TIME TO CALL YOUR BOOKIE? Both UN Chief Kofi Annan and President Bush have hinted that the next UN leader will hail from Asia. When these two agree on something, you know something’s up. The last Asian to hold the top spot was U Thant of Burma (now Myanmar), who served from 1961 to 1971. Though Annan doesn’t step down until December, the Security Council will begin the mysterious Vatican-like selection process later this month. A decision could come as early as September, when world leaders meet to discuss the General Assembly’s upcoming agenda. The final say rests with the Council’s five permanent members (China, the U.S., France, Russia, and the UK), but that hasn’t stopped professional oddsmakers from weighing in. Here’s how the picks from Asia look to us:

SOUTH KOREA

Foreign Minister BAN KI-MOON
Pros: A key player in the six-party talks with North Korea, he’s a consummate diplomat; U.S. wants a “harmonizer” type; he’s rumored to have China’s support; consensus candidate
Cons: He’s got enough on his plate with Kim Jong-Il; opposition from Japan; relatively new to the international stage
Odds: Three to one

SRI LANKA

UN disarmament specialist JAYANTHA DHANAPALA
Pros: Has a sexy background in arms control; in 2002, brokered Sri Lanka’s Singhalese-Tamil ceasefire (now threatened); speaks four languages, including Mandarin
Cons: Bush can’t possibly pronounce his name
Odds: Four to one

INDIA

UN Undersecretary-General SHASHI THAROOR
Pros: Career diplomat and award-winning author has support in parts of Europe; he offers continuity in troubled times
Cons: Seen as too much of an insider to reform UN; opposition from Pakistan; India’s size (post often goes to smaller nations)
Odds: Eight to one

THAILAND

Deputy PM SURAKIART SATHIRATHAI
Pros: ASEAN nations are aggressively promoting his candidacy
Cons: Suppression of Muslims in southern Thailand won’t go over well in the Arab world; once voiced opposition to International Criminal Court; dogged by boss Thaksin Shinawatra’s scandals; at 47, too young for the job?
Odds: Eight to one

LONG SHOTS

Sleeper candidates include Pakistan’s UN ambassador, MALEEHA LODHI (left) and East Timor’s Foreign Minister (and 1996 Nobel peace prize laureate) JOSE RAMOS-HORTA; meanwhile, supporters of Jordan’s UN ambassador PRINCE ZEID RA’AD ZEID AL-HUSSEIN argue that the Middle East is so too a part of Asia

HONORARY ASIAN

For taking a leading role in helping tsunami victims in Southeast Asia, we declare ex-Prez BILL CLINTON an Honorary Asian. He’s our candidate to save the world. Since he left the White House in 2001, he’s acted as a roving goodwill ambassador—an audition, perhaps, for the toughest gig in the world. Bill Clinton, statesman, rockstar.