Since September 11, 2001, keeping visas out of the hands ofterrorists has been a top priority for the Administration and Congress. Congress needs a more effective committee structure tooversee the information technology and human capital programsrequired to support the new system, and the Administration needs toinstitute organizational changes and establish appropriate measuresof effectiveness to ensure that the current system operates asefficiently as possible.
Instead of rewarding the U.N. by paying recent peacekeeping arrearsand raising the cap on U.S. contributions to peacekeeping, the U.S.should refuse to pay arrears until the organization has implementedthe reforms needed to correct waste in peacekeeping procurement andto ensure that peacekeepers are held accountable for abuses andcriminal acts.
The impending visit of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad toaddress the opening of the U.N. General Assembly dramaticallyunderscores the weakness of the U.N. in confronting one of the mostdangerous security threats in the world today.