"Ernest Darkoh saw early what was wrong with Africa. In Kenya, where he spent his teenage years, he watched as government mismanagement and corruption sometimes left his parents, both university professors, without paychecks for a month or more. Neighbors lived in abject poverty, and crime was a constant worry. When Darkoh was 19, a friend his age died at a local hospital because doctors, worried the boy might have AIDS, refused to treat him." Read More
Selected summary of United Nations related news and events
Annan Welcomes US Report on UN Reform
Virtual Game Offers Insight Into Refugee Experience
Arctic Natives: U.S. Warming Policy is Abuse
UN Aims to Launch Polio Campaign in Somalia
Effective UN is 'life-and-death' Matter For Many
in Developing Countries, Frechette Says
A sampling of United Nations related blog commentary
Next Left: "Found these Harper's Index factoids quite humbling: "Annual cost of all sixteen U.N. peacekeeping missions currently underway: $3,870,000,000 [United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations (N.Y.C.)]; Monthly cost of the U.S. occupation of Iraq: $4,100,000,000." That is annual vs. monthly cost."
Radio News America: "The "United Nations Reform Act of 2005" masquerades as a bill that will cut U.S. dues to the United Nations by 50 percent 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."
Stygius: "Steve Clemons is back from the McCain-Frist press conference. Mainly, it was just a political gambit to try and get the nomination moving, even though Frist won't say when he'll bring it to a vote. But there was nothing that was new in and of itself. Frist's line, supposedly bolstered by having McCain at his side, is that Democrats keep "moving the goal posts" on the information requests, which is stalling the vote. This is nonsense, of course; Democrats have actually been conceding territory over the past few weeks."
Talking Points Memo: "Given the central role of Ahmed Chalabi in 'unearthing' documents which triggered the UN oil-for-food scandal, can someone tell me why the New York Times still has Judith Miller covering the story? I'd actually like to follow what's happening in these investigations. But if you know any of the history of the last five years it's simply impossible to read Miller's articles on this subject and have any confidence that what you're reading is anything that, by any measure, can be considered the straight story."
Key Points to Remember about UN Reform Act of 2005:
- Would automatically stop payment of our annual dues to the United Nations
- At the inception of the United Nations, the U.S. made a legally binding promise to pay our share of UN dues.
- The U.S. is the biggest financial contributor to the United Nations, paying about 22 percent of the annual $2 billion general budget. Withholding dues would be a major roadblock to important UN reform programs.
- Bush Administration officials have voiced opposition to this legislation (see below)
- Break our promise to other nations of the world and to the UN.
- Limit the ability of our diplomats to achieve changes within the UN because it would undercut U.S. credibility.
- Lead to a huge debt to the UN and inhibit our ability to lead within the institution.
- Reinstating a 25 percent cap on U.S. contributions to UN peacekeeping missions despite the fact that Congress has voted since 2001 to pay our currently assessed share, which is now at 27.1 percent.
- Instituting a shortfall in funds needed to sustain troops on the ground
- Jeopardizing the newly authorized peacekeeping mission in Darfur, Sudan.
"Eight former U.S. ambassadors to the United Nations sent a letter on Tuesday urging congressional leaders to reject a bill that would link reform of the world body to payment of American dues, warning that the legislation could actually strengthen opponents of reform." More...
The Brookings Institution, June 14, 2005
Ann Florini, Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy Studies
"The extraordinary energy Congress has put into the fight over whether John Bolton should become the US ambassador to the United Nations may be wasted if a bill now before the House becomes law. The UN Reform Act of 2005, drafted by House International Relations Committee chair Henry Hyde, could ensure that neither Bolton nor any other US ambassador could do much to make the UN an effective instrument for US interests." Read the Editorial
A sampling of United Nations related blog commentary
Chrenkoff: "United Nations World Food Program reports that "a total of 19,196 mt of commodities (including High Energy Biscuits, wheat flour, vegetable oil and pea/wheat blend) have thus far been dispatched into Iraq under WFP's current emergency operation."
Daily Kos: "US to Iraq: Listen to the UN - The Bush administration, seeking to close the continuing rift between Shiite and dissident Sunni Arab leaders in Iraq, is enlisting Europe, the Arab world and the United Nations to pressure the Baghdad government to include minorities in the political process, administration and other diplomats say."
Charging RINO: "In order to make the United Nations an effective international institution as we move forward, this country must provide strong leadership and push for meaningful changes in the organization that will result in a more efficient, more useful, and more streamlined international response to events around the world."
Scrivener's Error: "According to today's NYT, a Congressionally mandated panel will report this week that the United Nations suffers from poor management, "dismal" staff morale and lack of accountability and professional ethics but will acknowledge the broad changes proposed for the organization by Secretary General Kofi Annan and urge the United States to support them."
Selected summary of United Nations related news and events
The Debate's Over: Globe is Warming
U.S. Panel's Report Criticizes U.N. and Proposes Overhaul
Funding For Africa Could 'Answer Prayers'
Rwandan Hutus 'forced back home'
Wildlife crime: On the trail of a Killer
Afghan Government Begins Disbanding of Illegal Armed Groups
Vietnam Refugees Get Snowy Home
"Charity now begins at your home computer. A new on-line video game that shows players how helping starving people can be exciting has attracted more than one million downloads from China to Canada.
The free game, Food Force, puts players behind the wheel of a United Nations food truck navigating its way through minefields or at the back of an airplane unloading food sacks in gusty conditions. The stakes are high -- if you make mistakes, starving people will die." Link