July 06, 2003

MODERN EVIL

Mark Steyn on the UN and Satan’s aromatic leaf:

The UN bears the great weight of the world on its broad shoulders. This week, it decided to get tough with Cambodian strongman Hun Sen. Not because he scuppered the UN's plans for Khmer Rouge genocide trials, or because he deposed his co-prime minister, Prince Ranariddh, and tore up the UN-backed political settlement in Phnom Penh. No, as AFP reported, Hun Sen was "told by the United Nations he was the biggest smoker among world leaders" ...

As a general rule, whenever a great international crisis runs up against an anti-smoking policy, bet on the latter. That's been true ever since Hillary Clinton made Yitzhak Rabin go outside to smoke when he was at the White House for negotiations over the Oslo peace accords. (Mrs Clinton's husband remained in compliance with her smoking policy by keeping his cigar famously unlit.)

Posted by Tim Blair at July 6, 2003 06:33 AM
Comments

Great link, and a great site.
I've added you to my blogroll.
Could you do the same for me?

Cheers
Martin

http://www.savland.blogspot.com

Posted by: Martin at July 6, 2003 at 06:47 AM

If Hun Sen wants to avoid the scrutiny of the UN he should start burning human beings instead of tobacco.

Posted by: Randy R. at July 6, 2003 at 09:31 AM

Keeping in accordance with the Cambodian posting rules, is Imelda Marcos still alive?

Posted by: Charles at July 6, 2003 at 11:07 AM

One of the interesting aspects of Hun Sen is that he was, originally, a member of the Khmer Rouge. When the Vietnamese invaded, he switched sides. This has been one factor in the Cambodians not accepting him as totally legitimate, because he was supported into power by their longstanding ethnic enemy, the Vietnamese.

This issue of legitimacy, of course, arose even before he put the kibosh on any prospect of elections in Cambodia, under UN auspices or otherwise.

Posted by: Dean at July 6, 2003 at 03:54 PM

"One of the interesting aspects of Hun Sen is that he was, originally, a member of the Khmer Rouge..."

The astonishing thing is, that hasn't stopped John Pilger from admiring him and his party for some time!

Posted by: wilbur at July 6, 2003 at 10:54 PM

Hey, Tim, what's this obsession with Cambodia? Yesterday, it was the burning of Mrs Pot, today its the smoking of pot (well, he probably smokes that as well).

Posted by: Fred at July 7, 2003 at 01:30 PM