Ban Ki-Moon Sworn in as 8th U.N. Secretary-General

[Robbien]

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - South Korea's Ban Ki-moon was sworn in as the eighth U.N. secretary-general on Thursday, pledging to be a "bridge-builder" and lead a dynamic and courageous United Nations when he takes over on January 1. Ban, 62, took the oath of office in a ceremony in the 192-nation U.N. General Assembly that also honored the outgoing secretary-general, Kofi Annan of Ghana, 68, whose second five-year term ends on December 31.

. . .

John Bolton, the outgoing U.S. ambassador, an early Ban supporter, made clear he wanted more of a secretary than a general by saying repeatedly the U.N. Charter described the job only as the world body's "chief administrative officer."

But in an interview with Reuters after his election, Ban cautioned those who called him low-key not to mistake him for a pushover. "I may look low-key or (be) soft-spoken but that does not mean that I lack leadership or commitment," he said.

Asians consider modesty and humility virtues, he said, but should not be misunderstood because "I take decisive decisions whenever it is necessary."

. . .

Borrowing from the Christmas carol "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," he crooned: "I'm making a list, I'm checking it twice, I'm going to find out who's naughty or nice. Ban Ki-Moon is coming to town."

http://www.whptv.com/news/national/story.aspx?content_id=27327793-3ba2-4458-adfe-82a4d239999c

[Ian David]

1. What book did he use? That's REALLY important!

:sarcasm:

[Vidar]

2. If Bolton supported him, this bodes ill.

[Posteritatis]

4. Err, the General Assembly unanimously elected him. (n/t)

[Vidar]

5. Of course they did, & they are capable of mistakes. I didn't say

Bolton elected him.

[Posteritatis]

6. You implied he was a poor choice because of Bolton's approval, though. (nt)

[tom_paine]

7. I think, given the base criminality and incompetence of the Busheviks,

that this is quite a valid point.

To take the argument to the Nth degree (and to violate Godwin's law, if I gave a rat's ass about the thing), wouldn't you be concerned if a unanimously elected President of the League of Nations was fully endorsed by Hitler and the Nazi party?

Bolton is likely not as bad a person as the Nazis, probably by a lot, but he is still a bad person, like so many of the Top Busheviks (honor and integrity will lose you your job faster than lightning in Bushworld and competence is not rewarded, loyalty is) and just exactly HOW base criminals they are still remains to be seen.

[treestar]

3. He takes decisive decisions

Looks like he's a Decider.