Wanted: An Engaged U.N.
Americans by wide margins recognize the value of the United Nations to U.S. foreign policy and want the U.N. to play a stronger role in world affairs.
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In fact, the American public is clearly interested in having the U.N. do more, not less. For example, 75 percent in the CCFR poll favored giving the United Nations authority to go into countries in order to investigate violations of human rights. Seventy-five percent also favored creating an international marshals service that could arrest leaders responsible for genocide. U.N. peacekeeping operations are also popular, with 72 percent in favor of a standing U.N. peacekeeping force selected, trained, and commanded by the United Nations. And 60 percent favored giving the United Nations the power to regulate the international arms trade.
As the General Assembly of the United Nations gathers in New York this week and next, the Bush administration’s new ambassador to the United Nations, Zalmay Kahlilzad, should heed these poll numbers by working to repair our damaged relationship with the U.N. Congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle should also consider these poll numbers when they debate whether to pay the $1 billion the United States owes the U.N. in arrears for, among other things, peacekeeping operations around the globe.
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