[Drew]

One question.

Could the U.N. survive as a relevant entity without the membership of the United States of America?

Before posting a response, please consider the following facts:

[quote:df653]Total U.S. Contributions to the UN System,
Both Assessed and Voluntary -
Estimated at $3.0 Billion

Humanitarian/Human Rights - 39%
Environment - 2%
Development - 8%
Weapons of Mass Destruction - 3%
UN Regular Budget - 9%
UN Peacekeeping - 31%
Open Markets - 4%
Health - 4% [/quote:df653]
[quote:df653]The United States is a generous supporter of key UN programs, funding:

* 51.4% of the World Food Program budget to help feed 72 million people in 82 countries.*
* 17.1% of the United Nations Children’s Fund budget to feed, vaccinate, educate and protect children in 162 countries.*
* 14.1% of the United Nations Development Program core budget to eradicate poverty and encourage democratic governance.*
* 25.8% of the International Atomic Energy Agency budget to ensure safe and peaceful application of nuclear energy and prevent the illicit use of nuclear material for weapons.**
* 22% of the World Health Organization core budget as well as significant voluntary resources, helping to prevent and control epidemics and to improve standards of health.**
* 25% of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees budget to help protect refugees and facilitate their return home or re-settlement in another country.*
* 25% of the International Civil Aviation Organization budget to ensure safe, efficient and economical air travel.**

* These programs operate strictly on voluntary contributions.
** These programs operate on a combination of assessed and voluntary contributions.[/quote:df653]
[quote:df653]U.S. Financial Contributions to the UN

The United States is the largest financial contributor to the UN and has been every year since its creation in 1945. We provided more than $3 billion in contributions, both cash and in-kind, to the UN system in 2002. (In-kind contributions include items such as food donations for the World Food Program). The United States funded 22 percent of the UN regular budget, as well as more than 27 percent of the peacekeeping budget. Additionally, the United States provides a significant amount in voluntary contributions to the UN and UN-affiliated organizations and activities, mostly for humanitarian and development programs. [/quote:df653]
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/rls/24236.htm
[quote:df653]To finance construction, the United States Government made an interest-free loan of $65 million to the United Nations. Of this amount, the last installment of $1 million was paid in 1982.[/quote:df653]
http://www.un.org/geninfo/faq/factsheets/FS23.HTM
[quote:df653]U.N. headquarters was built for an organization of about 50 members at an initial cost —for the Secretariat, General Assembly and conference buildings alone—of about $420 million in 2003 dollars.[/quote:df653]
http://www.theatlantic.com/foreign/unwi ... -08-11.htm

[quote:df653]Largest UN Contributors:

United States - 24.630%
Japan - 18.973%
Germany - 9.487%
France - 6.266%
United Kingdom - 5.396%
Italy - 4.961%
Canada - 2.524%
Spain - 2.437%
Brazil - 2.002%
Republic of Korea - 1.741%[/quote:df653]
http://www.globalpolicy.org/finance/tab ... arge02.htm

As you can see, the US contributes 24.630% to the UN. France, Britain, Italy, Canada, Spain, Brazil and Korea - combined - contribute 25.327%. Japan would have to increase their contributions by 25% to match US contributions. Germany would have to increase their contributions by 159.618% in order to match US contributions.

Some other information on US contributions to the UN:

http://www.unausa.org/newindex.asp?plac ... 020404.asp