Posted on 06/16/2007 3:08:21 PM PDT by jedward
Where's one of the best places to learn about the United States? Let's take a visit to the US Department of State's website and see what we can find. When you first get to http://www.state.gov you are presented with the wonderful colors of Red White and Blue. It's very easy to immediately see that a great deal of effort has gone into this wonderful place of learning. So, back to the goal at hand, let's find the United States. From the homepage you see an option to click on "Regions" and listed under that heading is the "Western Hemisphere". That looks like the place to go, so let's click there. Now, at this point we are at the "Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs". Now along the left hand side we see a link for "Countries and Other Areas", so naturally we click there expecting to find the United States. We see many countries listed like Cuba, Venezuela, Columbia and even Mexico, but for some reason the United States is not listed.
Well, surely the webpage didn't load properly, so we refresh the page and scroll back down and it's still not there. At this point it's easy to say, I've missed something, so let's go back to the Homepage. Now, we click on "Countries" again from the Homepage and immediately see a "Counties A-Z" link. That's it, let's click there and stop all this searching. Ok, the A-Z list is showing now, we see Cuba, China, Venezuela, Iran, Syria and North Korea. We get to the U's and we don't see the United States. Maybe they called it America instead, so let's scroll up and look under the A's. The United States isn't listed there either. While wondering in confusion we see near the "A's" a link titled "Independent States of the World", not Countries, but States. So we click there and finally find the United States listed under the "U" section, only to my surprise there's no link on any of the "States" listed, just a name and number.
Last but not least, let's just go back to the Homepage and type "United States" in the search box and see what shows up first.
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US Department of State - Home Page
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Shown above is what we see. It gives us a link back to the Homepage, so that wasn't exactly helpful.
Let's play one more time. Let's start at the Homepage, Click on "Western Hemisphere". Now stop! Look at the second item on the left side, the one that says "U.S. and Organization of American States". Apparently the OAS (Organization of American States) can be spelled out, but not the United States, at least on the United State's Department of State's website anyway. So click on that link and look for the United States link next to the Organizations of American States. Or look below, and here's what we see:
The U.S. and the Organization of American States
--- OAS Background Information
--- Hemispheric Security
--- Organization of American States' Website
--- OAS General Assembly
--- Releases
Don't worry if your having trouble finding the United States listed above, because its not there.
You have found what the Department of State recognizes as your Country.
http://www.state.gov/countries/
http://www.state.gov/p/wha/ci/
http://www.state.gov/misc/list/index.htm
http://www.state.gov/p/wha/rt/oas/
So you don't see the United States, let's see what information is presented.
The U.S. Mission to the Organization of American States (OAS) is headed by Acting U.S. Permanent Representative J. Robert Manzanares. The OAS is the premier multilateral forum in the Western Hemisphere. Its 35 members are countries from North, South, and Central America, the Caribbean, and Canada. The charter of the OAS states that its basic objectives are to:
As a member of the OAS, the United States is committed to strengthening and working with the organization. This reflects the U.S. Government's determination to make optimal use of multilateral diplomacy to resolve regional problems and to engage its neighbors on topics of hemispheric concern.
Inter-American Democratic Charter
Remarks on the Occasion of the Special Meeting of the Permanent Council to Commemorate the Fifth Anniversary of the Adoption of the Inter-American Democratic Charter
The particulars of social and economic development are addressed through the commitments our leaders make at the Summits, and carried out through the Summits of the Americas process. That includes commitments to concrete, measurable actions, such as those which empower our people through property rights, remittances, and small business loans. The IDB’s new initiative, "Building Opportunity for the Majority," addresses these critical needs for the 40% of the people in the hemisphere who live on $3 a day or less, at the base of the pyramid.
Question: Is there an American Union? Answer: Yes, there is and always has been one as originally titled such back in 1890. Today, it's still an American Union, only it goes by a different name (see the "Established" below). That should end any questions regarding whether there is or isn't one. If there isn't, then the Department of State might want to consider including the United States as a Country in the Western Hemisphere some day.
May 30, 2007
Established: April 14, 1890, as the International Union of American Republics. Became the Pan American Union in 1910, then the Organization of American States in 1948 with the adoption of the OAS Charter in Bogotá, Colombia.
SPECIALIZED ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHER ENTITIES
Much important inter-American business is conducted by separate entities, some of which are independent, some fully or partially funded by the OAS, and others consisting simply of periodic hemispheric meetings which receive support from the OAS Secretariat. Subjects covered include agriculture, labor, copyrights, private international law, highways, ports and harbors, railways, telecommunications, health and sanitation, statistics, travel, child welfare, women's issues, Indian affairs, and tourism. The conferences are attended by high-level officials and technical experts to further inter-American cooperation in these fields.
The Inter-American Children's Institute (IIN) http://www.iin.oas.org
The Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM) http://www.oas.org/cim
The Inter-American Defense Board (IADB) http://www.iid.org
The IADB has as one of its principal organizations the Inter-American Defense College http://www.jid.org/en/college/
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) http://www.iidb.org
The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture (IICA) http://www.iica.int
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) http://www.paho.org
The Pan American Institute of Geography and History (PAIGH) http://www.igph.org
The Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) http://www.padf.org
Question: Is the 2007 Amnesty Bill a joke or a diversion of some kind? Answer: You should be able to answer that question by now...
Message to ALL Republicans & Democrats: Unless you're ok with the dissolution of the United States and your Country not even getting a link on the Department of State's web-site, then stopping this Immigration/Amnesty bill should be your priority right now. This is the first step in "We The People" meaning something again!
jedward
LOL
Fred Thompson is Chairman of Condoleeza Rice’s International Security Advisory Board in the State Dept.
Duncan Hunter is a Vietnam combat veteran. He was a member of the 173rd Airborne and 75th Army Rangers. He earned a Bronze Star and was Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, until the Democrat majority was voted in during the 2006 election. Congressman Hunter continues to work in the Armed Services Committee. Our nation’s defense and strength are his highest priorities—not special interests.
Perhaps you can pass this little suggestion along to your webmaster then. -- In the alphabetical list of countries, which by all indications is meant to include all countries, put the USA in as well. Create a real simple graphic map, like the ones for all the other countries, and put in a page of background information -- the same kind of stuff as in the other country background pages. Simple, non controversial stuff like the form of our government, the population, etc. Then when people from around the world end up at the State Department web site's country list they'll find the USA there too -- which will make them happy since they might want to learn about our country.
“LOL, a diplomat you ain’t, newbie.”
No, your exactly right. A diplomat I ain’t and you “diplomats” have done one hell of job running a great country into the ground. When you tell me you have 28 years in the State Department, I think, that’s not something I’d be running around and telling anyone.
“Because we are a member of OAS.”
I used your argument about the US not needing to be listed at all, and you still can’t even defend your original position. Your diplomat qualities are showing.
“No, are you?”
Go back and read, that was your original argument that you tripped all over.
“OAS is an international organization similar to NATO, the UN, etc. We are members of these multilateral organizations and have permanent representation with them. The only confusion seems to rest with you.”
THANK YOU!!! Now I encourage EVERYONE to read what you wrote there. If you support our bowing to the UN or any other world bodies, then I’ll gladly not bother posting to you, as you surely don’t “get it”.
Thanks HAL9000
No prob. The picture is so big, and we’re so far along, but I thought it would be enlightening to a few at least. Wasn’t intended to bring out any certain group.
That’s a good idea freeandfreezing.
“Our nation’s defense and strength are his highest priorities—not special interests.”
Then he’s got his priorities straight. Glad to hear it.
You get it! Yea!!! :)
I am proud of my service and the people who served with me, sometimes in dangerous and difficult circumstances. What have you done for God and country?
I used your argument about the US not needing to be listed at all, and you still can’t even defend your original position. Your diplomat qualities are showing.
Are you on drugs? The US is listed as a member of OAS. What is your problem?
If you support our bowing to the UN or any other world bodies, then I’ll gladly not bother posting to you, as you surely don’t “get it”.
We are not bowing to anyone. Our membership is voluntary and so is any compliance with any of the international organizations' rulings, determingations, etc. I still have a hard time understanding what your beef is. Your incoherent natterings are not worthy of my time. I provided you the answer to your questions twice. You seem to have a reading comprehension problem.
“You seem to have a reading comprehension problem.”
Sorry there Diplomat, but you’re the one who didn’t read anything before you started popping off at the mouth, and you got hammered for it.
Dangerous and difficult, yeah, I know your history.
“Are you on drugs? The US is listed as a member of OAS. What is your problem?”
You cannot read or defend you position. That’s not MY problem, but I’m definately dealing with its effects.
“I still have a hard time understanding what your beef is.”
Do you support Amnesty? If not, please tell me why.
This article is retarded. Only someone who knows absolutely nothing about the function of the State Department would go to that website to "learn about the United States". Try a library.
No, I don’t support amnesty. And you are madder than a March hare.
“This article is retarded.”
That seems to be the feeling of a decent handful for sure. You’re not alone.
“No, I don’t support amnesty. And you are madder than a March hare.”
The second part of my question was, “and if not, please tell me why?” Will you please tell me why you don’t support Amnesty. Just a simple answer and leave you be.
and leave = and I’ll leave
PING....
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