With the United Nations reaching its 61" anniversary no less a person than Mr. Ban Ki Moon the Secretary General elect of the U.N who is expected to take office on January 1, 2007 has declared that there is a crisis of confidence in the U.N and this has in great measure reduced the effectiveness of the world body.

For a long time the majority of the members of the UN have been unhappy of how the body functions. The voice for reform has grown especially since it has now grown to be an organisation that has more than 70,000 peace makers deployed and also has development and humanitarian programmes all over the world. The system of allocation of veto powers to the US, Britain, France, Russia, and China has also come in for severe criticism from the developing countries. Reform is the buzz word now.

Mr. Ban Ki Moon may have all good intentions of implementing an effective reform for the world body, but if these reforms affects the patronising powers of the US and the UK in the UN one wonders how far Ban Ki Moon will go. Hugo Chavez in his address to the UN on 20th Sept., 2006 advocated the subject of reform in his words "a renewed United Nations." He remarked "we want ideas to save our planet from the imperialist threat. And, hopefully in this very century, in not too long a time, we will see a new era, and for our children and grand children, a world of peace based on the fundamental principles of the United Nations, but a renewed United Nations."

Speaking further Chavez demanded drastic reform of the UN to reduce the US’s influence, and reported to have said "I don’t think anyone in this room could defend the system... Let’s be honest, the UN system born after the second world war has collapsed - it’s worthless."

At this same Annual General Assembly in September President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad too pointed out a serious flaw in the functioning of the U.N in a scathing attack on the US and its allies, he accused the US and Britain of being "prosecutor, judge and jury" when ever they have differences of opinion with other countries, using their privileged position whenever anyone tried to restrict them, "which organs of the UN can hold them to account?" He asked rhetorically.

Everyone knows that the real power in the UN rests with the five permanent members of the Security Council, and that the General Assembly has little real power, as reflected by the utter ineffectiveness of its routine resolutions condemning Israel for its policies against the Palestinians.

Apparently the desired reform is to halt US and her allies manipulating the world body to their advantage. Presently American imperialism is now naked, barely disguised and widely recognised. The US has immense influence in the UN because of its military and economic power. John Bolton the US ambassador in the UN is noted for his abrasive uncouth and ill mannered behaviour, increasing the dislike for his country among the other members. He should have not been chosen to represent the US. The heroes of today are those who are outspoken against the present UN system and who are demanding for reform.

The new Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki Moon will face both a challenging and daunting task trying to introduce reform in the UN system. It is interesting to note that even the US and its allies want reform. With most of the developing and third world countries also demanding reform this subject will be very complex as these countries are aware that the US and its allies have and is always manipulating the UN for direct and indirect economic and military warfare designed to undermine and subvert them and ultimately to force them back into a subservient position within the international order. Details of reform required by the US and its allies have not been made public. All members will be keenly watching Mr. Ban Ki Moon’s efforts to institute reform in the world body in the coming year. If reform of the UN is not implemented the current world dis — order will continue, bringing more misery to mankind.