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| ON THE HILL | Legislation Update - Winter 2005 | ||
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How puzzling are current U.S.-UN relations? According to one experienced Hill
watcher, the “relationship… is the most hopeful and the most precarious I have
ever seen.” Without further ado: THE GOOD: President Bush’s 2006 budget proposal increases peacekeeping contributions 115 percent, to $1.03 billion, while funds requested for international organizations are up 12 percent, to nearly $1.3 billion. THE BAD: The U.S. still lacks a UN ambassador, despite the continued threat of terrorism, increased U.S. involvement in the Middle East, impending intervention in Darfur, and proposed UN reforms. THE UGLY: Congress is threatening to withhold payment of U.S. dues to the UN. Senator Ensign (R-NV) proposed a bill (S. 291), which would hold contributions until the UN sufficiently cooperated with Oil-for-Food investigation. Representative Hayworth (R-AZ) introduced a resolution (H.R. 14), which would “limit the U.S.’s share of assessments for the UN’s regular budget.” And the House International Relations Committee wants a bill that would link dues payments to UN reform. Meanwhile, personnel changes in Bush’s second term point to a more pragmatic foreign policy staff. WHO’S IN? Deputy Zoellick: U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick, a purported internationalist and coalition builder, will likely become Condoleezza Rice’s Deputy at the State Department. Rice to Nurture U.S.-Euro Pact: Former National Security Advisor, Rice replaced Colin Powell as Secretary of State. She then took a 7-day whirlwind tour through Europe to help build U.S.-European relations. Badly Needed, Hadley: Succeeding Rice as National Security Advisor is Stephen Hadley who, aside from allegedly spreading the false Iraq-Niger-Uranium link, claims to bring pragmatism to the post. WHO’S OUT? Feith Flees Administration: Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Douglas Feith, the hard-line architect of the Iraq War, is leaving the Pentagon this summer. Bolton Bolt’in: Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, John Bolton, will likely leave State after losing out on the Deputy position.
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