U.S. wins court battle against U.N court

[metal_minx]

neener, neener...we don't have to do what they say. we're exempt from war crimes for a year, we all know it will be more. can the UN actually take itself seriously anymore? they can't even get the US to pay its debts much less be held accountable to any violations of the world court.
so much for equality under the law...
click here for story

 

[mbb308]

US & UN

Why do they bother with the US? Because the US is expected to foot the bills.

And why does the US put up with the UN? Many UN resolutions violate the US Bill of Rights. US membership in the UN may cease to be relevant as it spirals out of control into another League of Nations.

It mat be time the UN looked at relocating - maybe to another planet.

 

[metal_minx]

the UN will never be able to stand on its own apart fromt the US so they have to bend over and take it.

 

[lavender]

 

[metal_minx]

the US doesn't even pay its own debts to the UN, how can they be footing all the bills?

 

[KillerMuffin]

The US didn't win. The US won a reprieve. It's only a 12 month exemption, not the eternal one Bush is bucking for.

All they have to do is keep granting extensions and making larger and larger stinks about it until a Democrat gets in office. Then the US "won" business will be all over.

And think of it this way. We keep cutting the funding to our military, spending more on R&D and less and less on training, and allowing the equipage infrastructure to continue to rot as it has been. More and more "accidents" like the one involving the Afghanistan wedding party will happen. And you know what? That's a "war crime." And the US will be prosecuted for it. Should we be? I'm asking Americans, not non-Americans. Obviously reparations must be made and the way the military operates must be changed. But do we need prosecution?

 

[p_p_man]

Re: US & UN

It mat be time the UN looked at relocating - maybe to another planet.

You don't seem to know too much about the United Nations.

To help you, here's a list of capitals where it has permanant offices.

United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) - New York

Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) (Preparatory Commision) - Vienna, Austria

Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) - Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) - Geneva, Switzerland

Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) - Santiago, Chile

Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) - Bangkok, Thailand

Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) - Beirut, Lebanon

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) - Rome, Italy

Global Programme on Globalization, Liberalization and Sustainable Human Development - Geneva, Switzerland [UNCTAD-UNDP]

High Level Comittee on Management (HLCM) - Geneva, Switzerland

High Level Comittee on Programmes (HLCP) - Geneva, Switzerland

Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN) - Nairobi, Kenya [OCHA]

Inter-Agency Meeting on Sustainable Development (IAMSD) (former IACSD) - New York, USA

Inter-Agency Network on Women and Gender Equality (IANWGE) (former IACWGE) - New York, USA

Inter-Agency Procurement Services Office (IAPSO) - Copenhagen, Denmark

Inter-Agency Working Group on Evaluation (IAWG) - New York, USA

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) - Vienna, Austria

International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) - Washington, USA [World Bank Group]

International Bureau of Education (IBE) - Geneva, Switzerland [UNESCO]

International Centre for Science and High Technology (ICS) - Trieste, Italy [UNIDO]

International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) - Washington, USA [World Bank Group]

Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) - Trieste, Italy [UNESCO/IAEA]

International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) - Montreal, Canada

International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) - New York, USA

International Computing Centre (ICC) - Geneva, Switzerland

International Court of Justice (ICJ) - The Hague, The Netherlands

International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) - The Hague, The Netherlands

International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) - Arusha, Tanzania

International Development Association (IDA) - Washington, USA [World Bank Group]

International Finance Corporation (IFC) - Washington, USA [World Bank Group]

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) - Rome, Italy

International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP) - Paris, France [UNESCO]

International Institute on Ageing (INIA) - Valetta, Malta

International Labour Organization (ILO) - Geneva, Switzerland

International Maritime Organization (IMO) - London, UK

International Monetary Fund (IMF) - Washington, USA

International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW) - Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

International Seabed Authority (ISA) - Kingston, Jamaica

International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) - Geneva, Switzerland

International Telecommunication Union (ITU) - Geneva, Switzerland

International Trade Centre (ITC) - Geneva, Switzerland [UNCTAD/WTO]

International Training Centre of the ILO (ITC/ILO) - Turin, Italy

Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) - Geneva, Switzerland

Joint Inter-Agency Meeting on Computer-Assisted Translation and Terminology (JIAMCATT) - Geneva, Switzerland

Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) - Geneva, Switzerland

Media and Peace Institute (University for peace) - Paris, France

Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) - Washington, USA [World Bank Group]

Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) - Geneva, Switzerland

Office for Outer Space Affairs (OOSA) - Vienna, Austria

Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) - The Hague, The Netherlands

Panel of External Auditors of the United Nations, the Specialized Agencies and the International Atomic Energy Agency - New York, USA

ReliefWeb - Geneva, Switzerland [OCHA]

United Nations (UN) - New York, USA

United Nations Atlas of the Oceans - Washington, USA

United Nations Board of Auditors - New York, USA

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) - New York, USA

United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) - Vienna, Austria

United Nations Common Supplier Database (UNCSD) - Oslo, Norway

United Nations Communications Group (former JUNIC) - New York, USA

United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC) - Geneva, Switzerland

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) - Geneva, Switzerland

United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) - Bonn, Germany

United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) - New York, USA

United Nations Development Group (UNDG) - New York, USA

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) - New York, USA

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) - Paris, France

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) - Nairobi, Kenya

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) - Bonn, Germany

United Nations Fund for International Partnerships (UNFIP) - New York, USA

United Nations Geographic Information Working Group (UNGIWG) - New York, USA

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Office of the (OHCHR) - Geneva, Switzerland

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Office of the (UNHCR) - Geneva, Switzerland

United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)- Nairobi, Kenya

United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) - Vienna, Austria

United Nations Information and Communication Technologies Task Force (UNICT TF) - New York, USA

United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) - Geneva, Switzerland

United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) - Geneva, Switzerland

United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) - Vienna, Austria

United Nations International School (UNIS) - New York, USA

United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) - Rome, Italy

United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF) - New York, USA

United Nations Non-Governmental Liaison Service (NGLS), Geneva, Switzerland and New York, USA

United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) - Geneva, Switzerland

United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON) - Nairobi, Kenya

United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV) - Vienna, Austria

United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) - New York, USA

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) - New York, USA

United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) - Vienna, Austria
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) - Gaza, Gaza Strip and Amman, Jordan

United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) - Geneva, Switzerland

United Nations Resident Coordinators Network (RCNet) - New York, USA

UN System Network on Rural Development and Food Security - Rome, Italy [FAO/IFAD]

United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC) - Turin, Italy

United Nations University (UNU) - Tokyo, Japan

United Nations Volunteers (UNV) - Bonn, Germany

Universal Postal Union (UPU) - Berne, Switzerland

WomenWatch - New York, USA

World Bank Group - Washington, USA

World Food Programme (WFP) - Rome, Italy

World Health Organization (WHO) - Geneva, Switzerland

World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) - Geneva, Switzerland

World Meteorological Organization (WMO) - Geneva, Switzerland

World Tourism Organization - Madrid, Spain

World Trade Organization (WTO) - Geneva, Switzerland


ppman

 

[sexy-girl]

hehe cool post pp man


serious question ... what does the US do for the UN now anyway ? ... they dont pay there bills and they dont like to commit troops in peace keeping efforts ... what do they do ?


ok so it wasnt a serious question but i do wish USA would do more with the UN it would be cool ... and i think it could seriously help the USA to not be seen as the bad guy by so many countries the whole point of the UN is that it can make decisions on behalf of the majority of countries and its difficult for countries to pin point an enemy from that or to accuse it of bias

 

[RhumbRunner13]

Just to keep the record straight.

The United States is today and has always been the largest financial contributor to the United Nations System. The U.S. contributed a total of $2.4 billion to the United Nation programs and budget in 1999. This includes contributions to the UN regular budget, the regular budgets of the specialized agencies, peacekeeping efforts, and a wide variety of special programs and emergency relief operations.

Member states contribute to the United Nations in two basic ways: through assessed contributions to the UN regular budget and to the regular budgets of the United Nations specialized agencies, and through voluntary contributions to special United Nations programs.

Contributions to the Regular United Nations Budget
The contributions of member states to the regular United Nations budget are set under the United Nations scales of assessments. The scale is based broadly on "capacity to pay" as measured by Member States' shares of the world Gross National Product (GNP) and other factors. It includes discounts for countries with low per capita income (PCI).

For the period 1998 through 2000, the United States has been assessed 25 percent of the regular UN budget (which totals $2.536 billion for 2000-2001). This covers the overall Secretariat and Headquarters costs as well as programs established by the UN General Assembly. For many years, the United States has been advocating comprehensive reforms to bring the scale of assessment up to date and create a broader and more equitable distribution of the responsibility for UN financing. Any change to the scale of assessments needs to be approved by the United Nations General Assembly.

Contributions to Peacekeeping Operations
In 2000, the United Nations was funding 15 peacekeeping operations around the world with over 19,000 troops in the field. With major peacekeeping operations (PKOs) around the world, from Kosovo and East Timor to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sierra Leone, the United States expects that the UN budget will double to nearly $3 billion in 2001. Member states are assessed separately for each peacekeeping operation.
For Calendar Year 2000, peacekeeping is funded by an ad hoc system of apportionment that is based on the regular budget rates, but provides substantial discounts to most countries. The assessment rates of the Permanent Members of the UN Security Council are increased to accommodate these discounts. Today 98 percent of costs are assessed to just 30 UN member states. The top five contributors pay more than 75 percent of expenses.

The UN assesses the U.S. at 30.3 percent for peacekeeping operations, but, in accordance with U.S. law that went into effect in Fiscal Year 1996, the U.S. can pay no more than 25 percent. In 1999, the U.S. contributed $216 million for United Nations peacekeeping operations around the world.

Budgets of Other Agencies
The United States is generally assessed at the same rate as the regular UN budget (currently 25 percent) for the budgets of many UN specialized agencies such as the World Health Organization (WHO), World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and International Labor Organization (ILO).
U.S. contribution rates are lower in percentage terms for the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and Universal Postal Union (UPU), since contributions to those agencies are based on a system known as "contributory units." Each country chooses the number of units of the budget that it wants to contribute. The U.S. usually chooses to pay at the highest allowable category of contributory units, or chooses to match the highest category chosen by any other country.

Percentage contributions by governments to the budget of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) are smaller than for other international organizations, as more than half of WIPO's funding is generated by user fees paid by the private sector.

The U.S. is also the largest contributor to the World Trade Organization, whose scale of assessment is based on national shares of average world trade.

In addition to assessed contributions to the regular budgets of the Geneva-based agencies, the U.S. also makes substantial voluntary contributions to international organizations. This is especially the case for humanitarian agencies such as the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Budgetary Reform
In November 1999, Congress passed legislation (Helms-Biden) providing for payment of $926 million in arrears in three tranches, subject to the fulfillment of specific conditions in each of those years.

The tranche amounts and the certifications are as follows. Tranche One: Amount: $100 million was paid to the United Nations in December 1999. Certifications: the UN has no standing army; the UN and certain UN system organizations met the following provisions: they have taken no action causing the U.S. to violate its Constitution or laws; do not have external authority to borrow money; do not challenge U.S. sovereignty; do not tax U.S. citizens; do not charge interest on arrears; and do not infringe on U.S. property rights.

Tranche Two: Amount: $475 million to be paid to the United Nations, plus an additional $107 million UN peacekeeping reimbursement credit. Certifications: assessment rate ceiling for UN regular budget reduced to 22 percent; assessment rate ceiling for UN peacekeeping established at 25 percent; action on contested arrears.

Tranche Three: Amount: $244 million ($30 million for the UN and $214 million to other international organizations). Certifications: no-growth budgets in FAO, ILO, WHO for the 2000-2001 biennium; ; assessment rate ceilings in FAO, ILO, WHO reduced to 22 percent; U.S. seat on the UN budget committee (ACABQ); evaluation criteria and "sunset" policy for UN, FAO, ILO and WHO programs; criteria for inspectors general established in the FAO, ILO, and WHO; new budget procedures in the UN, FAO, ILO, and WHO; U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) access to UN financial data; changes in the UN's personnel system; assessment rate ceiling for the UN regular budget reduced to 20 percent (a waiver was included in the legislation for this final element).

Rhumb

 

[metal_minx]

whoa rhumb...i feel dizzy

 

[android1966]

It's hardly surprising that the US is opposed to the ICC. Just read up on the cover up following the My Lai massacre.

On the 16th of march 1968 up to 500 unarmed civilians were slaughtered. For a year the army covered up the killings, then a soldier returning from Vietnam sent 30 copies of what he had witnessed to congressmen and senators.

An enquiry was launched and it's findings recommended that 14 officers and ncos should face trial. Only one, Lt Calley, the officer in command stood trial charged with 109 counts of premeditated murder. He was found guilty before a US army court and sentenced to life imprisonment. He was released from stockade to house arrest and within a year was paroled.

Even when convicted of mass murder by a US court the US has no interest in making it's own war criminals face justice. Talk of frivolous prosecution or pilots who accidently drop a bomb on the wrong target being prosecuted are a smokescreen.

 

[RhumbRunner13]

whoa rhumb...i feel dizzy

Me too! I didn't write it. Hell, I COULDN'T have written that!
I just thought with the US getting bashed once in a while herea little fact might help.

Rhumb

 

[miles]

Not to burst your bubble but that second post was the most ludicrous piece of crap about the UN I've ever read. Don't post shit you know NOTHING about. And Rush's rants about the UN don't count as a "reliable source."

Lavy, you manufactured that Rush thing out of thin air. Did he say that? Oh, you don't really know? You shouldn't post shit you know nothing about.

Pretty lame.

 

[mbb308]

You want a UN debate????

Bring it - anytime, anywhere. I type slowly, but please PM me your thoughts and reasons the UN is a vaild world entity.

By the way, I don't listen to Rush, or any of that ilk, nor do I subscribe to the planks of any party, nor swallow their doctrine.

You cannot defend the indefensible, but you are welcome to try.

 

[Lasz]

I am suprised so many offices are in Switzerland considering they wern't part of the UN until very recently.

 

[mbb308]

UN offices abroad???

So does Coca-Cola, which is headquartered in Atlanta, GA, USA

And the UN??? NY, NY, USA. Yeah, I've been there, too!!!

 

[LovetoGiveRoses]

Thanks Rhumb.

I'm glad that you posted that response. I'm familiar with the "big"picture, but was not aware of some of the details. I knew, for example, that there were stipulations attached to the arrears payments, but not exactly what they were. Thanks, it is very interesting.

The whole UN thing is like paying the salary of someone to kick you in the shins.

 

[LovetoGiveRoses]

It's beautiful "campus" in Geneva.

 

[p_p_man]

Re: Just to keep the record straight.

Budgetary Reform
In November 1999, Congress passed legislation (Helms-Biden) providing for payment of $926 million in arrears in three tranches, subject to the fulfillment of specific conditions in each of those years.

The USA isn't clearing the arrears at all and at the same time is allowing the shorfall to continue. The other thing about America's attitude towards the UN which I find irritating is her insistence that she will only pay arrears subject to certain conditions being fulfilled.

Either this is the famous American arrogance shining through once again or your country can't see anything wrong in running up huge debts, refusing to pay them unless the original agreement is re-negotiated.

Considering the shaky state of the American economy I think the UN should sue for bankruptcy. At least that way it will get some money before the US goes under.

"CONTINUES DEBT

Both the House and Senate versions of the FY98 State Department Authorization Act continue the U.S. debt to the United Nations because they do not fully fund U.S. arrears to the United Nations.

Doesn't Pay Off Arrears.

The Administration requested $1.021 billion to pay U.S. arrears to the United Nations. The House bill provides no funding; the Senate approved $819 million, which is conditioned and spread out over three years."

And Rhumb far from hoping your post would help the USA, "the US getting bashed once in a while here a little fact might help", it actually invites heavier criticism of her actions...

ppman

 

[Azwed]

Lavy, you manufactured that Rush thing out of thin air. Did he say that? Oh, you don't really know? You shouldn't post shit you know nothing about.

Pretty lame.

Rush says a lot about the UN. He mentions them on a pretty much weekly basis. I can remember him saying something similar to what was posted before but I could not give you the date.

You have already admited to me that you never really listen to Rush so you don't nothing about it either.

 

[RhumbRunner13]

The USA isn't clearing the arrears at all and at the same time is allowing the shorfall to continue. The other thing about America's attitude towards the UN which I find irritating is her insistence that she will only pay arrears subject to certain conditions being fulfilled.

Either this is the famous American arrogance shining through once again or your country can't see anything wrong in running up huge debts, refusing to pay them unless the original agreement is re-negotiated.
Peeps post

I don't want to argue with you on this one,P P. I'm sure it's frustrating to others around the world to see the US not paying her "dues". You must understand though that it is equally if not more frustrating for us to see the other 165 or so nations decide what we can afford. I don't know if it was in that data or some other that I saw a proposal that the US foot 30% of the UN bill. I'll point out once again, most people in the US consider government their employee, not the reverse. The money I pay in taxes is payment for goods and services rendered. I do not consider my after tax money government funds that they allowed me to keep.

Many of us see the UN as a waste of the 22% that we now pay, much less 30%. Personally, I think the UN has some value in this world, but they are starting to overstep their bounds.

Rhumb

 

[p_p_man]

The value of being a member of the UN...

to all members and especially the US is that at the UN HQ in New York, we all have one building where delegates from all nations meet and keep permanent offices.

That way it is much easier to keep in daily contact with each other, solicit support for whatever topic is on the UN Agenda and put pressure on lesser nations to follow courses of action that are in our own interests, but not necessarily theirs.

Money apart, the US has gained much from its membership. Unfortunately most of that gain is in the shape of behind the scenes negotiations which rarely become public, but can have a dramatic influence on the outcome of anything America may be invloved in.

And being on the Security Council as well can do her no harm.

ppman

 

[scylis]

Re: The value of being a member of the UN...

to all members and especially the US is that at the UN HQ in New York, we all have one building where delegates from all nations meet and keep permanent offices.

That way it is much easier to keep in daily contact with each other, solicit support for whatever topic is on the UN Agenda and put pressure on lesser nations to follow courses of action that are in our own interests, but not necessarily theirs.

Money apart, the US has gained much from its membership. Unfortunately most of that gain is in the shape of behind the scenes negotiations which rarely become public, but can have a dramatic influence on the outcome of anything America may be invloved in.

And being on the Security Council as well can do her no harm.

ppman

well, we built them a fucking building, and it's right there in New York, the Big Apple, and it would be just as close to Washington, D.C. as when we were members, so what the fuck is the big deal? we already wiretapped the fuck out of it, and it's not like we're going to pull each and every last "bug" out of the building when we leave....

 

[scylis]

 

[p_p_man]

Re: Re: The value of being a member of the UN...

well, we built them a fucking building, and it's right there in New York, the Big Apple,

So fucking what?

You wanted it there in the first place...

And now you're whinging.

ppman