GOP Eyes U.N. for Budget Cuts

The UN is an institution that long ago outlived its usefulness. The concept of a world governing body is so attractive to government types both left and center that its perpetuation has lingered in the forlorn hope that it can someday be something other that a kleptocracy for third world politicians. A comparatively long period did occur where the US refused to pay its exorbitant "dues" in an effort to bring about reform. This of course was not the result. We managed to cut our "dues" for 33% of the UN's budget to 22%. In spite of our critical role as fiancer of the UN, it continues to be the platform for the anti-American Left throughout the world. Congress has begun to cut the funds being send into the black hole that is the UN budget.

Republicans in Congress moved yesterday to cut U.S. contributions to the United Nations budget just one day before the world body is scheduled to lift a budget cap imposed by the United States and other donors and to resume spending as usual.

At least $17 million has been sliced this week from the Bush administration's appropriations request for the U.N. regular budget, as frustration with the United Nations continues to fester among conservative lawmakers.

Rep. Scott Garrett, New Jersey Republican, yesterday won approval in a House subcommittee to cut $2 million from the U.S. contribution to the U.N. budget, saying that taxpayer money should not be used to lobby the U.S. government.

He was referring to a recent speech by Deputy Secretary-General Mark Malloch Brown, who told two left-leaning think tanks, the Center for American Progress and the Century Foundation, that Washington should do more to defend the international organization in public.

Like the adolescent child who wants money from his parents but complains when they wish to know what he is to do with it, so the kleptocrats at the UN are telling the US government to crack down on the critics of the institution like they do in their own countries. Congress continues to hope for reform, but the organization is beyond that. I can think of no place the UN has taken to solving problems that the problem didn't get worse. I say cut it off completely and let it bleed to death.



UN politics