How much influence does the US have in the UN?

Answer 1

In the past I think we were a seminal voice in the UN, if not its guiding light. However, this administration has squandered our reputation and goodwill with the UN by flagrantly disregarding it. I gather from now on we won't have the same amount of clout as we used to.

Answer 2

We have sullied our reputation and drug it through the mud, and have more people hating us now than ever.

Be that as it may, we started the UN, along with others, and are one of 5 Countries I think, that have absolute Veto powers in the UN Security Council!!! They started the World Health Organization.

Since 1945, the United Nations has been credited with negotiating 172 peaceful settlements that have ended regional conflicts.

More than 30 million refugees fleeing war, famine or persecution have received aid from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees since 1951.

UN agencies have worked to make safe drinking water available to 1.3 billion people in rural areas during the last decade.

A 13-year effort by the World Health Organization resulted in the complete eradication of smallpox from the planet in 1980. The eradication has saved an estimated $1 billion a year in vaccination and monitoring.

This is just a small sample. The fact is that the UN and it's agencies do untold good works all over the world. There's a pretty comprehensive list here: http://www.norway-un.org/cgi-bin/wbch3.exe?p=3750

Answer 3

The United States has more influence than any other
country in the UN for the same reason it does everywhere
else: It has the money (and resources).

The UN would be a very different place if it was sufficiently
funded.

Answer 4

Within the UN, US citizens are generally not considered for any positions of responsibility or even many jobs period, although the UN will happily accept all the money, computer equipment, etc., that the US might provide. The UN in some respects seems to behave as though it deems itself necessary to balance the world's scales against US power, which means that the US is only "influential" to the extent they expect us to pay their bills (and parking tickets).

Answer 5

How much influence do you think the UN has? It has no influence, and very little respect. It's all window dressing, and unfortunately we foot the lion share of the budget for that joke! In fact, look up U.N. resolution 1267, and ask yourself how strong the U.N. influence is in the world? Get back to us on that, would ya? Thanks!

Answer 6

When one of the strongest nations speaks with its money and military might people listen even the UN. I think if the US was smart it would use wisdom to influence not a bully tactic but when you are dealing with bullies they understand no other language.

Answer 7

Shouldn't the question be the other way around? The UN couldn't stop Bush from attacking Iraq.

Answer 8

In addition to the above post (located in NY), the U.S. had a large hand in founding the U.N. The U.S. had a STRONG part in creating the 'League of Nations' after WWI, which was the prerequisite to the U.N.

EDIT: Forgot to make my point. Since they were essential in founding it, and we are the most powerful country on Earth, we have a strong influence in the U.N.

Answer 9

not nearly enough......do you have any idea how many times we've had resolution proposals blocked by france, russia or china?

you'd think that the largest financial contributor would have more pull but the UN is so d a m n corrupt, it doesn't work that way. but who's the very first country that others call when there's a problem? yep.....you guessed it!

Answer 10

Name one instance in which the UN did what it was supposed to do and succeed....I'd love to hear it.

Resolution 1559 they had 6 years to disarm Lebanon of the Hezbos and well they did a great job....