White House Nixes Withholding U.N. Dues

AP on Yahoo ^ | 6/15/05 | William C. Mann - AP

[Nemesis12]

I don't think anything will change. On top of the 22% of dues for UN budget the US forks out billions for foreign aid contracts that go through the UN. Its a huge number folks. Federal spending does not stop at the dues. I don't see a bill trying to stop that flow of funds.

[ImpotentRage]

George Bush has been the biggest disappointment of my votiing life. There are days I don't think my estimation of him can sink any lower...and then he pulls something else.

[rollo tomasi]

Will have to keep my eye on him. Could he get $$$ support from the Republican National Committee. It seems the RNC likes the potential McCain/Bush ticket for 2008.

[Spiff]

"The Constitution gives to Congress the power of the purse," he said in a statement. "We intend to exercise it in pursuit of meaningful U.N. reform."

Wow! A Republican with a spine. That's rare these days. Go Rep. Hyde!

[kabar]

Good cop, bad cop routine. Although the legislation will not pass, Bolton will use it as leverage to get UN reform.

[Donald Meaker]

Let me clarify. You do have the right to buy a radio station, if there is one for sale, and if you have the asking price. You do not have the right to free air time at someone elses expense. You do not have the right to have a radio station given to you.....

[Randy Papadoo]

Wow! Folks!

I agree the UN has dumped itself through the outhouse seat.

It is, however, all we've got.

There is a terrific political battle going on to confirm John Bolton as our UN Ambassador. Not paying our dues, or paying only half, will likely have the effect of marginalizing his clout (though the US seems to have little clout these days).

Bush is not letting go of Bolton, and the nuke hovers nearby as the Dims continue to filibuster.

We expect Bolton to go in there and be a rough cob. He needs impeccable credentials, which includes the US being a dues-paying member, in order to take on this much-needed effort.

It's not that I think Bolton is the one-man solution to the US problems with the UN. But I believe he will affect it in some very flagrant, public, and embarassing ways, calling a spade a spade every time he's able.

The UN is a sick place. If Bolton can't get the ball moving in the right direction, then that's the time to consider more dramatic options.

[NRA2BFree]

I grow more disgusted with W every day. Hate to say it, but the shrub didn't grow too far from the Bush (old man bush may be the biggest new world order supporter out there).

So do I. I'm so angry with him, it's hard to keep from saying what I really think about him these days. Suffice to say, he's not the man I thought he was. We've all been fooled by him!!

[swampfox98]

The Bush administration told Congress on Wednesday it opposes a bill to overhaul the way the United Nations works,

Yeah, he would. George, I mean.

[partridge thatcher]

There goes that "new tone in Washington" and "compassionate conservatism" again. Bites us in the ass every time.

Amen!

The Bush-Clinton Fund has raised about $12 million from Americans, he said, and Clinton planned to visit Kennebunkport this month.

I have long been suspicious of the Democrat's defense of the keeping the status quo going at the United Nations. W's opposition to the bill introduced by Representative Henry Hyde, which was approved today( June 17,2005, Thanks be to God, not Bush) by a vote of 221 to 184. The legislation would withhold $132 million in annual U.S. funds for the UN unless specific changes are carried out by 2007. Changes which merely demand normal open book accounting which any capitol producer must expect for any of their funds which are delegated to others, to insure that the funds are being used for what they are designated for.

Anyone who would even consider it at all ok for American tax payer's funds to not be openly accounted for, must be in on any abuse of those funds, which we already know for a fact have been stolen to the tune of literally billions of dollars by member of the UNited Nations under the guise of the 'oil for food program', directly stealing money meant for babes, the sick, and needy of Iraq.

Now 'anyone' not only includes the French, Germans, Russians and Kofi's immediate family, but the American Democrats, and now, George W. Bush. Why are the Bush family forsaking their supporters who are for the straight and upright, to keep company with the clintons and the united nations? Neither which have ever done the Bushes any good at all?

[Mr. Mojo]

(old man bush may be the biggest new world order supporter out there).

"It is the sacred principles enshrined in the UN Charter to which we will henceforth pledge our allegiance."

-- George Herbert Walker Bush, February 1, 1992, Speech at the UN

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

wonderful!!!
I am ready to take Neal Boortz' suggestion and vote Libertarian in the next election. Reason being even though I am not in favor of their postion on defense ( ie, no defense ) the Libertarians won't win anything but maybe that's what it will take for the Republicans to get the message!

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

I think yours is one of the most rational and plausible and best ideas yet.

[BADROTOFINGER]

Withholding one-half of the U.S. dues "would deal a great blow to our credibility in the U.N. system, and it would have ramifications for the reliability of the United States as a friend and partner to the countries that comprise the U.N," Burns said.

Huh?!?!? I would think that this sort of 'spanking' would re-establish our credibility to our spoiled child U.N....JFK

[Czar]

"Why are the Bush family forsaking their supporters who are for the straight and upright, to keep company with the clintons and the united nations?"

A question well worth asking about several issues, not the least of which is the Administration's stubborn refusal to enforce this country's existing immigration laws. In the meantime, we continue to be flooded with illegal aliens.