Mr. Tharoor's candidacy may have been nixed for a variety of reasons by China or more likely the US. Regardless of who did it, firmness in diplomacy does warrant being explicit particularly in today's environment - John Bolton for all his presumed gruffness has accomplished a lot more than either Holbrook or Albright for the US. Even Pakistan's Munir Akram who has been through several SGs and is as smooth as an oil slick,is noticeably more direct than most of India's reps to the UN.
Arguably the best candidate would have been Ashraf Ghani and not Moon - most certainly not Tharoor who represents a latter day version of Annan - a
