White House Nixes Withholding U.N. Dues

[maddezmom]

By WILLIAM C. MANN, Associated Press Writer
39 minutes ago



WASHINGTON - The Bush administration told Congress on Wednesday it opposes a bill to overhaul the way the United Nations works, citing a requirement the U.S. withhold dues if the organization fails to make changes.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Henry Hyde (news, bio, voting record), chairman of the House International Relations Committee, was to be debated by the House on Thursday.

Hyde, R-Ill., said he was not surprised by the administration opposition, but promised to push back.

"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."

Hyde's bill would require the U.S. to withhold up to 50 percent of U.S. dues if the United Nations failed to put in place specific changes.

~snip~
more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050615/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_un_reform/nc:693;_

More bs posturing by the WH. :eyes:

[stepnw1f]

1. Image Problem, George?

Your perception is wearing veryyyyy thin these days, so lose the bullshit tough-guy attitude and step down.

[Supersedeas]

10. which way does the Unilateral Boy George turn

[meganmonkey]

2. And there is much more to this legislation than $$

I wonder if the administration has a different plan to implement the changes. This legislation is scary neo-con new world order shit, and notice it is a Republican talking about it:

NeoCon Global Government

Ron Paul{R} TX

June 13, 2005

"This week Congress will vote on a bill to expand the power of the United Nations beyond the dreams of even the most ardent left-wing, one-world globalists. But this time the UN power grabbers aren’t European liberals; they are American neo-conservatives, who plan to use the UN to implement their own brand of world government.

The “United Nations Reform Act of 2005” masquerades as a bill that will cut US dues to the United Nations by 50% if that organization does not complete a list of 39 reforms. On the surface any measure that threatens to cut funding to the United Nations seems very attractive, but do not be fooled: in this case reform “success” will be worse than failure. The problem is in the supposed reforms themselves-- specifically in the policy changes this bill mandates.

The proposed legislation opens the door for the United Nations to routinely become involved in matters that have never been part of its charter. Specifically, the legislation redefines terrorism very broadly for the UN’s official purposes-- and charges it to take action on behalf of both governments and international organizations.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1855763

[ElectroPrincess]

3. The only thing holding it back is the confirmation of Bolton ...

This is big: No matter what, if we value freedom and peace throughout the world some day in our planet's future, we must FORCE our Democratic Leaders to NOT allow this dangerous man, John "Yosemite Sam" Bolton, to be confirmed by the Senate.

http://www.barbneal.com/wav/ltunes/yosemite/Sam42.wav

[merwin]

4. So, he wants Bolton in there so he can 'reform' the UN, but he doesn't

want to overhaul the way the UN works. Uh-huh. Sure.

[Karenina]

5. How very WHITE of them!

:-)

[Rex]

6. It's nice when they eat each other!

The BFEE has it's own agenda for the UN.

[Robbien]

7. NYT: White House Tries to Halt G.O.P. Effort to Withhold U.N. Dues

WASHINGTON, June 15 - The Bush administration moved on Wednesday to confront the Republican leadership in the House by opposing a bill that would withhold half the American dues to the United Nations unless it enacted several budget and management changes.

. . .

State Department officials formally conveyed the administration's opposition to withholding dues to Capitol Hill on Wednesday, one day ahead of a scheduled House vote on the measure, which is popular among conservatives. The bill, backed by the House speaker, J. Dennis Hastert, is considered likely to pass but its prospects are less certain in the Senate in light of outright administration opposition.

. . .

Representative Henry J. Hyde, an Illinois Republican and chairman of the House International Relations Committee, said that he was not surprised by the administration's opposition but that he was not persuaded. "The Constitution gives to Congress the power of the purse, and we intend to exercise it in pursuit of meaningful U.N. reform," a spokesman quoted him as saying.

State Department officials say they fear that the provision, if it becomes law, will return the United States to the position it was in when dues were withheld in the 1990's and Washington lost considerable credibility among its United Nations allies.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/16/politics/16diplo.html

[Eloriel]

8. I smell a ruse, a feint

Or maybe I'm just too cynical for my own good.

Or was Lily Tomlin right: No matter how cynical I get, I just can't keep up?

:shrug:

Meanwhile, let me post this just in case anyone missed it. I think it's the reason they want John Bolton:

*** Ron Paul{R} TX :"Neocon Global Govt"
(New World Order)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1855763&mesg_id=1855763
U.N. REform Act - Ron Paul column:
NeoCon Global Government
http://www.house.gov/paul/tst/tst2005/tst061305.htm

[shanti]

9. oh no

i smell it too.