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xchrom

(108,903 posts)
Tue Jan 31, 2012, 10:50 AM Jan 2012

U.S. claims to be pushing reform of U.N. bodies, but campaign smacks of intrigue, shady politics

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/eo20120130rb.html

SEATTLE — The country that has long been known to abuse its powers and privileges in the United Nations is now leading a campaign to reform the same organization. While U.N. reforms are welcomed, if not demanded, by many of its member states, there is little reason to believe the recent U.S. crusade is actually genuine.

Rather, it seems a clear attempt to stifle any semblance of democracy in the world's leading international institution.

Most American politicians actually despise the U.N.. While the Security Council is directed or tamed by the U.S. veto (often to shield the United States and its close ally Israel from any criticism), other U.N. bodies are not as easily intimidated.

When the U.N. education and science agency, UNESCO, accepted Palestine's bid for full membership last October, following a democratic vote by its members, the U.S. could do little do stall the process. Still, it immediately cut funding to the agency (about 20 percent of its total budget).
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U.S. claims to be pushing reform of U.N. bodies, but campaign smacks of intrigue, shady politics (Original Post) xchrom Jan 2012 OP
LOL. bemildred Jan 2012 #1
GASP! such a thing never occured to me. xchrom Jan 2012 #3
The United States maniupulating reform to benefit our big boots around the world? tsk, tsk. Jefferson23 Jan 2012 #2

bemildred

(90,061 posts)
1. LOL.
Tue Jan 31, 2012, 10:56 AM
Jan 2012

Oh come on, would we mis-represent our intentions? I suppose this is about "reform-capture", or the like, keeping as much power for ourselves as possible.

Jefferson23

(30,099 posts)
2. The United States maniupulating reform to benefit our big boots around the world? tsk, tsk.
Tue Jan 31, 2012, 11:01 AM
Jan 2012

From your OP:

MacDonald counseled for immediate addressing of the "issue of permanent membership and the use of the veto". He also recommended the granting of greater power to the General Assembly and eliminating the "imposed use of the U.S. dollar" in mediating U.N. transitional affairs.

MacDonald's guidelines for reforms are comprehensive, and rely on the concept of equality, guided by humanitarian and moral urgencies. The same can hardly be said of Washington's latest U.N. intrigues and shady politics. (end)

How I wish this would come true.

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