E-Mail Exchanges with Sir Brian Urquhart (2000): The US and the UN

E-Mail Exchange with Sir Brian Urquhart (2000): Institute of International Studies, UC Berkeley

E-Mail Exchange with Sir Brian Urquhart, former Undersecretary General of the UN, with students at Marin Academy High School, 5/31/00

What would happen if the United States did decide to pull out ALL support and participation in the United Nations?

Alison and Lynn

This would certainly be very serious for the United Nations, although I imagine that the 188 other member states would certainly want to keep the UN going. Perhaps a better question is the effect such a withdrawal would have on the United States, a world power which, incidentally, invented the idea of the United Nations. I have no doubt that the government of the United States would immediately be presented with a series of very serious difficulties, and that is the reason why every administration since 1945 has been a firm supporter of the United States' membership in the United Nations.

What is your opinion of the relationship between the United States and the UN?

Dan

I deeply regret the current relationship between the United States and the UN, which I believe to be extremely harmful to both of them. I hope very much that the United States will get back to its former position about the UN, namely, that it is an important organization in which the United States has a vital stake.

How significant would be the effect if the United States decides to cut down on United Nations funding? What type of UN organizations would be most affected?

Danielle

For some years now, the United States has not been paying its share of United Nations funding and until very recently it was more than one and one half billion dollars in arrears. This has certainly cut down the programs of many of the UN's specialized agencies and has made the running of the UN, at a time when its responsibilities are being constantly increased, extremely difficult.

Do you think the US's independence is threatened if US soldiers are commanded by foreign officers [in UN-sponsored peacekeeping missions]?

Greer

I would like to turn this question around and say that the effectiveness of UN peace keeping operations is gravely threatened if the United States or any other soldiers refuse to be commanded by the designated commander of the peacekeeping mission.

How do you think the role of the US in the UN has changed over the years? Do you think these changes have been positive?

Lorna and Ashley

The US was the founding father and inspirer of the United Nations. It has always been its strongest and most important member, and is the host country of the organization. Unfortunately, in the past 25 years, the United States, or at least the Congress of the United States, has become increasingly disillusioned with the UN, very often for reasons that are not well founded. I hope very much that this will change so that successive United States administrations will be able to support the UN both in the interests of the United States and in the interests of the United Nations.