Why Are You Here?

Now this is entertaining. I thought he was a diplomat.

After drawing a rebuke from the White House, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon tried Thursday to smooth over his characterization of the U.S. as a "deadbeat" for its late payments to the world body.

"My point was simply that the United Nations needs the fullest support of its members, and never more so than in these very demanding times," Ban told reporters at U.N. headquarters

The White House objected to Ban's use of the word "deadbeat" to describe the U.S. during a private meeting Wednesday with lawmakers at the Capitol, a day after he met with President Barack Obama in the Oval Office.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Ban's "word choice was unfortunate," given that the U.S. is the largest contributor to the United Nations.

The United States pays 22 percent of the organization's nearly $5 billion operating budget but is perennially late paying its dues.

I guess I must be missing something. Do you really want to piss off those that pay the largest percentage of dues from any single country? The UN and their diplomats abuse our laws and call us names incessantly and we just stand there and take it.

Maybe they should see how they are going to fund their little resort when they have to do it some place not quite as free as the US. Or not quite as secure as the US. Or not quite as tolerant as the US.

Let's not mention how will the enforce any of their resolutions without the US. Considering their success rate when the US isn't present, I don't think they should hedge that bet.

Maybe Ban should be happy he gets his money at all. Because when it comes to stimulating the economy, the UN isn't exactly high on the helpful side.