Management and budget reform surely lacks the sizzle of other subjects typically debated at the UN like war, peace and genocide. But it is vital because the current procedures date to the early UN days and no longer work.

The resulting mess does grievous harm to the UN reputation in the richer donor nations and equally grievous harm to its ability to function efficiently in the poorer nations that need it most. Yet it is just those less powerful nations that banded together last week in a disastrously misconceived effort to block reforms

proposed by Secretary General Kofi Annan. The resolution was put off for a few days, but that will merely postpone the disaster unless a consensus can somehow be produced. The US should be working to build that consensus.

The General Assembly’s resistance to management reform is foolish and destructive, but not inexplicable. No political body likes to give up any powers, particularly powers that involve spending money and hiring and firing staff.

But the bitterness has only been intensified by the confrontational style of America’s ambassador, John Bolton. If Bolton truly wants to see these reforms move ahead, he will have to become more than the UN’s most acerbic critic. A little more diplomacy from Washington could go a very long way.