Not The Onion: Robert Mugabe asked to be UN 'leader for tourism'

[cali]

With a line-up that includes Drew Barrymore, David Beckham, Orlando Bloom, and Ricky Martin, the UN's choice of ambassadors has been known to cause raised eyebrows or the odd smirk.

Seldom, however, has there been such anger, or questioning of the organisation's credibility, as that greeting the appointment of a new international envoy for tourism: Robert Mugabe.

Improbable as it seems, the Zimbabwean president, who is widely accused of ethnic cleansing, rigging elections, terrorising opposition, controlling media and presiding over a collapsed economy, has been endorsed as a champion of efforts to boost global holidaymaking.

Despite that fact Mugabe, 88, is under a travel ban, he has been honoured as a "leader for tourism" by the UN's World Tourism Organisation, along with his political ally, Zambian president Michael Sata, 75. The pair signed an agreement with UNWTO secretary general Taleb Rifai at their shared border at Victoria Falls on Tuesday.

<snip>

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/may/29/robert-mugabe-un-international-envoy-tourism

The U.N. really needs a shake up. It's not just this.

[Nye Bevan]

1. Next up: UN chooses Dick Cheney as an Ambassador for World Peace. (nt)

[Nuclear Unicorn]

3. Rupert Murdoch -- Integrity in Media Consultant

Jamie Dimon -- Finance Minster
The Dugars -- Family Planning Services

[LiberalAndProud]

2. I just have to wonder,

are they trying to prove that John Bolton had a point? It's really impossible to support this on any level.

But after visiting the country last week, the UN high commissioner for human rights, Navi Pillay, urged western countries to lift their targeted sanctions, arguing that they are hurting the poor. She also called on Zimbabwe to pass reforms to avoid violence in the next election.

Mugabe's Zanu-PF party seized on his UN honour as evidence that opponents and media have exaggerated the country's problems. Spokesman Rugare Gumbo said: "There's no alternative but to accept the reality on the ground. We can theorise about sanctions but the reality is that the UN is in control of the situation. If you can't defeat them, join them: that is what we are witnessing."

[truebrit71]

4. That's the dumbest thing I think I have ever heard...

Is Dumbya going to be their Ambassador For Erudite Speaking and Diction?

Never mind who voted for it, who was the brain-dead moron that put his name forward in the first place?

[KamaAina]

5. I stopped going to Zimbabwe years ago. Everything is so expensive there.

[Sea-Dog]

6. Mugabe must be after Gadhafi crown for the most ridiculous ba**ard award

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. meh - they just sent him a form letter, since he's Head of State

See http://liberalconspiracy.org/2012/05/29/is-robert-mugabe-really-the-uns-envoy-for-tourism-no/ .

Here's the form letter:

http://dtxtq4w60xqpw.cloudfront.net/sites/all/files/docpdf/finalgoldenbookopenlettertext_0.pdf

In light of this ongoing campaign, I would like to extend an invitation to H.E. ….xxx to join hands with other world leaders, as well as with UNWTO and WTTC, and add his voice to our effort to position Travel and Tourism higher on the global agenda.

[Nye Bevan]

8. I guess there's just no way to remove the murderous dictators from the list

of heads of state that the form letter goes to.

[muriel_volestrangler]

9. The United Nations rarely does, does it?

How often is a country suspended from it because of the evilness of its leader? It's not like the Commonwealth. Hell, they get invitations to makes speeches in New York.

[KoKo]

10. This is very shocking...I'm assuming most DU'ers don't know this man's past or don't care?

Anyway...it deserves a K&R... OMG! is all that comes to mind.

[Odin2005]

11. The UN has become a joke.