US 'Completes' WHO Withdrawal, Forgetting the Bills and the Blueprint
📰 THE STORY: The New Arab reports that the United States has officially finalized its withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO), a move initiated by the Trump administration. The article notes that Washington still owes the global health agency $133 million in contributions. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: This withdrawal is not an isolated incident. In 1984, the
Reagan administration famously pulled the US out of UNESCO, citing 'politicization' and anti-Western bias, only to rejoin nearly two decades later under George W. Bush. This set a precedent for using international body membership as a political cudgel, rather than a commitment to multilateralism. Double Standard: When governments like Russia or China are accused of undermining international
institutions or refusing to cooperate, Western media frames it as a threat to global order. Yet, when the US withdraws funding or membership from treaties and organizations (e.g., the Paris Climate Accord, the Iran nuclear deal in 2018), it's often presented as decisive leadership or a necessary correction, even when it leaves significant financial arrears. Follow the Money: The $133 million owed
is a fraction of what the US directs towards its military-industrial complex and lobbying efforts. For instance, in 2023, the US military budget was over $886 billion. The consistent underfunding or outright withdrawal from global health and climate initiatives, while simultaneously funneling vast sums into defense and geopolitical power projection, reveals priorities that consistently place