Republicans now seek to "reform" United Nations with new bill

[Bluebear]

UNITED NATIONS - A U.S. congressional committee has drafted a bill that threatens to withhold tens of millions of dollars in dues from the United Nations unless the world body conducts wide-ranging reforms, possibly setting the stage for a funding battle like the one that plunged the U.N. into financial crisis a decade ago.

The "United Nations Reform Act of 2005" targets a panoply of issues that have troubled critics of the United Nations, particularly Republicans, for years. Among other things, it would seek to cut funding for programs seen as useless and bar human rights violators from serving on U.N. human rights bodies.

The 80-page bill, from Illinois Republican Henry Hyde's House International Relations Committee, is still in an early form and has only recently been distributed to Democrats, who are likely to oppose several elements. It was sent to a few U.N. officials Thursday night, when a copy was obtained by The Associated Press.

One of the bill's most controversial proposals will be linking dues to the changes it spells out. The document stipulates that if the reforms are not carried out, Congress will withhold 50 percent of U.S. dues to the U.N. general budget, taking the money from programs it deems inefficient and wasteful.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050520/ap_on_go_co/un_reform

[LightningFlash]

1. Our government wouldn't dare....

That's a move that an empire would make. Reforming the United Nations? Since when does the United Nations, or its delagates, answer to the United States?

For that matter since when does it answer to a minority who pretend to be a majority? :wow:

[cornermouse]

2. U.N....United Nations, not United States Nations.

Also, republicans aren't doing a good job of running this country, now they've decided they want to run the world? I don't think so.

[DIKB]

3. bwahahaha

In THEIR twisted minds, they're doing a GREAT job. It's us who're dragging em down. Part of me is tempted to say "the hell with it. they want to take the country for a spin, let them wreck it." But the cost is just too high.

/sigh :shrug: :cry: :shrug: :cry: :shrug: What to do ?

[mcscajun]

4. "...bar human rights violators from serving on U.N. human rights bodies."

Well that should proved very interesting if the bill passes and the UN pays any heed to it. The US will wind up getting banned from "UN human rights bodies" because there are already a number of countries accusing the US of human rights violations.

"What fools these Republicans be." (apologies to that Will from Stratford-on-Avon.)

[Bluebear]

5. kick

[Toots]

6. It was because the Republicans defaulted in payment to UN that Ted Turner

and Jane Fonda gave one billion dollars with a B to the UN to try and make up for the US. It was to be one hundred million a year for ten years. Talk about humanitarian...

[Bluebear]

7. Oh, well, if Jane Fonda's name was attached to it...

...you can only imagine how hopping mad the RW is about it.

[Kerrytravelers]

8. "bar human rights violators"

Guess we wouldn't be allowed on any UN human rights bodies.