In what many view as a historic decision, President Donald Trump announced earlier this month that the United States was formally recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. And with this, the decision was made that our embassy would be moved to Jerusalem as well.
As a result of the President’s announcement, our Ambassador to the United Nation’s – Nikki Haley – ended up casting a vote to veto an Egyptian-drafted resolution in the United Nations Security Council calling for the decision to be withdrawn. Haley’s veto was the first of its kind to be cast in over six years.
The Ambassador’s veto came as no surprise. Prior to this, Haley had addressed the United Nation’s General Assembly– and she didn’t mince words while doing so. I’d encourage you to read the speech in its entirety here.
I’m not going to get into the specifics of the President’s decision. Nor am I going to get into all the details of Nikki Haley’s speech. But there are some very strong words that the Ambassador said that I think are worth noting. For example, after wondering why Israel continues to be a member of the United Nations when they are treated as they are, Haley said this:
“Standing here today, being forced to defend sovereignty and the integrity of my country – the United States of America – many of the same thoughts have come to mind. The United States is by far the single largest contributor to the United Nations and its agencies.”
…
“But we’ll be honest with you. When we make generous contributions to the UN, we also have a legitimate expectation that our good will is recognized and respected. When a nation is singled out for attack in this organization, that nation is disrespected. What’s more, that nation is asked to pay for the “privilege” of being disrespected.
“In the case of the United States, we are asked to pay more than anyone else for that dubious privilege. Unlike in some UN member countries, the United States government is answerable to its people. As such, we have an obligation to acknowledge when our political and financial capital is being poorly spent.
“We have an obligation to demand more for our investment. And if our investment fails, we have an obligation to spend our resources in more productive ways. Those are the thoughts that come to mind when we consider the resolution before us today.
“Instead, there is a larger point to make. The United States will remember this day in which it was singled out for attack in the General Assembly for the very act of exercising our right as a sovereign nation. We will remember it when we are called upon to once again make the world’s largest contribution to the United Nations. And we will remember it when so many countries come calling on us, as they so often do, to pay even more and to use our influence for their benefit.”
There are 193 member states in the United Nations. Yet, the United States contributes about 22% of the total budget for this world organization. To put that in the perspective of taxpayer dollars, it is $1.2 billion of a $5.4 billion budget over the course of two years. And that’s not all. If we factor in all United Nation’s activities, our share is $3.3 billion per year.
And for what? So we can – as Nikki Haley says – pay for the “dubious privilege” of “being disrespected”? All of this to an organization that is made up of some member nations that despise America and are nothing short of our enemies.
Just last month more allegations of sexual abuse from United Nations personnel surfaced . I say more, because earlier this year the Associated Press reported that nearly 2,000 allegations of sexual abuse have been uncovered involving United Nations personnel worldwide.
If you want your blood to boil, read this. Of the allegations reported, 300 of them involved children as young as 12. Think of it… the newest allegations were being uncovered around the same time as the Roy Moore allegations surfaced. Where is the outrage from Democrats and Republicans alike about our membership in an organization like this?
The United States government should indeed be answerable to its people. And I don’t know about you, but I expect better. We need not sell ourselves out to a global organization. It’s past time… in the name of sovereignty, decency, and fiscal responsibility we need to get out of the United Nations– now.
Sources:
1. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/06/world/middleeast/trump-jerusalem-israel-capital.html
2. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-israel-un/u-s-vetoes-u-n-call-for-withdrawal-of-trump-jerusalem-decision-idUSKBN1EC25N
3. https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/1.830485
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Member_states_of_the_United_Nations
5. http://www.politifact.com/global-news/statements/2017/feb/01/rob-portman/us-contribution-un-22-percent/
6. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/united-nations-personnel-sexual-abuse-allegations-31-three-months-a8036781.html
7. https://apnews.com/e6ebc331460345c5abd4f57d77f535c1
