Stewart Stogel
Sunday, Nov. 2, 2003

That system was labeled by a U.N. special investigatory panel in a report released last week as "dysfunctional."

On Thursday, in a highly publicized move, Annan decided to "relocate" the U.N.'s 14 remaining staffers in Baghdad to Larnaca, Cyprus for 6 weeks. U.N. spokeswoman Maire Okabe claimed the personnel were leaving Iraq for "consultations."

Many at the U.N. speculated that the U.N. chief was reacting to growing internal pressure for security reform, as well as the recent attack on the offices of the International Red Cross in Baghdad.

One Security Council diplomat called the Annan relocation move a "public relations" maneuver. The number of personnel being moved was "not significant" he explained. The diplomat added that if security was the real concern, the Coalition could have easily protected the U.N.'s remaining personnel.

In his letter to the U.N. staff, a copy of which was obtained by NewsMax, Annan says:

"The (Special) Panel's report reveals serious shortcomings in our provision of security to the U.N. staff in Iraq. We owe it to all those affected by the attack on our Baghdad headquarters to do our utmost to ensure that such failures are not repeated, either in Iraq or elsewhere."

The U.N. chief says he is starting to institute reforms: First, as recommended by the special panel, he is commissioning an independent audit of the U.N.'s security system. (He refuses to name the auditing company, though the U.N. has a long standing relationship with PriceWaterhouse/Coopers.)

Second, Annan says he is "reviewing" the "serious weaknesses" that were revealed in the panel's report. (He refuses to give any specifics.)

Third, the Secretary-General states he has also ordered an "in-depth" review of the whole security apparatus of the U.N. system, including all the funds, programs and agencies to ensure adequate measures for protection are put into effect. (Annan ignores the fact that many of the officials entrusted to carry this order out, were cited by the special panel as incompetent.) Fourth, Annan says he is instituting a new "review" of current threats facing the world body.

Since the August 19 bombing of the U.N.'s Baghdad offices which left 22 dead and more than 100 wounded, Annan has seen a growing clamor among U.N. staffers to begin an overhaul of the U.N.'s security operations.

The special panel's report of October 20, which claimed that the U.N.'s existing security operations are "dysfunctional," has since led to a growing internal clamor for serious personnel changes.

A U.S. diplomat called last week's report "devastating." The diplomat confided that he could not see how Annan could avoid firing some senior U.N. officials.

One U.N. security staffer told NewsMax that the panel's report was "nothing new." "What is new," he added is that "now all the dirty laundry is in the press." "Now," he asked, "what is going to be done about it?"

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