Republicans and Information for the Public

The State Department Secretariat for the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO (headed by political appointees), a Congressionally mandated oversight body, has not yet published the minutes of the NatCom meeting held May 19th and 20th. The U.S. Permanent Delegation to UNESCO (headed by a political appointee) has just published a very brief report on the meeting. That report fails to note that most Commissioners didn't bother to attend the annual meeting, but does include the speech made by the Ambassador at the meeting. That speech is silent about what UNESCO accomplished since the last meeting of the NatCom and how those accomplishments related to U.S. foreign policy objectives. The report on the meeting focuses primarily on the side events held in conjunction, which may well have diverted Commissioners' attention from the work of UNESCO and of the U.S. State Department officials relating to UNESCO, which it is to supervise.

UNESCO is an important organization in terms of this nation's long term quest for peace and security, the worldwide promotion of democratic values and institutions, and promotion of understanding of the our world and how to protect the environment. It is important that the State Department manage our interests with UNESCO well, and the Congressionally chartered oversight body should be provided detailed information necessary for it to do its job. Failing to inform the NatCom fully during its infrequent meetings, and not publishing the minutes of those meetings promptly fails to serve the public.

Two stories in today's Washington Post also talk about Republican roles in providing information for the public and its representatives.

"Let the Games Begin!" Dana Milbank, The Washington Post, July 16, 2008.

Dana Milbank describes the paliamentary tactics used by Republicans yesterday to block testimony during the Doug Feith hearings yesterday, and to give time to Feith to figure out how to answer probing questions from the Democrats.

"Former Lobbyist Is Charged With Trying To Destroy Evidence," by Del Quentin Wilber, The Washington Post, July 16, 2008.

"A former lobbyist and close friend of former congressman Curt Weldon was charged yesterday with trying to destroy potential evidence in the federal investigation of the Pennsylvania Republican.

"The lobbyist, Cecilia M. Grimes, is accused of throwing away documents sought by FBI agents as part of their probe into Weldon's ties to lobbying and consulting firms. She is the second person to be charged in the investigation."