Posted on 03/25/2002 2:04:25 AM PST by JohnHuang2
With far more political acuity than critics expected, President George Bush disarmed world government proponents while promising more aid to developing nations. The U.N.'s High Level Panel on Financing Development concluded its four-day conference in Monterrey, Mexico, without explicit authorization for U.N. taxes on currency exchange, fossil fuels and a host of other tax targets.
The conference, publicized as a poverty-reducing initiative, was, in fact, another effort by the U.N. to gain taxing authority. Ernesto Zedillo, head of the U.N. panel, issued a report on June 28, calling for the new taxing authority. U.S. delegates to the conference made it clear that the U.S. would not support any document that included U.N. taxing authority.
The final "consensus" document was toned down substantially, and reference to taxing authority was removed. When the conference opened on March 18, however, delegates from Germany, Britain and other European countries tried to reinstate language to authorize global taxation. Again, U.S. delegates, with help from Japan, blocked the effort.
Then Vincente Fox, president of Mexico, renewed the call for U.N. taxing authority when he spoke to the delegates. The U.S. stood firm, and U.N. taxing authority was excluded from the final document.
Had Al Gore been elected president, the outcome would have likely been different. Gustave Speth, a member of the Clinton-Gore transition team who then was appointed head of the U.N. Development Program, was a strong advocate of U.N. taxing authority, and promoted the scheme during his U.N. tenure.
Bush did even more to confuse the world government crowd. He diffused the anticipated criticism of U.S. aid by announcing a sharp increase in foreign aid over the next three years. European nations made a similar commitment, leading conference officials to claim victory before the conference even convened.
When he spoke to the delegates on Friday, however, Bush made it clear that U.S. aid would no longer be poured down the U.N. rat-hole as it has been in the past. U.S. aid will be placed into a special "Millennium" account, not simply handed over to the U.N. The U.S., not the U.N., will establish the criteria that must be met by developing nations before receiving U.S. aid.
Bush told the delegates that no longer can poverty relief be measured simply by the amount donor nations give. The real measure of poverty relief must be based on the achievements produced by the aid.
Bush made it clear that U.S. aid will go only to countries whose governments exist with the consent of the citizens, that commit to open markets, and that promote the principles of freedom.
U.N. conferences are not accustomed to hearing this kind of talk from a U.S. president. Bill Clinton told the Millennium Summit in 2000 that the time had come for national sovereignty to take a back seat to U.N. activism. Bush invoked U.S. sovereignty by defining the conditions upon which U.S. aid will be granted. And he did it with a smile, and without confrontation.
Castro, on the other hand, spoke to the delegates in his usual "fatigues," with his usual dictatorial bluster, calling U.S. policies "economic genocide."
The Bush administration is clearly changing gears with its U.S. aid. U.S. aid will now be aimed at helping nations build the infrastructure to create wealth, rather than on programs that simply feed global poverty – and enrich those who administer the programs.
This change will not be welcomed by the U.N. bureaucracy, nor by the IMF, that is building a new $250 million palace in Washington to house its expanding bureaucracy in anticipation of becoming the chief administrator of anti-poverty wealth redistribution.
The U.N.'s quest for global taxing authority will not go away. Even though this effort has been thwarted, temporarily, the U.N. can be expected to continue its efforts to get out from under the control of the United States. The World Summit on Sustainable Development, which will convene in Johannesburg, South Africa, next August, will likely hear sharp criticism of the U.S., and more calls for financial independence for the U.N., among the many other agenda items.
For now, at least, the world has dodged a bullet, thanks to the Bush administration. Those who believe national sovereignty should be superior to any scheme of global governance cannot rest easy, but instead, must keep a vigilant eye on both the U.N., and the U.S. government. There are plenty of people in the U.S. who do not agree with Mr. Bush's determination to advance the principles of freedom.
ROFLMAO!!!
Have you heard of the Helms-Biden Legislation?
It pertains to "a no-growth budget for the UN". Transcript of Remarks by Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke, United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations, on Reform of the UN Scales of Assessment, at the Security Council Stake-Out, December 22, 2000
Ambassador Holbrooke: Oh, that is a very important point. Of course, Senator Biden's comments from this microphone last week were helpful because they indicated to the members of the UN that if the UN helped the U.S. he would lead the effort for the U.S. to help the UN more. However, we will not and cannot accept anything in a UN General Assembly resolution that binds the United States on the basis of what you called "conditionality" and you're using one of the code words in this building so you obviously know what I'm talking about. I'll just be very clear on this. That is against the Constitution and it is against the separation of powers and we cannot and will not accept it. And I think the membership understands that.
So, what has our President done? Obeyed the CONSTITUTION! WOW, AND YOU ARE COMMENDING HIM FOR THIS
However, look what he has done here the summit managed to extract a $5 billion increase in U.S. foreign aid over the next three years, OOPS! Where did the Constitution go?
I am PROUD that he hooked a slippery rope to the grant, "Bush administration officials say the money pledged by Bush will increase further in 2006 if recipient countries meet their part of the bargain, and prove that U.S. donations are not going into a bottomless pit. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/652886/posts?
But my question then is "what is considered a "bottomless pit" amongst politicians who didn't have to earn the money? We have watched our own federal government pour our money down too many boittomless pits, and continue to do so with shear disreguard for what the voters call for. So before you step in a pile of hot cow manure bragging about our President, please applaud the man when he does right but also be willing to criticize him when he doesn't.
If we don't criticize him, how will he know when he is doing "wrong", ie. amnesty for illegals.
When he spoke to the delegates on Friday, however, Bush made it clear that U.S. aid would no longer be poured down the U.N. rat-hole as it has been in the past. U.S. aid will be placed into a special "Millennium" account, not simply handed over to the U.N. The U.S., not the U.N., will establish the criteria that must be met by developing nations before receiving U.S. aid.
GW has proven to be an excellent politician!
My employer's rating standard is that if you do your job 100% right, 100% on time, and at or under budget you are average. It's sad when a president must be praised for doing the most obvious and fundamental parts of the job.
Regards
J.R.
Wobbly Jr. looks like Dopey in Snow White and the 7 Dwarves.
How's that? You happy now?
Seriously, you need to realize that Lamb is as big a Bushbot as anyone on FR. Notice how he says that Bush "made it clear that U.S. aid would not be poured down the U.N. rathole". Why didn't he quote the speech instead of trying to make it sound as though Bush used those very words? That sounds like tough talk, so all the 'bots can rave about what a tough talking "Texan" he is. What did he actually say? Lamb doesn't quote him so I don't know.
The US has one vote. Saying that the US won't vote for a UN taxing authority doesn't derail it forever. Pledging $5 billion in aid to emerging countries as a way of softening the blow of the opposition to a UN tax wasn't necessary at all. It's as easy to say "no" as it is to say "no, but I'll give you this instead". It isn't as though the UN has any authority over the US anyway.
OK,I gave you a little Bush bashing because I knew I was going to be accused of Bush bashing by not slobbering over his shoetops. Really, that's all it takes to be accused of bashing the boy.
PS, there have been many times the number of threads bashing Bush's critics than there have been bashing Bush. You've been on plenty of them yourself.
I could use some of that money in the "Millennium" account.
The President reaffirmed U.S. sovereignty. He firmly rejected the UN's global taxation plan. He announced strict new guidelines, independant of UN policies, for nations seeking U.S. aid. He made it clear our dollars we will no longer support nations who refuse to take positive steps to improve their country and help their people. This plain spoken, results oriented President represented us with determination and confidence minus arrogance. He served notice to corrupt regimes that our aid now comes with responsibility and accountability. Not once did he pander nor did he apologize for our prosperity and our quality of life.
You know, I feel certain the conference attendees Got It. Too bad the Bush Bashers aren't as bright. Sadly, they aren't able to grasp or acknowledge success when they see it. Besides, they'd so much rather sit on their behinds complaining rather than trying to help the President help our country.
The UN wants independance??? ... fine cut them off .. stop all checks and send them packing
BTW ... can I be Bushbot #2 fan ...
Providing aid to the citizen run governments will aid those who are progressing to democracies instead of paying for socialism and dictators to further their power.
Whoopee for Bush. This move puts control in our hands, furthers pro-Americanism, furthers citizen determined governments and takes the money away from the dictators and terrorist producing nations. More drying up of their funds.
He also took a stand against a global tax.
A Badge Of Honor that I wear with pride. We Bush Bots will not be silenced.
:-)
Actually, I only used the most popular names that Bush Bashers use to Bash our President. I could have come up with many more, if I had pulled up one of the countless Bashing threads that have been posted in the last ten days.
Y'all 'bots are mean. Don't expect me to bash for you any more. ;-)
Just one more way clintbilly sold us out. I may be unhappy with the President over CFR, but I'm THRILLED that he told the UN to put it where the sun don't shine - and, with a SMILE!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.