America Rejoins UNESCO in Surprise Announcement

Guardian (UK) ^ | Sept 14, 02 | Owen Boycott

[brat]

America Rejoins UNESCO in Surprise Announcement

Owen Bowcott Friday September 13, 2002 The Guardian (UK)

Eighteen years after withdrawing from Unesco in protest at its alleged mismanagement, America is to rejoin the United Nations' educational, scientific and cultural organisation, President Bush announced in New York yesterday.

The decision, greeted with applause by delegates at the UN general assembly, surprised critics of the Bush ad ministration which has been accused of flouting international cooperation on the environment and arms control.

"As a symbol of our commitment to human dignity, the United States will return to Unesco," Mr Bush declared during his speech lambasting Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq. "This organisation has been reformed and America will participate fully in its mission to advance human rights and tolerance and learning."

Unesco, based in Paris, was created at the end of the second world war to combat intolerance, ignorance and racism. By the mid-1980s it was facing claims that it was corrupt, politicised and mismanaged. Under the leadership of Senegal's Amadou Mbow it promoted a controversial "new world information order" which the western media believed amounted to censorship.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[brat]

"As a symbol of our commitment to human dignity, the United States will return to Unesco," Mr Bush declared during his speech lambasting Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq. "This organisation has been reformed and America will participate fully in its mission to advance human rights and tolerance and learning."

I wondered what they price tag would be for the US to get the UN on board for the War on Iraq....now we know. Thanks alot for nothing, George.

[the_Watchman]

Right after President Reagan created a stir about this organization, I happened to be in a Paris restaurant puzzling over the menu. The British couple at the next table helped my friend and I navigate through the obtuse verbiage. We later struck up a conversation. The woman was an editor as a representative for the U.K. at UNESCO.

She was fed up with the censorship and the political garbage which was being published. She basically agreed with Reagan's position to withdraw and force the organization to mend it's ways.

Her advice was pretty good. She also gave me directions to a great restaurant near the Eiffel tower that my wife and I frequented for several years. It was near the UNESCO offices where whe worked.

[cva66snipe]

"As a symbol of our commitment to human dignity, the United States will return to Unesco,"

And Einstein thinks the U.N. can accomplish this? Oh I forgot this is a secret covert action of losing more national soverignity to the U.N. to accopmlish an obscure win in policy strategy. I just love it when we further enjoin our selves to the U.N.'s programs. {not} Of course this will be used against us by those who wish us to become more tollerant of our peacefull neighbors trying to destroy our nation. This has Powell written all over it.

[swarthyguy]

NBD.

Plus, Unesco's not some evil jihadi org. Fairly benign, it does no harm really, and helps a little.