TONY HAVERLAND: My name is Tony Haverland from Sapulpa, Oklahoma, and I would like to "Ask CNN." Recently, the United States was removed from two seats at the United Nations. What were these two seats and why was the U.S. removed? Can we expect more activity of this nature?</s>RICHARD ROTH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The United States may be a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, but it is not going to be on two different U.N. bodies. It was voted off by secret ballot on the same day. The United States will not remain on the U.N. Human Rights Commission, which is based in Geneva. It's been there since the inception in 1947. And the U.S. also failed to win another term on the International Narcotics Control Board. On the more significant Human Rights Commission vote, the U.S. lost to Sweden, Austria and France, just by three tallies to the Swedish nation. However, Secretary of State Colin Powell virtually guarantees the U.S. will be back on the Human Rights Commission next year. These type of votes could happen again should antagonism rise between the United States, specifically the U.S. Congress, and members of the United Nations. The Congress is threatening to withhold funds that it owes the United Nations. There's been harsh words from Congress. That may not play well with member states of the United Nations, but for now the U.N. still needs the U.S. more than the United States needs the United Nations.
Ask CNN: Why was the U.S. Removed From Two Seats in the U.N.?