Friday, June 22, 2007

Taking a Stand against the United Nations

For several years now I've been a proponent of removing the United States from involvement with the United Nations. I see the organization as being a body that tries not to solve international problems through diplomacy and negotiation but as one that tries to become a governing body for the entire planet. I've also pointed out on numerous occasions how that the UN uses Israel as their "whipping boy" every time that the Israeli's do anything to defend themselves, blaming Israel for starting conflicts that have been brought to them by others.

Our world is by no means in a place for global governance. I doubt that it ever will be, given our cultural and social differences from country to country. Look at our own nation, if you need convincing. How many southerners are more than happy to "help a Yankee go home?" How many northerners look at southerners as being JUST like the Beverly Hillbilly's? California is referred to as "the left coast" because of their political views, not just because of their location on the map.

We DO NOT need to be as heavily involved in the United Nations as we are.

Mayhap our government is starting to realize this as well.

US House bars funding for UN rights council

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US House of Representatives moved to prohibit US funding of the UN Human Rights Council, derided by one member as a "poisonous talk shop," as part of a mammoth funding bill passed early Friday.

The United States has repeatedly expressed frustration with the council over its rules, targets for monitoring -- including US ally Israel -- and the way it conducts business.

The amendment, to a measure funding the State Department and US diplomacy, passed by unanimous voice vote, and prevents US funding for the overall United Nations budget from being used for the council's 15 million dollar annual operations.

"We were right to refuse to dignify that poisonous talk-shop with our membership, and we must refuse to support it with our tax dollars," said Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

"By pulling its membership from the broader UN General Assembly without any membership criteria, the council has gone further than its predecessor in giving gross human rights violators the power to shape the international human rights agenda," Ros-Lehtinen said.

The council, of which the United States is only an observer, was formed last year to replace the discredited UN Human Rights Commission.

The United States earlier this week said it was disappointed by new rules adopted by the Human Rights Council and accused the fledgling institution of denying its own members voting rights

The 47 members of the Geneva-based council agreed to continue scrutiny of Israel and sought the abolition of independent rights experts monitoring Cuba and Belarus.

The United States said it was also concerned about what it called "procedural irregularities" employed to deny council members the opportunity to vote on the agenda.

In a statement, Ros-Lehtinen's office faulted the council for failing to condemn genocide in Darfur, the "sprawling gulag of North Korea" and political and rights abuses in Cuba, Belarus, Myanmar and Zimbabwe.


I believe in giving proper credit where it's due. A big "Well Done" to the House of Representatives for this one. Thank you for doing the right thing.

Once and Always, an American Fighting Man

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