The United Nations has agreed to move it's supply of submachine guns (MP5s) out of it's New York City headquaters. Under pressure from the Bush Administration, the U.N. agreed to move the HKs to it's peacekeeping operations overseas.

U.N. security chief Michale McCann purchased the arms in 1998 for the personal protection of Secretary General Kofi Annon during his travels through the city. The arms were often visible in the support van of Annon's motorcade as it moved through the city.

The State Department's Diplomatic Security Service said it was unclear why Annon's bodyguards needed such arms. The DSS, under agreement with the UN, is in charge of Annon's protection when he is in the US. The UN security force does not have "law enforcement status." The BATF originally denied the UN permission to purchase the weapons. Key factors in the decision were the UN'slack of formal status as a law enforcement agency and the risk of non US citiznes gaining access to the arms, State Department officials said.

However, the UN, aided by senior officials of the Clinton Administration persuaded BATF to grant permission. In February 2002, the Bush Administration ordered a review of the UN security officers' use of the arms. Shortly after the 2002 BATF examination, the UN security officials told the Washington Times the MP5s were removed from Annon's security detail and locked up.

State Departments sources the UN and the BATF never reached an accomodation that would have allowed the rifles back on the streets of New York. The UN agreed to transfer the arms outside the US.

Personally I think we live in a great country.

Sitting here looking at my MP5 and chuckling at the fact that KOFI CAN'T HAVE ONE.

[LOL]