As a U.S. congressman, I was dismayed when the United
                        Nations last week renewed Cuba's membership on the U.N.
                        Human Rights Commission. As a Floridian with many friends
                        who have fled Fidel Castro's bloody regime, I was simply
                        furious over this disgraceful action.
                        Whether it's Saddam Hussein or Fidel Castro, the United
                        Nations has repeatedly protected tyrants, torturers and
                        murderers. Allowing Cuba to stay on the Human Rights
                        Commission — which is, incidentally, chaired by another
                        rights-abusing country, Libya — is like honoring Saddam
                        Hussein with the Nobel Peace Prize.
                        To right this wrong, I have introduced a congressional
                        resolution calling for the United Nations to reverse this
                        decision. If they choose not to, I am prepared to craft
                        legislation withholding U.S. dues and payments until they right
                        this wrong.
                        The United Nations must become accountable for its actions.
                        This recent vote is a slap in the face to the thousands of
                        Cubans who have fled Cuba for a life free from torture and
                        oppression. And it sends a disastrous message to those still
                        suffering under that regime today.
                        I applaud President Bush for his tremendous leadership in
                        protecting human rights around the world. And I thank the
                        congressmen who co-sponsored my resolution and joined
                        our effort to oust this brutal dictator from a commission
                        supposedly focused on protecting human rights, not stripping
                        them away.

                        REP. MARK FOLEY (R-Fla.)
                        U.S. House of Representatives
                        Washington