GOP Lawmakers Target United Nations: ‘Unaccountable, Unreformed’
- Posted on January 25, 2011 at 7:24am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Newly empowered Republican lawmakers are taking their first shots at the United Nations, depicting it as bloated and ineffective as they seek to cut government funding for it.
On Tuesday, a House of Representatives panel will air criticisms of the organization in a briefing that will prescribe congressional action.
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who will preside over the briefing as chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs committee, is seeking cuts and has introduced a bill intended to pressure the United Nations to change the way it operates and to make dues voluntary. She also is promising investigations into possible corruption and mismanagement.
“The fact that the U.S. continues to contribute billions of taxpayer dollars every year to an unaccountable, unreformed U.N. is no laughing matter,” Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., said in a statement Friday.
Congress at various times has withheld funding from the world organization, but last year, under Democratic leadership in both the House and the Senate, the United States paid its dues in full as well as some back dues.
The United States is the largest single contributor to the U.N., responsible for 22 percent of its regular budget and 27 percent of its peacekeeping operations.
Tuesday’s briefing comes as Republicans are pressing for broad spending cuts as they seek to balance the budget. Where cuts should be made will be a major issue as President Barack Obama appears before Congress several hours later to deliver his annual State of the Union address.
The United Nations has long been a target for conservative lawmakers. Investigations by Republican-led congressional panels in the last decade helped spur an independent investigation into the U.N.-run oil-for-food program in Iraq.
Peter Yeo, executive director of the Better World Campaign, which advocates U.S. support for the United Nations, said he expects Tuesday’s briefing will be the “beginning of a long examination” by congressional Republicans. But Yeo, who will appear before the panel, said he hopes to convince lawmakers that the United Nations is a good bargain for the United States.
“The U.N. serves our interest in a cost-effective way to promote global security,” he said.
He also pointed to U.N. changes already carried out, including creation of an ethics office in 2006.
It is unclear whether the Republican critiques will lead to cuts in the U.S. contribution. Ros-Lehtinen’s bill probably would face resistance in the Democrat-controlled Senate and from the Obama administration.
U.N. dues must be financed through annual spending plans that are subject to approval by both the House and Senate.
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Comments (135)
santramir
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 8:25amif america’s birth among the 17th century europes monarchy absolutism was a real miracle, it is needed a second even bigger one to revive it now among the 21st global chosen elites absooute tirany
Report Post »Satyr
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 8:14amWOOOOHOOOO!! Get rid of that abomination and governmental head of the NWO!!
Report Post »dizzyinthedark
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 8:14amThe UN is a good bargain for the United States?! What the F! We pay the UN more than anyone that belongs–huh? How is it THEY are a bargain for us?! Oh yeah, that’s right, they think we are the stoopid ones! Just sit down and shut up–right! You know better for us sheeple–right! We’re the cows?! I DON’T THINK SO!
Barry Soetoro (that’s your real name on your birth certificate, not Barrack Hussein Obama) I want you to tell the UN to step off, get out of our country, no more of our $$’s.
Report Post »Rogue
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 10:45amWhat?!?! You’ve actually seen a real birth certificate?!?!??!
Report Post »Sinclare
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 8:12amFinally, cut all funding and stop giving our (borrowed) money to them. Everyone knows they would stab us in the back in a heart beat as it is (they do it over and over). Time to cut the head off the snake in our own back yard.
Report Post »Tusker00
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 8:07amI’ve got an idea. Dismantle the U.N . in Manhatten and set it up in Haiti. They could use the revenue and we would get back some very valuable property!
Report Post »chickster
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 7:57amshiver me timbers!! now we’re talking. don’y just give idea lip service, kick them out of the country.then we can stop paying rent also.
Report Post »OlefromMN
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 7:57amI had to check my calandar 3 times. I knew it was the 25th, but when I read this I thought I had jumped ahead a month. I have asked for defunding of the waste of office space known as the UN each and every Christmas.
Maybe Santa does exist?
Report Post »gr8photoman
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 7:53amNot just yes but HELL YES!!
Report Post »jeffro314
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 7:48amneed to fix our own house before we start calling other institutions bloated and ineffective…
Report Post »historyguy48
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 7:56amOh yea, we know all about how Washingtonogad is bloated. The cuts need to be deep. So far the only talk has been a very minor scratch one that you woukdn’t even know you have. Somerwhere over 90% of the departments etc, will have to go if we are to survive.
Report Post »ronmorgen
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 7:46amIt’s my money they are throwing away on the UN. I say stop giving them money and let us spend it on our buisness. At least it wouldn’t get spent infecting Haitians with cholora or raping Christians in African refugee camps.
Report Post »BlueCollared
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 7:45amJust say no, to the u.n.
Report Post »The Patriot
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 7:42amTime to kick them out! they use they diplomatic powers to commit crimes and not have to pay for (I have diplomatic immunity officer)
Report Post »joeliberty
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 7:41amWhy don’t they kick them off our soil too!
Report Post »chdorb
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 7:41amCut the funding and GET US OUT!
Report Post »FirefighterWife26
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 7:39amFinally !!! This one is a no brainer in my opinion and a pleasant surprise of a good place to start. The UN is a money pit to nothingness. Your right about that Historyguy48 Crooks !!
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 7:35amYou go boys! It’s time we stop footing the bill for this anti-American organization.
Report Post »jeff29910
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 7:35amLong over-due.
Report Post »kschmud
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 7:34amBravo! There is no point to this organization any longer. It is ineffective, hypocritical, and corrupt.
Report Post »bennoba
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 7:34amClose the UN and turn it into condos.
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 7:34amWhile they’re at it, they need to defund NASA’s website on global lying to children. Send the UN packing and find something useful for the building, like condos.
Report Post »River0
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 7:33amExcellent. It’s about time. But we’ve heard this before; since 1970 at least. Probably nothing will come of it. It’s been corrupt at its core for many decades. The UN has far too much Satanic power. Like Dracula, it lives on, neither dead or truly alive… like a disease.
Report Post »mcpbob
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 7:32amIf the U.N. did its job, North Korea would not have nukes, Iran would not have nukes, there would have been no IRAQ WAR, … food for oil scam, rape in africa scams, they give a platform for Hugo and that Iran ***** to spew their hate….. defund now
Report Post »NickDeringer
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 7:32amThe UN needs to relocate to the EU where it belongs. It is an anti-American, anti-Israel, pro-terrorist organization so they will feel right at home there.
Report Post »Lord_Frostwind
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 7:23pmMy thoughts, kick them out, then convert the building into a veterans hospital. They‘ve been doing the UN’s job since it was formed, so they deserve the building.
Report Post »mcpbob
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 7:29amWOW, thank God… finally,…. change you can really believe in… this is way over due… the U.N. is nothing but a fraud… defund it NOW….. i’m very happy about this… it is a good start….
Report Post »RightUnite
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 7:41amAgreed!
Report Post »Ironmaan
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 7:50amThe goal of those in the U.N are to weaken U.S. sovereighty. Defund now!
Report Post »http://guerillatics.com
beebacksoon
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 8:32amObama still uses the UN when all else fails. For instance, getting support from UN against the AZ immigration law (SB1070), for possible human rights violations.
Report Post »Not only do we need to investigate the UN, we need to investigate every country we’ve send humanitary, or military funding to, including Haiti, and Afghanistan! Someone, within the US. needs to be in total control of where every penny goes!
BoilitDown
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 8:37am@McPBob
Report Post »Ditto on your comment. With the abundance of chronicled corruption within the UN it is unthinkable that we have been supportive at all except as a matter of self defense. Just pay the basic dues so as to have the right to stand up for the United States.
mikelivi
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 11:41amThe UN has never done ANYTHING for the United States of America, NEVER! Throw them out!
Report Post »historyguy48
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 7:27amHere is a good place to start cutting back. A bunch of crooks taking up space in Manhatten.
Report Post »geminisailor
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 7:32amThe US gives BILLIIONS to this farcical orgainzation, only to provide them a forum for the rest of the world to rant against on our own soil.
It is not the United Nations. It is the UNITED NATIONS AGAINST THE UNITED STATES.
Report Post »ruapt
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 7:42ami say we cut our contributions to the UN by 90% to equal the amount of support they give us…
or is that still too high?
Report Post »1911a1
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 7:49amAmen , Kick Them Out!
Report Post »Ironmaan
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 7:49amIts about time someone does something about this corrupt institution. The U.S. should have nothing to do with it as one of its goals seems to be removing any and all sovereignty the U.S. has left.
Report Post »http://guerillatics.com
Dustyluv
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 7:51amI think we should demolish the building and tell everyone to leave forever…Bring our Troops home and let the world fend for itself unless they want to pay us for their defense. We could bring our troops here to ship all the illegals back to their homeland, secure our borders and beat the crap out of anyone who messes with us…That’s my idea of a new world order!
Report Post »Creestof
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 7:53amThrow them out and sell the property. I hear there is some space available where a mosque was once to be built…MuHAHAHAAHAAhaahhaAhaAahaahah
Report Post »streetrodder
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 7:56amruapt Still to high We should’nt give them anything This country is broke. Through the UN out.
Report Post »AzDebi
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 8:10am“She also is promising investigations into possible corruption and mismanagement.” YOU THINK?
Report Post »tower7femacamp
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 8:30amanyone know who owns the property that the UN in NY resides ?
Report Post »mikem1969
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 8:43amFinally they are going after the UN. Get the US out of the UN would be the best place to start.
Report Post »exdem
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 8:43amHillary Commie Clinton is pushing a “small arms treaty” through the UN so our guns will be taken away on a global scale. Get rid of the UN before they help the dictators take our freedoms away and we live in the New World Order of Communism. To the Progressives its a matter of so called “FAIRNESS”. How many times will we hear that word in the SOTU propaganda speech tonight?
Report Post »thunder4570
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 8:43amNObama will not let them close the UN, that is his goal to be head of the UN that is why he is kissing up to all of these different tyrants!
You heard it here first, So when the rest of the world figures it out I want full credit!
Report Post »Secret Squirrel
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 8:54am“He also pointed to U.N. changes already carried out, including creation of an ethics office in 2006.”
Report Post »_________________________________________________________________________________
Stop the presses. The UN created another office. Too bad it won’t do anything about the crooks there.
I’d cut them right out of the U.S.
How about a new location where they can help the country…..Somalia? Sudan?
chazman
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 9:34amYeah, I think it’s time Belgium takes over … in BELGIUM! Ahhh … to live long enough to see this building implode, falling to the ground in a huge plume of dust!! That will be a great day for America!
Report Post »Stuck_in_CA
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 9:34amThe old slogan, “Get the U.N. out of the U.S.”, applies here. PLEASE Congress, save us from these NWO socialists!!!
Report Post »Jackers
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 9:56amIt’s about time…
Report Post »Rogue
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 10:40amLimit our funding to 100 reams of paper and two typwriters. That should be plenty to cover all the strongly worded UN Resolutions. If they want money, we can evenly divide the total operating costs among all nations that wish to participate and pay our fair share, I have no problem with that…. oh, minus UN facility rent fees and NY property taxes. I think we will be getting a refund every year!
Report Post »Snowleopard the artist {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 11:32amIs there any way we could get the land the UN is sitting upon back? Then condemn the entirity of the structure and turn it into a new park or art museum? Something that at least would have some lasting value to it.
Report Post »nzkiwi
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 11:56amIt is simply a VIP lounge for thieves and murderers.
The 2.2 billion that the UN got controlom the “oil for food” scandal simply disappeared. Kofi Annan had control of that with no accounting and no oversight. And its gone.
Report Post »NJONY
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 12:32pmI would like to see all the funding cut. We have given billions and what do we have to show for it_Nothing. The UN another Democratic_Harry Truman idea that has failed. Our founders did not want us encumbered with other nations. I say stop the madness by not only cutting the UN’s budget but also aid to other foreign countries that hate us.
Report Post »Disabledvet
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 12:36pmI agree with historyguy48, these people use or buildings and our security at large cost to the tax payer, yet everytime we need their help on a vote they vote the other way, why don’t we tell the UN to move to switzerland, and get rid of that cost on us, also any country that we send help to that does not vote how we need them to vote, cut off all aid and save money there, countries that do not want our military in their homeland no problem we pack up and leave, bring our troops home and put them on our boarders with shoot to kill orders, come legally or don’t come at all. when a country needs us to come fight a war for us, they need to foot the bill, if you can’t pay we trade for oil, the UN and others are a good place to start saving money Kick them out.
Report Post »JD Carp
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 12:46pmClose this place down, throw these thieves out of the country, fumigate the place, turn it over to Trump so he can make it profitable and pay taxes on it to save New York’s economic mess.
Report Post »Sergio Q
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 1:38pmOoohhhh I see this goin’ noplace as long as king obama ,islam’s best friend in America has power.
The UMN ought be told to pack there bags and move to a ****-tree they approve of !!!!!
, and as far as cost & expenses ; -is the cost of NYC’s PoliceDept included in the UMN Dues? , how about the FireDept. , several other Law Enforcement , Security , Special Units & US Military (all on hair-trigger stand by!) ,included in our dues?? ~HECK NO IT AINT !!!~
Report Post »…Who the farken-haydeez is this Peter Yeo clown anyhooo??
( I would luv luv luv to know who gives the funding for the “Better World Campaign”?…. sounds like somethin’ “Spooky Dude” would help fund.)
….Somebody ought to tell Peter that it seems the UMN’s 2006 Ethics Office just forgot to put the periods in the word ethics , its correct spellig is: “E.T.H.I.C.S. OFFICE” ~translation~ ; Everybody Together Help In Concealing Scams Office.
**************************************************************************************************************
FOR THE RECORD:
If you noticed I posted UMN rather than UN , thats not a 2 key-stroke oopsy! , its the proper initials ,that ought be used for the new and improved United Nations …UNM stands for;
“United Muslam Nations”
(I double-dog dare anybody to call me wrong on either U.M.N. ~or~ E.T.H.I.C.S. !)
watchtheotherhand
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 7:51pmTOWER7@……………..John D. Rockefeller donated the land for the UN to be built and completed in 1952 in the Turtle Bay area of Manhattan. The UN budget will never be cut because the very powerful men (bankers) who own this country are using it to slowly erode our sovereignty and will use it to springboard into a world government they are all gunning for at record pace now !!!!!
Report Post »Miguelito
Posted on January 26, 2011 at 8:41amSend UN somewhere else…it is useless!
Report Post »GRuss
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 11:58pmThe United Nations needs to be defunded and evicted from the United States..
Report Post »