Posted on 10/18/2004 2:43:58 PM PDT by TFine80
Copyright 1999 Toronto Star Newspapers, Ltd. The Toronto Star
November 4, 1999, Thursday, Edition 1
SECTION: NEWS
LENGTH: 648 words
HEADLINE: CONTRITE U.S. POLITICIANS SLAM NON-PAYMENT OF U.N. DUES
BYLINE: Kathleen Kenna
BODY:
WASHINGTON - In a rare display of public humility, top American leaders yesterday expressed public shame for their nation's failure to pay its United Nations debt.
Veteran senators from both Republican and Democratic parties warned the United States will suffer incalculable harm if it doesn't soon pay an estimated $1 billion (U.S.) in unpaid U.N. dues. (U.N. officials say the true debt is $1.5 billion, but Americans are quibbling over peacekeeping costs.)
''It will be an international tragedy if something does not occur'' to approve repayment before year-end, Indiana Senator Richard Lugar told a Senate foreign relations committee hearing.
The U.S. loses its voting rights at the General Assembly Jan. 1 if it doesn't pay. A budget logjam threatens to stall repayment for another year because Congress is due to recess next Friday.
''I have never been more disappointed, more concerned, more frustrated than I am at this moment, when we face such extraordinary challenges on a global basis, to find us caught up in such petty, partisan, ideological, picayune politics that is literally undermining the national security interests of this country,'' fumed Democratic Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts, a Vietnam war hero. ''It's inexcusable.''
The Senate has approved an immediate payment of $926 million, but hard-line Republicans in the House of Representatives want conditions attached that ban spending any U.S. funds on family planning clinics offering abortions in other countries.
That rider already has derailed a U.N. settlement twice because President Bill Clinton vetoed repayment with strings attached.
For the second consecutive day in Washington, the American ambassador to the U.N., Richard Holbrooke, publicly scolded Congress for reneging on its legal and moral responsibilities to repay its debts.
''We are getting slammed . . . by the British and Japanese and other countries who are saying in no unmistakable terms, 'Don't ask us to increase our money before you show us you've got some of your own,' '' Holbrooke said. ''I hate to quote (from the movie) Jerry Maguire, but they're saying, 'Show us the money!' ''
Canada and 70 other nations, including Britain, France and Germany, are hurt by America's refusal to pay because they're owed U.N. reimbursement for peacekeeping costs paid upfront.
Current peacekeeping missions are threatened too, Holbrooke warned.
''We can't do business without the money. There are troops in some of the Southeast Asian countries, waiting to go to East Timor now, who can't go unless we guarantee they are going to get reimbursed. The U.N. cupboard is bare,'' he said.
The U.S. is the biggest deadbeat among member nations, owing 80 per cent of all unpaid dues. Its share of the total peacekeeping debt is 61 per cent - and U.N. officials contend other nations may be persuaded to pay more promptly if the U.S. paid its share.
''Other nations are not very happy when the largest, most formidable economic power in the history of the world, who forged the U.N. in (its) image, doesn't pay,'' said Joseph Connor, U.N. under secretary-general for management.
The U.N. relies on members' dues for its operations because its mandate doesn't allow commercial borrowing or building a capital reserve.
CNN owner Ted Turner said yesterday that he had been embarrassed into donating $1 billion for global aid and development by the failure of the U.S. to pay its U.N. debt.
''It pained me to see my country fall further and further behind in pledges to the United Nations,'' Turner told Reuters in Cape Town yesterday. ''The United Nations is absolutely necessary to peace and security. Without the U.N. we don't have much of a future.''
Turner was in South Africa for a meeting of the board of the United Nations Foundation, set up to disburse Turner's donation.
Wow, how surprizing. (not)
Well, paying the back dues would be one approach, but how about this as alternative: tell them to pound sand, and that they have 48 hours to get out of Dodge? (That could even be a bluff, be nice guys and give them a week.)
Better yet, kick the morons out of the U.S.!
The UN owes the US for all money lost during 9/11. When they pay that 80 billion that they cost us with the anti-US, Saddam supporting, terrorist financing Oil For Food scandal, we'll consider not torching the building while the scumbags are still in it.
Interesting that the Canadian article called Kerry a war-hero. The foreign press loves Kerry because he's, well, he's just so deliciously anti-American....
SO LET'S NOT ELECT HIM PLEASE.
Hand the UN the bill (so far) for the multiple UN Oil-For-Food Scandal investigations that are coming out the American's pockets.
Also,,,invite the UN to leave if they don't like our policy...
As far as I'm concerned,they owe us much more than what they are "quibbling" over.
The LAST reason to pay the UN anything is so other countries can profit,,,phooey!
Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts said "did you know that I am a Vietnam war hero".
Hero, yeah Ok. But that`s for the North.
John Kerry
I remember reading an email once about how much we give to the UN and how countries vote...Something like 70 to 90% of countries vote against the USA and we give the most money out of any country. I guess that`s why Kerry likes it.
Good Lord above.....
PLEASE,let's get the US out of the UN! 4 more years of W might do it!Let's hope....
bttt
The U.S. at the end of WW II was a socialist whiners club where all logic was suspended (putting Libya n charge of policing human rights), and income redistribution and meddling in the internal affairs of sovereign nations (global taxes, small arms distribution controls) were in vogue??
I just can't believe how much of a blowhard he sounds like....
Then and now.
Anyone who thinks Kerry is on the USA's side better think again.
He was a war hero as far back as 1999.
One wonders if a fuming war hero is any more effective than a level headed war hero?
What does that have to do with this story?
I can just picture this freak telling the reporter, "don't forget to mention that I am a war hero!"
Giving the UN money is comparable to giving monkeys machine guns with an infinate supply of ammunition. It's not really in your own best interest and the results are entirely predictable.
Actually, it is Kerry who is "inexcusable" -- then and now!
Why are we still part of this joke of a organization???
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