Though plagued by corruption scandals, the outgoing secretary-general's focus on human rights and reform has left the United Nations a stronger institution.Few things get conservatives more riled up than when foreigners talk smack about the U.S. of A. So they aren't exactly sending warm retirement wishes to United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who leaves office at the end of the month after having the audacity to give a farewell speech last week in Independence, Mo. — hometown of President Truman — replete with veiled criticisms of this nation's human rights record and fondness for unilateralism.
Lost in the angry responses from U.N. haters — who mostly questioned how Annan could dare criticize the U.S. when the U.N. has so many problems of its own — was that much of what Annan said was true. Annan was simply fulfilling his role as secretary-general — one that his successor, Ban Ki-moon, would do well to emulate.