Analysis - Syria firestorm proving too fierce for Annan's cooling touch

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(Reuters) - Scarred by his failure to stop Rwanda's genocide nearly two decades ago, Kofi Annan faces another bloody debacle on his watch as his mediation efforts founder in Syria.

Steeped in a culture of seeking consensus even when it looks unlikely, the soft-spoken former U.N. secretary-general is again at the point where his diplomatic efforts are being overtaken by mass killings rather than being seen as a step to peace.

Although as mediator for the United Nations and the Arab League he has sounded the alarm in Syria with as much moral force as anyone could muster, Annan has failed to get divided world powers or President Bashar al-Assad to stop the bloodshed.

His qualifications as a star statesman who could make mediation work in Syria - if anyone could - were strengthened by his success in halting a spiralling conflict in Kenya four years ago. But Syria is proving a far tougher task.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/06/13/uk-syria-crisis-annan-idUKBRE85C10O20120613

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1. I'm afraid he will be remembered for bemoaning the obvious once it's too late.

2004: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2004/sep/16/iraq.iraq

The United Nations secretary general, Kofi Annan, declared explicitly for the first time last night that the US-led war on Iraq was illegal.

Mr Annan said that the invasion was not sanctioned by the UN security council or in accordance with the UN's founding charter. In an interview with the BBC World Service broadcast last night, he was asked outright if the war was illegal. He replied: "Yes, if you wish."

2006: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6206480.stm

The UN secretary general, who leaves office after 10 years on 31 December, told the BBC that the situation in Iraq was now "much worse" than a civil war.

He also expressed his sadness at being unable to prevent the invasion in 2003.

If you're not part of the solution before the disaster is settled in place, you're part of the problem, Mr. Annan. You're doing it again, because you focus your righteous ire on only one side of the conflict.