The United Nations: Still Smoking

I was at the UN the other day on an assignment and was pleased to find that the Delegates Lounge is one of New York City's last refuges for what is fast becoming a lost art: smoking indoors. Located on the north end of the UN General Assembly building, the bar offers enviable views of the East River, a groovy modernist decor, and a smorgasbord of foreign nationals if you're into that kind of thing. The UN Security Council is just down the hall, but UN insiders say the real negotiations happen in the Delegates Lounge over stiff drinks and, preferably, in a haze of smoke. But that haze may soon lift.

This past fall under the leadership of Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, the UN passed a resolution banning smoking in all UN buildings. So far the UN's call for a cease fire has been generally ignored by those generally assembled which is pretty much what happened when Koffi Annan tried a ban in 2003. Recently, Secretary General Moon showed alarmingly unilateral tendencies when he strategically withdrew all ash trays from the Delegates Lounge. The smokers countered with coffee cups. Perhaps fire-extinguisher wielding Peacekeepers are next? Talk about in harm's way. Real courage is getting between the French Ambassador and his Gitanes.

Those who love to criticize the UN despite their noble mission (ending human suffering and all that) will find great comfort in the organizations inability to police smoking in their own headquarters. I'm not pro-smoking, but I do like the idea of a small tribe on the brink of extinction (extinguishment?) holding out against a world class bureaucracy despite all the odds even if they happen to be part of that bureaucracy. Something tells me we need smoke-filled-rooms where people sort out matters of great importance. Let them smoke, just as long as it's a peace pipe.