Charles Krauthammer

     It is an understatement to say that support for the United Nations in the United States is slight. WAIS laments the lack, not necessarily of support but at least of interest. WAIS hopes that Larry Pippin of the University of the Pacific, the secretary of the Northern California U.N. Associations, will keep us informed. Despite this indifference, Americans generally avoid attacking the U.N. for fear of being confused with the crazies who really believe that U.N. armies are occupying the U.S. Americans also speak well of Secretary General Kofi Annan for fear of being accused of racism. The public official most vocally critical of the U.N. was New York mayor Mayor Koch, who was infuriated by the U.N. votes condemning Israel. Most Americans avoid criticism of Israel for fear of being accused of anti-Semitism. In contrast with the United States, Canada is a strong supporter of the United Nations.
     Now along comes Charles Krauthammer, one of America's brightest and best informed commentators, with a startlingly harsh attack on Kofi Annan (Time, 11/30/98). He may well be right, but I have learned to question the impartiality of commentators. Krauthammer is a reportedly a Jew of Canadian origin. How this fits in with his attack on Kofi Annan I do not know. In any case, his attack may break the ice-jam which prevents responsible Americans for expressing their opinions honerstly on these matters.
     As I was writing this, the news came that the U.S. had bombed Iraq and that Sadam Hussein had appealed to Kofi Annan. I now suspect that Krauthammer's piece reflected official Washington'a quiet anger at Kofi Annan's role in the Iraq crisis. The world at large, rightly or wrongly, will probably side with Kofi Annan, albeit not openly. Clinton is widely charged with unleashing the attack to distract attention from the impeachment hearings.
     In Shakespeare's "Henry IV," the King, whenever he wished to distract attention from his domestic troubles, proposed going on a crusade, to the area now the object of America unfriendly attention. Merry Christmas!

Ronald Hilton - 12/16/98