White House seeks to loan U.N. funds for renovations

Washington Times ^ | 2/04/04 | Betsy Pisik and David R. Sands

[kattracks]

The Bush administration's new budget includes a $1.2 billion, 30-year loan to renovate the aging United Nations headquarters and build a new annex, although U.N. officials expressed disappointment that Washington will charge interest on the loan.

The loan was part of a $31.5 billion foreign-operations budget request released Monday that also includes major new funding for the fight against AIDS and a revamped U.S. foreign-aid program targeting poor countries that implement political and social reforms.

[stylin19a]

As part of its assessed contribution to the U.N. budget, the United States will supply 22 percent of that repayment figure - $265 million on the principal alone.

good grief...get out..get out now.

[Bud Krieger]

...although U.N. officials expressed disappointment that Washington will charge interest on the loan.

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I`m disappointed they loaned them the money, even with interest.

[Finalapproach29er]

Once again, instead of abolishing this threat to America, GWB resurrects this discredited institution. MORE MONEY for the UN. MORE MONEY for KOFI!!!

W will wonder how it all went wrong. He alienated the 3% he need to win. Darn shame-he had promise 3 years ago.

[varina davis]

What on earth is GW Bush thinking! Sounds to me like he really wants to head back to the ranch.

[COEXERJ145]

While I detest the U.N., as long as it is seen by some to be a legitimate organization, getting out would be a bad idea. As long as we're there and hold a seat on the Security Council, we can veto any B.S. that they try to slip through. I can just imagine what the U.N. would try to do without the U.S. creating international gridlock.

Besides, a large amount if not all of the money for renovations/construction will probably end up going to U.S. companies and provide jobs to U.S. construction workers.

[Finalapproach29er]

He thinks betraying his base won't have consequences.

He didn't learn a dang thing from his father. Oh well.

[Calvin Locke]

...xpressed disappointment that Washington will charge interest ...

Well, there's always Ghana. Or France. France owes Kofi and the UN big time.

[Calvin Locke]

The alienation continues.

Given the CFR debacle, he should know by now to be careful what he asks for.

[Nick Danger]

Why repair that old thing? Didn't we just see the magnificent design for the world's tallest building, to replace the WTC towers?

It's the perfect place for the United Nations. I say we give them the top twenty floors.

Good luck, Ambassador

[Ricebug]

WHO CAN E-MAIL TO HAVE THIS THING STOPED ??

[lainde]

This is the kind of proposal that makes you go "WHAT ON EARTH IS HE THINKING"?!

[ETERNAL WARMING]

Just when you think our government can't stoop any lower~ president@whitehouse.gov

Toll free: 202-456-6213, 202-456-1111


Senate and House: 1-800-648-3516

Whitehouse Fax: 202-456-2461

You know what to do! I'm outraged that we support this corrupt, Anti-American, Anti-Israel monstrosity!

[Richard-SIA]

"One European envoy noted that the Swiss government donated the building and most of the operating costs for U.N. operations in Geneva."

Forget repairing the building housing that den of thieves, spies, and varied enemies foreign and domestic.
Send them all to Geneva, then drop our funding and manpower to zero.

They will collapse without us to prop them up, and the world will be much safer.

[ETERNAL WARMING]

See post #13.

[Krodg]

This is the kind of proposal that makes you go "WHAT ON EARTH IS HE THINKING"?!

You 'think' he is supposed to be your personal president..he 'know's' he is the President of the United States.

[PizzaDriver]

Let's just build them a brand new one, in Basra or Bagdad

[j_tull]

I've been watching the basher vs. bot threads for some time. I am beginning to believe that G.W. Bush really will be a one-term President. He seems bent on it.

[lainde]

Look...I just want him to do well! It makes no political sense to antagonize or demoralize his base at such a critical time.

[yonif]

While I detest the U.N., as long as it is seen by some to be a legitimate organization, getting out would be a bad idea. As long as we're there and hold a seat on the Security Council, we can veto any B.S. that they try to slip through. I can just imagine what the U.N. would try to do without the U.S. creating international gridlock.

Would you have said this if a Democrat was in power and doing the renovating?