Why does veto power exist in the UN/NATO?

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: DeeKnow

Originally posted by: Genx87
What does the US supply 28% of the UN budget? What do the other members supply?
Maybe we should get double veto power or maybe we should cut our supply of cash to the thing to about 10%.

actually the US hasn't been paying its bills for decades...
they owe billions to the UN

They've been paying, just often late and only when kicking and screaming about it.

 

[maddogchen]

Here are two links on how much US pays or owes to UN

US debt by month

2003

Basically US pays a lot but the UN demands a lot more.


More interesting US/UN facts

# Our 25 percent compares to 12.5 percent for Japan and 8.93 percent paid by the United Kingdom.

# The US. is assessed 31.7 percent of the cost of peace-keeping activities, compared to 8.5 percent for Russia, 6.3 percent for the U.K. and 7.6 percent for France.

# The U.S. donates logistical support, weapons, NATO flights, intelligence, ships and manpower to U.S. peacekeeping operations while virtually all other countries are reimbursed for such goods and services.

# The U.S. is also the largest donor to most of the U.N.'s independent agencies, such as UNICEF and the U.N. High Commissioner on Refugees.

Text

We should stop donating and use that money to pay off the UN debt. Sounds reasonable?

 

[RabidMongoose]

I've actually read that the UN also owes the US money because it has neglected to reimburse the US for the peacekeeping operations. Why does the UN not pay the US back while paying back other countries?

The US should just reduce their budget contribution to about 10% and pay the debt off, but I would assume that they use this debt as leverage against the UN.

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: RabidMongoose
I've actually read that the UN also owes the US money because it has neglected to reimburse the US for the peacekeeping operations. Why does the UN not pay the US back while paying back other countries?

The US should just reduce their budget contribution to about 10% and pay the debt off, but I would assume that they use this debt as leverage against the UN.

They should renogotiate the original agreement. If they have to play around with payments to force the UN's hand, that would be acceptable.