Good, Anna just solved the Un problem. It seems that since the corrupt oil for palaces program has been ended, the UN aren't interested in helping the Iraqi people out of misery.

Maybe it's time for the US to put that UN money to better use.

Good, Annan just solved the Un problem. It seems that since the corrupt oil for palaces program has been ended, the UN aren't interested in helping the Iraqi people out of misery.

Maybe it's time for the US to put that UN money to better use.

Sure beats answering questions about what the U.N. is doing to remove oil sanctions or release the Oil For Food money. Here's something from today's National Post editorial:

Then there is the UN's oil-for-food program. Since 1996, it has helped sell US$55-billion in Iraqi oil, but authorized just US$34-billion in aid shipments back into Iraq. The US$21-billion surplus is thought to be sitting in UN accounts, mostly in French banks. In 2002 alone, the UN is believed to have sold US$16-billion in oil, turned a blind eye to a further US$5.3-billion in illegal sales (the proceeds of which likely went into Saddam's pockets and those of his Russian and French oil brokers) and pocketed US$483-million in commissions in the process.

Read the rest at http://www.nationalpost.com/commentary/story.html?id=1A0962B5-368D-44B0-88D0-2B58D72A5AD3

Leave it to the U.N. to prove its irrelevance to world.

I just wonder if these people realise how much of their budget is provided by the U.S. And how much less of it will be in the near future.

What a coward! Try talking your b.s. somewhere besides New York, you morally bankrupt, spineless fop!

Actually, the US hasn't paid it's UN dues in years...........

Bubba, I believe you are mistaken. The US brought itself current over the last couple of years....

Plus the US finances most of the UN Programs. Time to close the purse strings

I wasn't aware that the US has brought itself current from last I checked (last year)

But notably, the UN would be fairly irrelevent if it wasn't for the US forces, and it's hardware.
What will it do, use French stuff?

Yuppers to Bubba - Croissants. They fly REALLY well, and soak up oil like you wouldn't believe.

The UN, its pathetic functionaries, its feeble-minded bureaucrats...what a freaking waste of time, money, or attention. Arrogance and irrelevancy make for a mildly interesting combination, worth all of two seconds time and two cents.

The USA foots 25% of the UN's budget. But yet we get the same vote as Syria or Lebenon. Basically the UN is a place where tyrants get a chance to try and stand up to the USA thru frivelous sanctions and blocking votes. And we pick up the paycheck.

Its time to spread the wealth, we cut our funding to the UN to what China or Russia pay or we leave totally and tell the UN to find another country. I say they move to Iraq and set up office. They are no longer worthy to enjoy american freedoms and luxury. Let them experience a truely desperate society everyday day in and day out when they wake up in the morning and look out their window.

The UN official is dead in the eyes of Americans.

your all wrong the last time america paid its un dues TED TURNER paid them....look it up if you dont believe it.....it is now time fellow americans to start a movement to make the un move....somewhere someone should start this up....but alas americans will bitch but there will be no such movement....the un is like a criminal gang of legal thugs...but there will be no protests in the street...nothing but bitching...why dont i do it? you ask....well keep your ears and eyes open i am seriously thinking about it........email me and help me ? come on everyone it starts with one person....

Herr... er, Monsieur... uh, Mr. Annan cannot lend legitimacy to the invasion of a peaceable member of the UN by the forces of evil... um, light... no, coalition, yeah that's it. by the forces of the coalition by actually listening to the people of said country.

What always amazes me is how little the world gives credit for US international assistance. Not just in funding a big chunk of the corrupt and inefficient UN, but also in various aid programmes - like the US was the major donor of food etc aid to the Afghans BRFORE 9/11.

The world hardly noticed when (if I heard him correctly) the President in this year's State of the Union address announce (I believe) 16 BILLION in a programme to try to tackle AIDS in Africa.

Here in Europe, we haven't had "aid" since the magnificent Marshall Plan put Europe back on its feet after WW2. (After the D-Day and Italian landings which had set Europe free, at heavy cost in American lives and money.)

But we in Europe have had the benefit of over 50 years of expensive military protection during the Cold War. And recently it required US power to sort out the Kosovo mess.

Yet much of the world bleats on about the US being a bully and ungenerous. It is a bunch of crap, and it is time the US started being more robust in its generosity. This means cutting the UN out of the loop as far as possible. US aid programmes should mostly be DIRECT aid, with strings such as a requirement for democracy, the rule of law, and no corrupt use of funds.

That way, what America gives becomes a much more open affair - and fully subject to Congressional audit. Not the present situation where US generosity is syphoned off into UN slush funds, high admin salaries, lush lifestyles in the beautiful cities the UN chooses for its agencies (NYC, Paris, Geneva etc) Have you any IDEA what a typical tax-free UN official can spend on "official" lunch or dinner in Geneva Old Town !!!) With no proper audit of most UN activities.

It is time the US got a tight financial grip on all this.

"He who pays the piper calls the tune"

abby normal:

You are sadly mistaken if you believe that the paltry $1 billion that Ted Turner paid (over the course of 10 years, and in AOL stock, by the way) in anywhere compares to the multiple billions that the US pays towards the UN.

http://www.nctimes.com/news/2001/20010208/r.html

US $925 mil 25% of total
Ted $34 mil

UN wants $500 mil MORE !

Hey, what about me? I want some too, and I'll settle for a meager $1mil...

so much aid and so many concessions that the countries have to make for it!

The US should completely withdraw all support and delegates from the UN, as well as repossess the real estate that they have been using in the US. Complete cut-off, with the statement to the rest of the world that the UN is no longer a recognized body.

Then see what happens as we go about the business of dealing directly with countries that need our help.

The problem with the UN is dictators and tyrants out number the Democracies. Essentially the nuts are in control of the asulym.

Thats why Cuba gets re-elected to the Human Rights Commish..........if you control the Commish how can you be investigated for Human rights violations?