Give Koffi a tin cup .... Congress does the right thing.

© 2005 WorldNetDaily.com

Congress sent a powerful message to the United Nations today, voting to cut funds by half if the world body does not meet a list of demands for substantial change in its performance and behavior.

The bill passed 221-184 despite the Bush aministration's warning that a funding cut actually could hamper reform. The U.S. dues make up 22 percent of the U.N.'s $2 billion annual general budget.

Rep. Henry Hyde, R-Ill., the author of the legislation, said persuasion is not enough to spur changes.

"We have had enough waivers, enough resolutions, enough statements," said Hyde, chairman of the House International Relations Committee. "It's time we had some teeth in reform."

Hyde and other lawmakers listed complaints such as coddling of rogue regimes; a bias against America and Israel; irresponsible spending; scandals such as the oil-for-food program and sexual abuse by peacekeepers; and human rights abusers sitting on the U.N. Commission on Human Rights.

Failure to comply with the demands would result in withholding half of U.S. dues to the general budget and a refusal to support expanded and new peacekeeping missions.

Among the 39 reforms sought, according to the Associated Press, are slashing the public information budget by 20 percent; establishing an independent oversight board and an ethics office; and barring countries that violate human rights from serving on human rights commissions.

The secretary of state must certify that 32 of those reforms are met by September 2007 and all 39 by the next year.

The administration argued it was actively engaged in U.N. reform, and the Hyde bill "could detract from and undermine our efforts."

Eight former U.S. ambassadors to the United Nations also opposed the legislation, including Madeleine Albright and Jeane Kirkpatrick, who was appointed by President Reagan.

The former diplomats said withholding of dues would "create resentment, build animosity and actually strengthen opponents of reform."...Read the rest.

Weeeeellllll.... it's about friggen time!!! I'm personally tired of having my tax dollars being wasted to support a corrupt institution that currently shows no hope of reform, and this looks like a carrot-and-stick approach that may actually work. What I can't understand is the recalcitrance of the Bush administration, who wants John Bolton for the same reasons enumerated in the above congressional proposal. It is my hope that this is a "good cop-bad cop" strategy, with Congress, who controls the purse strings, playing the role of the bad cop. I am anxious to see how this plays out.

Congressman Henry Hyde provides a great balance in Illinois politics with the likes of Dick "Osama bin" Durbin. Too bad he'll be retiring at the next election cycle.