U.N. agencies playing with fire with admission of Palestinians

The passage by the House Foreign Affairs Committee of a Republican bill to slash U.S. contributions to the United Nations should be viewed as the opening salvo by the Republican controlled House of Representatives against the international body that many Americans view with suspicion and disdain. That view was bolstered by the recent decision of the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to grant the Palestinians full membership. As the U.S. struggles to come out of the economic recession that began in late 2008, the $7.7 billion it provided in 2010 to the U.N. for its regular budget — that’s up from $6.1 billion in 2009 — has become a point of contention on Capitol Hill.

Republicans argue that the international organization is dominated by countries that have little regard for America, despite the billions of dollars it spends on foreign aid, and invariably vote against U.S. interests. The action by UNICEF is the latest case in point.

Member states had been warned that the admission of the Palestinians would trigger a congressional mandated cut in funding to UNESCO. Thus, the Obama administration withheld the $50 million that was due in November for the agency that helps women and children in developing countries. However, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton strongly opposed the Republican bill that was approved by the foreign affairs committee along party lines. Democrats on the committee joined the administration is expressing deep concern about the effects of the legislation, which is expected to pass the House when it is brought to the floor, but will be killed in the Democratic controlled Senate. They point out the measure would end American involvement in the world peacekeeping body.

But GOPers, led by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., argued that the U.S. is getting nothing for its investment and that only a game-charger like the withholding of money will get the attention of the United Nations.

“We will never achieve lasting, sweeping reforms if the U.S. keeps paying in full what the U.N. dictates to us, with no consequences for the U.N.’s failures,” Ros-Lehtinen said.

Public opinion

With the American economy still in the doldrums and the unemployment rate just below 9 percent, Americans are increasingly questioning the value of spending billions of dollars in foreign aid around the world. And the more U.N. agencies appear to go out of their way to alienate the U.S., the more public opinion hardens against involvement in the world organization.

Indeed, the Palestinians, who are striving for full membership, intend to use their membership in UNESCO as the impetus to seek full participation in the 16 other agencies. They are aware that the United States has veto power in the Security Council with regard to full member status, but agencies are independent entities.

They are playing with fire if they follow UNESCO’s lead. In 2010, the U.S. contributed more than $84 million to the agency.

With the 2012 presidential election already setting the political agenda on Capitol Hill, and with Republicans suggesting that Obama’s low approval rating opens the door to a takeover of the Senate, the United Nations would do well to refrain from alienating the American people even more.

If the Republicans win the presidency and Congress, the future of American support will be iffy at best.