U.S. May Hold Back U.N. Funds over Probe
Some lawmakers are proposing that the U.S. hold back funds unless the U.N. turns over all Oil forThat second bit seems a bit hypocritical given our stance on the World Court, but on the surface the funding part seems reasonable. After all:
The measure would withhold 10 percent of U.S. contributions to the United Nations in fiscal year 2005, rising to 20 percent in 2006, unless the world body satisfied President Bush that it was cooperating with the congressional investigation.But wait, a U.S. investigator already has all of the documents:That could affect about $40 million in 2005, double that in 2006, Flake said....
The United States is the largest single donor to the United Nations' regular budget, excluding peacekeeping costs, paying 22 percent of a two-year budget pegged at $3.16 billion for 2004-2005.
Japan pays 20 percent and members of the European Union collectively pay more than 35 percent.
The United Nations has given all its records to Paul Volcker, the former Federal Reserve chairman, who is conducting a probe and does not want papers handed piecemeal to Congress that may endanger his investigation.Given the petty partisan politics and intelligence leaks that happen every day in congress, I have to agree with Volcker. Our headline-hungry politicians should cool their jets a little on this one.Volcker has said he intends to hand over oil-for-food documents to Congress early next year.
Blog post #4218 in category
United Nations
posted 6 December 04
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Tracked on December 7, 2004 6:48 AM