So long, Kofi

Kofi Annan farewell speech

As Harry Truman said 'We all have to recognize, no matter how great our strength, that we must deny ourselves the license to do always as we please.' States need to play by the rules toward each other as well as toward their own citizens.

When power, especially military force, is used, the world will consider it legitimate only when convinced that it is being used for the right purpose, for broadly shared aims, in accordance with broadly accepted norms.

No community anywhere suffers from too much rule of law; many do suffer from too little and the international community is among them..This we must change.

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The high-sounding doctrines like 'responsibility to protect' will remain pure rhetoric unless and until those with the power to intervene effectively -- by exerting political, economic or, in the last resort, military muscle -- are prepared to take the lead.

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You Americans can make a crucial occurrence to many millions of poor people if you are prepared to save the Doha round of trade negotiations... You can do that by putting your broader national interest above some powerful sectional lobbies while challenging Europe and the large developing countries to do the same.

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You Americans did so much, in the last century to build an effective
multilateral system with the United Nations at its heart. Do you need it less today, and does it need you less, than 60 years ago?

For all his faults, it is tough to criticize his vision of the bigger picture.