Boutros-Ghali was his own man in a difficult international environment. He defied the US rather than do its bidding. He showed he was both African and Arab!
Kofi Annan's role in Boutros' downfall is not exactly a very prou ... read full comment
Boutros-Ghali was his own man in a difficult international environment. He defied the US rather than do its bidding. He showed he was both African and Arab!
Kofi Annan's role in Boutros' downfall is not exactly a very proud one for him (Kofi). Annan did not cause Boutros' fall but the story goes that Boutros asked Annan if he was lining up for his job. Annan said no even as he was he was pulling strings and doing the underground work to get the job. When Annan was appointed to the job, Boutros was so disappointed in him that they never spoke to each other until his death.
Kofi Annan proved to be a liable man to western interests - a far cry from the independent stand of the far more educated Boutros. It was only towards the end of his two year term that Kofi Annan tried to show some teeth. Why didn't he do that in his first term like Boutros did?
Boutros lived to a ripe old age despite all the fine French wines. Dying at 92 is a gift of the gods. He lived a full life and has nothing to regret for.
May he rest in the eternal bossom of the lord.
Other world leaders still alive in their 90s include Mugabe (92), Jimmy Carter (91), Henry Kissinger (92). Kissinger still has a sharp brain and published yet another topical book in 2014 World Order. Btw, American diplomat, George F Kennan, best known as a strong advocate of the US policy of containment during the Cold War, died in 2005 at the very ripe age of 101. Some people live long, very long indeed. Boutros Boutros was one...
Kweku Donsuro 8 years ago
An excellent article on Boutros. However, we all know the intransigence that he showed and ran the show like a one man show. That was undiplomatic. Kofi Annan showed more diplomatic finesse and panache than Boutros. May his s ... read full comment
An excellent article on Boutros. However, we all know the intransigence that he showed and ran the show like a one man show. That was undiplomatic. Kofi Annan showed more diplomatic finesse and panache than Boutros. May his soul rest in peace. He played his part, albeit.
Kodjo 8 years ago
Diplomacy is the art of containment and exploiting it for one's self interest in this regard Kofi was the expert.
However as a strong leaders ca[able of standing up to one's belief Boutros stood street ahead of Kofi.Kof An ... read full comment
Diplomacy is the art of containment and exploiting it for one's self interest in this regard Kofi was the expert.
However as a strong leaders ca[able of standing up to one's belief Boutros stood street ahead of Kofi.Kof Anang was virtually the puppet of western interest until he realize that he was being overused and therefore stood up against the west when he told then that the war against Iraq was illegitimate and that was the beginning of his down fall.
He however, remains their favorite African diplomat to date though.In the Queens 90th birthday service held at the Westminster Abbey today, one of the highlights of the Queen's calendar Kofi Anang read the main speech when there were several head of governments in attendance.That is how he is held in their esteem because he is their loyal diplomat.
Boutros-Ghali was his own man in a difficult international environment. He defied the US rather than do its bidding. He showed he was both African and Arab!
Kofi Annan's role in Boutros' downfall is not exactly a very prou ...
read full comment
An excellent article on Boutros. However, we all know the intransigence that he showed and ran the show like a one man show. That was undiplomatic. Kofi Annan showed more diplomatic finesse and panache than Boutros. May his s ...
read full comment
Diplomacy is the art of containment and exploiting it for one's self interest in this regard Kofi was the expert.
However as a strong leaders ca[able of standing up to one's belief Boutros stood street ahead of Kofi.Kof An ...
read full comment