Annan: U.S. withholding dues is bad idea

Bakersfield Californian ^ | 6/9/05 | Nick Wadhams - AP

[NormsRevenge]

UNITED NATIONS (AP) - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Thursday criticized proposed legislation before the U.S. House of Representatives that would link reforms of the world body to payment of U.S. dues.

Annan said he hoped the bill, introduced Tuesday by Illinois Republican Henry Hyde, won't become law. He repeated his oft-stated view that withholding dues from the United Nations would be "counterproductive."

"We are going through reforms and the U.S. has a natural leadership role and I hope it will work with other Member States to reform and strengthen the Organization," Annan told reporters. "I don't think holding back on contributions sends the right message."

Annan discussed the bill during a phone call with President Bush on Thursday morning, he told dozens of U.N. ambassadors at a breakfast later in the morning. Annan told the ambassadors that Bush had reiterated the U.S. position that it opposes the idea of withholding dues.

On Wednesday, a GOP-controlled House committee approved Hyde's bill, which would withhold one-half of U.S. dues to the United Nations unless it made specific changes.

House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, told a news conference the legislation will be taken up by the full House next week. Currently there is no similar legislation before the Senate, and the U.S. administration's opposition means the bill's chances are unclear.

The U.S. is the biggest financial contributor to the United Nations, paying about 22 percent of the annual $2 billion general budget. That does not include money for peacekeeping, most international tribunals, or programs like the U.N. Development Program and UNICEF, which are funded separately.

[NormsRevenge]

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan responds to questions at the United Nations in Thursday June 9, 2005. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

[Selkie]

Annan told reporters. "I don't think holding back on contributions sends the right message." >>>>>>>>>>>>


Ohhhhh what's he gonna do ? Attack us with his peacekeepers ?

ROFL

[cripplecreek]

"withholding dues from the United Nations would be "counterproductive."


Is it just me or does that make everyone chuckle?

[26lemoncharlie]

I agree with Annan !! Witholding our dues is not the thing to do!!

We should just get the US out of the UN and the UN out of the US!! Iknow, I know, don't hold your breath!!

[Issaquahking]

POUND SAND KOFI BOY!

[A CA Guy]

The UN hates responsibility and behaving well.

[drt1]

Enough of this inept, corrupt jerk. His UN could make up any shortfall from withheld US dues by cutting his bloated staff's expense allowances.

[kennyboy509]

OOOOOOOOOOhh! Don't do it!!!

He might take our birthday away!!!!!

[righttackle44]

"I don't think holding back on contributions sends the right message."

Well if the message is, HEY, KOFI! WE DON'T SUPPORT THE CRIME AND CORRUPTION OF THE UNITED NATIONS OR ITS PRESIDENT!", then it's the right one.

[Parley Baer]

Bwahahahahahahahaha. Hehehehehe. Snicker snicker. Just to funny.

[Che Chihuahua]

Send Kofi Kup and the UN to Europe. They'll like the hookers and the political climate there a lot better, but probably not the stinginess of old and useless Europe. I guess only then will this turd world idiot will learn who pays the freight

[WorkingClassFilth]

This is the kind of work our tax dollars pay for when we throw it away on the UN and this criminal idiot: http://newswire.indymedia.org/newswire/icon/2005/01/818019.jpg

[concerned about politics]

Annan said he hoped the bill, introduced Tuesday by Illinois Republican Henry Hyde, won't become law. He repeated his oft-stated view that withholding dues from the United Nations would be "counterproductive."

He really, really wants that U.S. welfare check.

[A message]

Bttt !!

[The Old Hoosier]

If we don't pay it, he can't steal it.

[Boundless]

> Is it just me or does that make everyone chuckle?

It confirms that, like the Bolton appointment that Kofi
the Krook also opposes, it's precisely the thing to do.

[JasonC]

Stealing our money, taking bribes, kissing tyrant's backsides, ignoring slaughters of innocents - doesn't "send the right message" either.

[txroadkill]

My apologies in advance, but this is what NEEDS to be said to Annan and the rest of the of the UN.

"Hey Kofi, here's a 'One-Finger-Victory-Salute for you'"

[cripplecreek]

Busted.

[spinestein]

[The U.S. is the biggest financial contributor to the United Nations, paying about 22 percent of the annual $2 billion general budget. That does not include money for peacekeeping, most international tribunals, or programs like the U.N. Development Program and UNICEF, which are funded separately.]


It's time to take a look at how much value to the cause of democracy and genuine human rights our monetary contributions to the United Nations are producing and stop funding the U.N. programs that are not up to our standards.



thugs posing as peacekeepers- gone
political grandstanding posing as tribunals- gone
spreading socialism with the U.N. development program- gone
lining corrupt U.N. members pockets through "oil for food" schemes posing as charity- gone
providing cover for genocidal dictators through bribery programs- GONE!



The original U.N. mandate of spreading democracy is long gone and the modern United Nations is now the worlds largest, bloated, corrupt bureaucracy.