By Joseph A. Klein, CFP United Nations Columnist ——Bio and Archives--December 13, 2010
World News | CFP Comments | Reader Friendly | Subscribe | Email Us
I plan on using U.S. contributions to international organizations as leverage to press for real reform of those organizations, such as the United Nations.As for the Human Rights Council, which Rep. Ros-Lehtinen has described as an asylum run by the inmates, she will hopefully use her power to derail the Obama-supplied gravy train. The incoming House Foreign Affairs committee chairwoman has indicated as much when she warned that she would not hesitate “to call for withdrawal of U.S. funds to failed entities like the discredited Human Rights Council if improvements are not made.” Rep. Ros-Lehtinen knows a phony, corrupt organization when she sees one, which explains the “C” rating she received this year from an advocacy group that foolishly promotes U.S. engagement with and support for the UN. Thankfully, she will be replacing Democratic Rep. Howard Berman (Calif.),who got an “A-plus” from the same advocacy group. This is one marking system that makes an “F” the right grade to strive for. In a refreshing departure from the Obama policy of unconditional negotiations with the rogue state of Iran and kid glove treatment of Syria and North Korea, Rep. Ros-Lehtinen said:
My worldview is clear. Isolate and hold our enemies accountable, while supporting and strengthening our allies. I support strong sanctions and other penalties against those who aid violent extremists, brutalize their own people, and have time and time again rejected calls to behave as responsible nations. Rogue regimes never respond to anything less than hardball.Hopefully, with the Republicans in the majority in the House, Rep. Ros-Lehtinen will resubmit and successfully push through her UN Transparency, Accountability and Reform Act, which received the support of 106 co-sponsors in this Congressional session, all Republicans. This bill would withhold non-voluntary U.S. contributions to the regular budget of the United Nations unless the Secretary of State certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that 80 percent of the total regular budget of the United Nations is apportioned on a voluntary basis. It would also withhold non-voluntary U.S. contributions to any UN human rights treaty monitoring body or committee that was established by a convention or a covenant to which the United States is not party. Furthermore, the bill would withhold U.S. contributions to the United Nations Human Rights Council until the Secretary of State certifies to Congress that the Council does not include, for example, a member state subject to Security Council sanctions, a member state which the Secretary has determined is a government that has repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism or a member state which the president has designated as a country of particular concern for religious freedom. Aside from pressing for operational and budget reforms at the UN, the bill would the direct the president to use U.S. influence at the United Nations to combat anti-Semitism at the United Nations. Is that really so much to ask, or will Obama's love affair with the United Nations continue to blind him to reality? Finally, we will have an influential proponent for change at the United Nations that we can really believe in. Let's see whether the Democratic-controlled senate or President Obama will be foolish enough to resist.
View Comments
Joseph A. Klein is the author of Global Deception: The UN’s Stealth Assault on America’s Freedom.