■"U.N. Envoys See Loss of Steam for Expanding Security Council," by Warren Hoge, New York Times, 18 November 2005, pulled off web.

■"Zimbabwe Said to Permit U.N. to Build New Homes," by Michael Wines, New York Times, 18 November 2005, pulled off web.

Wasn't going to blog today, cause spouse and eldest daughter have abandoned ship, leaving me stranded with the three youngest (I see Harry Potter looming . . .) for the weeked.

Good news: Pack v. Vikes in Lambeau on MNF awaits on the far side.

But this pair too good to pass up.

One of the complaints I get on BFA and the A-to-Z rule set on processing politically bankrupt states: Why can't the UN be in charge from start to finish?

Well, it can't because the UN Security Council was built for another era: the winning coalition from WWII as permanent members only.

Another good reason: the UN respects sovereignty when it shouldn't. Robert Mugabe makes 700,000 people homeless one afternoon in a show of might designed to scare his opponents after his recent sham election. The UN presses it case and gets . .. the right to construct 2,500 houses to deal with the aftermath.

So long as they can fit about 300 people in each house, I think we're there all right.

Tough nut, that UN. Make almost three quarters of a million people homeless and they'll threaten to build a Potemkin village to make it better.