By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive
www.innercitypress.com/un2taliban032310.html
UNITED NATIONS, March 23 -- Why did former UN envoy to Afghanistan Kai Eide start publicly bragging that he spoke with the Taliban? Inner City Press sought answers this week, officially from the UN, then from diplomats from India, Pakistan and Ban Ki-moon's own office.
The last of these had the most cynical or realistic explanation. In short, Kai Eide dreams of being UN Secretary General. The theory from the third floor of the UN's new building is that after Ban and the Asia Group, Europe is up next. Russia will block Eastern Europe, so Western Europe with his its last chance.
Beyond Jan Eliasson -- here this week for Water -- and Carl Bildt, candidates include both Kai Eide and his successor in Kabul, Staffan de Mistura. The senior Ban advisor said that in case de Mistura talks with Taliban and peace results, Eide wants it in the record that he began the strategy.
India on the other hand told Inner City Press that the UN should not speak with the Taliban. Pakistan, on its national day, was more cagey, characterizing Kai Eide's going public as "sad." And then the hammer blow from the third floor of the new building, the kiss of UN death to Eide. How do they like Galbraith now?
