It has been a long, hot summer for the world’s top diplomat, UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon. Ever since he reached the halfway point through his first term as head of the world body in July, he has been subject to much painful scrutiny and criticism.
A series of articles in influential publications have assessed whether Mr Ban is the right man for the job. Pundits question whether the South Korean’s trademark style of quiet diplomacy is securing gains on important issues of global security.
In one barbed example, The Times ran an editorial column under the headline Whereabouts Unknown that described Mr Ban as “bereft of leadership” and “virtually inaudible” on threats to world peace.
Critics accuse the UN boss of failing to condemn Sri Lanka’s government over civilian casualties during the brutal endgame to the civil war. Others say he was too timid against Myanmar’s military rulers as they persecuted the popular democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi.
