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November 18, 2005

Throwing Good Money After Bad

So Kofi wants money for renovations and upgrades at Turtle Bay.

November 18, 2005 -- The renovation of the United Nations' aging East Side headquarters could cost $1.9 billion — more than a third above previous estimates, U.N. officials said yesterday. Secretary-General Kofi Annan blamed skyrocketing Manhattan real estate and construction costs, expensive security and the balky state Legislature for pricey revisions in previous plans.

He said it was "critical" for the General Assembly to approve a new scheme for the 53-year-old building, which he said had serious fire code, environmental and hazardous materials problems.

There is one member nation the U.N. has done nothing for and everything against, it is that same country that seems somehow to foot most of the bills for that corrupt, overbureaucratized, underachieving, expensively useless quagmire, in addition to being its host.... Wait, isn't that the United States?....

We can see where Kofi's going with this: New York{an American city} is to blame for high costs of real estate and renovation and the New York State{an American state} legislature is to be blamed for "pricey revisions in previous plans," and oh, let's not forget the high costs of security{provided by Americans}.

What do you bet that in view of all this, it will, in Kofi's estimate, be the job of the American taxpayer, since the high costs are "America's fault," to finance the majority of renovation costs so that various and sundry tinpot dictatorships, socialist governments and Islamofascist states can condemn all that America stands for, on American soil, in increased comfort and "safer" conditions?

Well,

The United States would likely end up paying for a large share of the increase. U.S. Ambassador John Bolton said yesterday his staff was studying the newly released figures.

John, how 'bout letting France pick up the tab for a change?

Posted by Seth at November 18, 2005 05:34 AM

Comments

France hell, lets just demo the whole place and let someone else start and pay for the United 'aganist America' Nation

Posted by: Michael at November 19, 2005 12:15 PM

I'm still willing to go with, "let 'em bunk in with the League of Nations and let's build a condo complex at Turtle Bay."

Posted by: Seth at November 19, 2005 06:47 PM

I don't see why we should pay good taxpayer money to give the U.N. prime Mahnattan land, where the various U.N. and diplomatic staffs can be a threat to our national security.

However, when it comes to relocating the U.N., I am all over the map (both physically and with my thinking).

One thought is that it's still better to keep the U.N. on U.S. territory so that we can better monitor its activities with our intelligence methods and protect our ambassador and staff. I think of North Dakota, and I also toy with the delicious idea of moving the U.N. to Berkeley CA (combined with letting them declare themselves to be the People's Republic of Berkeley).

Other times, I think we should make the U.N. move to various overseas locales, such as France (let them eat cake) or Taiwan (might inhibit an attack by China). The possibilities boggle my mind.

Posted by: civil truth at November 20, 2005 04:03 PM

Berkeley's an excellent idea!

Given the political climate there, it would be convenient as the city govt would be able to consult the UN before they make any decisions about anything, while at the same time Kofi and Kompany would be among their own kind.

My "favorite" Democrat, Ed Koch, used to blast the UN when he was mayor of NY, I mean he was loudly and publicly vocal about getting it "the hell out of my town" and "moving it to Moscow, where it belongs!"

Posted by: Seth at November 20, 2005 06:59 PM