WTF, International Edition

[Adam Smith]

Zimbabwe to chair major UN body

Zimbabwe has been elected to head the UN's commission on Sustainable Economic Development (CSD) despite strong objections from Western diplomats.

They had said Zimbabwe was unsuitable because of its human rights record and economic problems. It is suffering food shortages and rampant inflation.

But Zimbabwe has dismissed such criticism, calling it an insult.

The country was chosen by other African nations. The CSD post rotates every year between the world's regions.

Zimbabwe was elected to lead the commission by a 26-21 secret ballot among CSD members at the UN headquarters in New York. There were also three abstentions.

There was a brief round of applause as the result was announced.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6645715.stm

If you wonder why the UN has so little respect, or why Africa is so messed up, you probably need look no farther than this article.

[Kuciwalker]

Zimbabwe ... Sustainable Economic Development

[SlowwHand]

Is Zimbabwe going to make a bid for the Olympics now?

[KrazyHorse]

I'm a little surprised that the other African members elected Zimbabwe.

I was under the impression that they weren't happy with Zimbabwe, while at the same working themselves ino a righteous fury at perceived "colonial" interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign African nation.

[KrazyHorse]

The incongruity on this one is particularly delicious. Much better than the "Libya in charge of human rights" thing...

[Kuciwalker]

Didn't Zimbabwe run out of foreign currency to buy the ink to print more money recently?

[Emetri]

The United Nations was set up based on good intentions, and for half a century at least served one useful purpose - even if ridiculously bloated and inadeqate in achieveing any of its other goals.

Now, it has been reduced to just a disastrously bad joke. Quite frankly, it's closing time.

[notyoueither]

You expect a child left in poverty, starvation, and disease to do anything other than say 'go **** yourselves'?

I detect a sense of humour.

[SlowwHand]

The United Nations has sucked donkey balls for quite a while.

[notyoueither]

Reality has blown far more donkeys for far longer.

[SlowwHand]

The people that sell houses?

[notyoueither]

Can you tell me why a group of African countries don't set up a consortium to produce drugs and distribute them for cost on the continent?

[Emetri]

Well duh, there's no need as long as virtually millions of virgins reach sexual maturity every year.

[Jon Miller]

Originally posted by Emetri
Well duh, there's no need as long as virtually millions of virgins born every year.

JM
( some ofthe stories I have read)

[notyoueither]

What would the USA do if a Russian company held a patent on a drug that would cure a contagion that was sweeping the US, but they demand $5 million for a full course of the drug for a single individual?