To the Point
Time to Reinvent the UN?
The United Nations was born in 1945 "to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war." Yet despite its mission to promote peace, it's often seemed that UN resolutions were made to be broken. After winning last year's Nobel Peace Prize, the UN is again threatened, most recently by divisions among member states, especially over the Middle East, the collapse of its investigation into Israel's attack on Jenin, and the US "unsigning" of the treaty that establishes the International Criminal Court. In the face of continuing threats to its credibility, we speak with former US representatives and a spokesman for Secretary General Kofi Annan about the changing role of the UN. Newsmaker: US "Unsigns" War Crimes Tribunal Treaty The United States has notified the United Nations that it has "no intention" of ratifying a treaty signed two years ago by President Clinton. The Bush administration has renounced any involvement with the International Criminal Court. The Financial Times' Carola Hoyos reports on the reasons for and ramifications of the precedent-setting decision. Reporter's Notebook: Hollywood Powerbroker Mike Ovitz Sells Company to Competitor Mike Ovitz, founder of Creative Artists Agency, former president of Walt Disney, and once called "the most powerful man in Hollywood," failed at his latest comeback when his Artists Management Group was purchased by another company. Ken Auletta, media columnist for The New Yorker, has more on the man who couldn't be satisfied in doing what he did best, and Hollywood's joy at his failure.
By Warren Olney • • 1 min readThe United Nations was born in 1945 "to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war." Yet despite its mission to promote peace, it's often seemed that UN resolutions were made to be broken. After winning last year's Nobel Peace Prize, the UN is again threatened, most recently by divisions among member states, especially over the Middle East, the collapse of its investigation into Israel's attack on Jenin, and the US "unsigning" of the treaty that establishes the International Criminal Court. In the face of continuing threats to its credibility, we speak with former US representatives and a spokesman for Secretary General Kofi Annan about the changing role of the UN.
US "Unsigns" War Crimes Tribunal Treaty
The United States has notified the United Nations that it has "no intention" of ratifying a treaty signed two years ago by President Clinton. The Bush administration has renounced any involvement with the International Criminal Court. The Financial Times' Carola Hoyos reports on the reasons for and ramifications of the precedent-setting decision.
Hollywood Powerbroker Mike Ovitz Sells Company to Competitor
Mike Ovitz, founder of Creative Artists Agency, former president of Walt Disney, and once called "the most powerful man in Hollywood," failed at his latest comeback when his Artists Management Group was purchased by another company. Ken Auletta, media columnist for The New Yorker, has more on the man who couldn't be satisfied in doing what he did best, and Hollywood's joy at his failure.