UN Bestows Liberty Award On Chavez

How can an organization founded with the lofty ideals of the United Nations fall to such depths?

From Peter Brookes writing in Townhall:

Here's one for you: Early this month, in front of 200,000 screaming supporters in Havana's Revolutionary Square, Cuban dictator Fidel Castro bestowed Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chavez with UNESCO's 2005 International Jose Marti Prize for promoting Latin American heritage, liberty and values.

Huh? Chavez? Liberty?

I'm not sure what the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization folks are "partaking" of, in their cushy Paris headquarters, but the notion that Venezuela's caudillo is deserving of an award espousing these ideals (not to mention presented by Castro in Havana) simply boggles the mind.

It might be time for Washington to reconsider its membership in - and its $80-plus million annual contribution to - this misguided U.N. agency.

But hold on - it gets worse. Not only was giving the award to Chavez a searing insult to the real Jose Marti, a 19th century Cuban liberal thinker who opposed all forms of tyranny; the event also turned into a raucous anti-American hate-fest pumped-up by blistering Chavez and Castro speeches.

How many bureaucrats at the UN are being paid to come up with sit-com material like this?