by Etse Sikanku
Texas Governor Rick Perry suggested Thursday he will consider cutting back US support for the United Nations. In the fifth Republican debate hosted by CNN and the Western Republican Leadership Conference, Perry called on Americans to reconsider supporting the UN financially.
"I think we have to have a serious conversation about defunding the United Nations,' Perry said.
The US is the highest contributor to the United Nations since the organization was founded in 1945. US support for the UN has continued to rise over the years with current figures estimated at about $513.6 million. Cutting back on US support for the UN is not a new theme in the Republican Party. Former US ambassador John Bolton has been a longtime critic of the UN. As far back as 1994, Bolton categorically denounced the existence of the UN.
“There is no such thing as the United Nations. There is only the international community, which can only be led by the only remaining superpower, which is the United States,” Bolton said.
Perry earned the support of the conservative crowd gathered at the Sands Expo Convention center in Las Vegas when he called on America to pull the plugs on the global body.
"I think we should defund the United Nations," Perry said.
The crowd cheered.
Though other candidates did not specifically mention the UN, there was a general consensus on scaling back US foreign assistance. Texas Congressman Ron Paul said he will cut all US foreign aid abroad.
In the midst of a tumultuous economic crisis, sky rocketing unemployment rates and increasing poverty levels cutting back on foreign aid emerged as one of the major themes in yesterday’s debate. The Texas governor called working with international organizations like the UN and subjecting America to international systems a “travesty”.
"Why are we funding that organization?" Perry asked.
The crowd cheered.
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