers' dreamt it would be all these fifty-some-odd years later. Having said that, I don't want the USA to be the cops of the world. Their actions of late haven't been all that good. Iraq has become a CF and it's not being handled very well, IMO. But I have spoken to that before.

K Annan may be the leader--but he has little power. The Security Council needs to get off its collective arse and decide some issues to do woith the various wars, famines--whether natural or man-made--dislocations of people in large numbers, etc. It is not, because they have agendas, and where the UN should be looking at the humanitarian side of things, it has to bow to its sponsors. We know that to be true. The UN is losing its credibility because it is powerless. The scandals? Well, show me a large organization that doesn't have them. An American outlaw was asked why he robbed banks. He replied, "Because that's where the money is." Same in this instance, IMO. People are out to get what they can grab, and screw the rest. It's no different in the UN. I wish I knew what the answer is.