Cato: U.S. Not in Debt To U.N.

International Policy

Cato: U.S. Not in Debt To U.N.

Claims that the U.S. owes the United Nations more than $1 billion are false, according to journalist Cliff Kincaid, the author of a recent Cato Institute report. He argues the amount is neither a legal nor moral U.S. obligation.

Over the past five years, the U.S. has provided between $11 billion and $15 billion in military and other assistance to the U.N. -- but the U.S. has not been properly credited for it, he contends.

These funds have been diverted from federal agencies -- primarily the Department of Defense.

Critics charge that the Clinton administration has been providing resources, personnel and equipment to the U.N. without the advance approval of Congress.

Bypassing Congress and allowing the U.N. to conduct important elements of U.S. foreign and military policy raises grave constitutional questions, legal experts point out.

Several years ago, acting assistant secretary of state George Ward told the United Nations Association that in 1994, "when we were assessed $1.2 billion for peacekeeping, our nonassessed but voluntary contributions to peacekeeping -- which almost all came from Defense Department resources -- amounted to $1.5 billion."

U.S. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-Md.) has authored legislation to prevent payment of any alleged debt to the U.N. until all U.S. assistance is factored in.

Source: Cliff Kincaid, "The United Nations Debt: Who Owes Whom?" Policy Analysis 304, April 23, 1998, Cato Institute, 1000 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001, (202) 842-0200.

For text http://www.cato.org/pubs/pas/pa-304.html

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