'AMERICA FIRST' VS. GLOBALIZATION

As last remaining superpower, we have to determine our role in the world.

Get the U.S. out of the U.N.

The foes of globalization who have long preached that message
probably meant that it should happen all at once, a dramatic pullout
that would send a message to other nations. They probably never
envisioned what now seems to be happening, the U.S. disappearance
from the world body one prestigious committee at a time.

In the secret ballots cast Thursday by the 54-member U.N. Economic
and Social Council, the U.S. was ousted from the Human Rights
Commission and the International Narcotics Control Board. The loss of
the human-rights seat was especially galling. America, still a haven
of liberty and justice for oppressed people everywhere, lost its
seat, while seats were given to Sudan, where the government has been
involved in slavery and forced labor; and Sierra Leone, whose
security forces and rebels are in competition to see who can torture
and massacre the most people. And such exemplars of human rights as
China, Cuba, Libya and Syria retained their seats.

It is not the U.S. that will suffer because of this move, but those
oppressed people, who have now lost an important voice on their
behalf. Neither are we the biggest loser in the case of the narcotics
board. The U.S. has not always made the right moves in the "war on
drugs," but the value of its leadership can't be understated. As
noted by former drug czar Barry McCaffrey, the United States plays "a
dominant role in the research and development of drug treatment
programs."

The U.N.'s shabby treatment of the U.S. seems to be coming from
nations -- including our allies in Europe -- who are alarmed at the
emerging "America First" policies of the new Bush administration. We
won't sign off on the Kyoto global warming treaty. We insist on going
ahead with our missile defense plans. We won't ratify the treaties
creating an international criminal court or enforcing the nuclear
test ban.

Their concern is understandable. The U.S. is the last remaining
superpower, and the more it is going to set its own agenda, the less
influence other nations will have.

But you certainly have to marvel at their foolish timing. Congress is
ready (or at least was) to consider $582 million the U.S. owes in
fees to the U.N. and $67 million to join UNESCO, which we dropped out
of 17 years ago. Anti-U.N. sentiment is already strong in Congress,
and this won't help.

This imbroglio at least gives America an opportunity to re-evaluate
its role in a changing world. We are the last superpower, and we need
to decide how we're going to behave as such. We don't want to be the
world's bully, throwing our weight around just because we can. But we
are still the world's best democracy, and we needn't be bullied,
either.

There is still value in staying in the U.N., no matter how nutty it
becomes. If for no other reason, we will stay close to the people who
would create mischief for us. But make no mistake: The U.N. needs us
a lot more than we need it. If this nonsense continues, don't be
surprised to hear a chorus of voices with a new demand: Get the U.N.
out of the U.S.

There's probably land available in Sudan and Sierra Leone.