Trump’s view of the UN bolstered by ambassador

2Those three words spoken last week by Nikki Haley, the new U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, clearly reflect President Donald J. Trump’s opinion of the 72-year-old organization of 193 countries.

Indeed, Trump questioned the effectiveness of the U.N. when he wrote in December on Twitter that the New York City-headquartered global entity has become “just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time. So sad!”

The president-elect at the time was reacting to a United Nations vote to condemn Israeli settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.

He conceded that the U.N. has “such great potential,” and vowed “… things will be different after Jan. 20th.”

That was the date he was sworn in as the 45th president of the United States, and seven days later U.N. Ambassador Haley arrived at her new offices.

Before presenting her credentials to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who took over the helm Jan. 1, Haley spoke to reporters. Her use of unvarnished language in a setting steeped in diplomacy was glaring.

“Our goal with the administration is to show value at the U.N., and the way that we’ll show value is to show our strength, show our voice, and have the backs of our allies and make sure our allies have our backs as well.”

And then she added this warning to nations perceived to be at odds with the United States:

“For those that don’t have our backs we’re taking names. We will make a point to respond to that accordingly. But this is a time of strength. This is a time of action. This is a time of getting things done.”

Criticism of the United Nations is not new in this country. There are many Americans, as reflected in the comments of their representatives in Congress, who believe that the billions of dollars paid to fund the huge bureaucracy, numerous programs and peacekeeping efforts around the world would be better spent at home.

Bureaucratic sponge

We have long argued that the U.N. bureaucracy is like a sponge soaking up money paid by the organization’s member states that could be better used for humanitarian programs and peace- keeping activities.

We have also harshly criticized the management of the United Nations for the lack of accountability when it comes to peacekeepers, especially in under- developed countries.

In 2015, a report of sexual abuse by troops in the Central African Republic was a repudiation of then Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s insistence that the U.N.’s first responsibility is to protect ravaged populations.

What made the criminal behavior of the peacekeepers all the more egregious was the fact that a 12-year-old girl was assaulted during a 2 a.m. search of her family’s home.

The girl said the soldiers – they are identified by their blue helmets or blue berets – dragged her out to a secluded part of the courtyard, slapped her when she began to cry, tore her clothing and raped her. Her claims were supported by medical evidence, Amnesty International reported.

If President Trump instructs his ambassador to make sure the world organization cleans up its act, he would be striking a blow for all Americans who believe the United Nations has lost sight of its primary mission.

On the other hand, if Haley stakes out a position that could undermine the very important and valuable work being done around the world, thoughtful Americans should voice their concerns.

Let there be no mistake about the role the United Nations – the name was coined by President Franklin D. Roosevelt – has played in preventing a third world war and in responding to humanitarian and natural crises globally.

President Trump’s disdain for the organization was triggered by what he viewed as an attack on Israel, the leading ally of the United States in the Middle East.

He also blasted his predecessor, President Barack Obama, for not using America’s veto power as a permanent member of the Security Council to prevent the passage of a resolution condemning the Israeli settlements.

It remains to be seen just how successful Trump’s bull-in-a–China-shop political strategy works in an organization built on egos.