UN budget approved but US votes against

Jesus H Christ clasping his wallet. Is there anything at all this administration can agree on with other nations?

Why is it still called the "United" Nations? They seem only united in eating canapés and sucking down champagne.

And don't get me started on the Israeli tail wagging the fucking dog.

The General Assembly early Saturday approved a two-year UN budget of 4.17 billion dollars (2.9 billion euros) but the United States cast a lone dissenting vote [emphasis mine].

After marathon overnight talks, 141 members endorsed the recommendation of the assembly's budgetary committee to support UN chief Ban Ki-moon's request for the 2008-2009 budget, up 0.5 percent from the previous one.

The United States voted against because it objected to a 6.7 million-dollar outlay in the budget to fund a follow-up to a 2001 world conference on racism and racial discrimination which it viewed as anti-Israel.

The US delegation withdrew from the 2001 conference on racism in Durban, South Africa, because it felt that the parley singled out Israel "for censure and abuse" and suggested that apartheid existed in the Jewish state.

In recent days, US diplomats here also complained that the 25 percent increase in the administrative part of the budget was too high.

The United States is the world body's largest contributor, covering around 22 percent of the regular budget.

Ban welcomed the adoption of the budget by the assembly but expressed regret that "the resolution was not adopted by consensus, marking a break with tradition after 20 years."

To be fair, that budget is nearly 10% of the cost of killing Iraqis and Afghans next year. Ya gotta watch your money.

And probably the most important thing is how America looks to other nations. Fucking idiotic, inhumane is my guess.

Via Channel NewsAsia.