U.N.‘s Haiti Peacekeeping Budget Goes Mostly to Its Own Personnel

Article submitted by Vile Reader KZconcepts

This article represents a bit of a departure from our general theme and I am questioning what, if anything, the author is insinuating. 

According to Mr. Russell, the world organization plans to spend the money on an expanded force of some 12,675 soldiers and police, plus some 479 international staffers, 669 international contract personnel, and 1,300 local workers, just for the 12 months ending June 30, 2010. A total yearly expense of $496 million.

Providing my math is correct, this means that the 15,123 people working for the Haiti relief effort on behalf of the United Nations were paid an average yearly salary of $32,797.

Not exactly a king's ransom for work no reasonable person would call "fun". Is the author suggesting that individuals working for the U.N. should work free-of-charge? They have families to feed too. 

Mr. Russell also points out that the budgeted cost of peacekeeping has roughly doubled, from an original $372.8 million (when U.N. peacekeepers were installed on the island in 2004). What are peacekeepers normally paid and is a doubling controversial given the post-earhtquake circumstances in Haiti? The scope of the effort is a bit larger, wouldn't you agree?

My conclusion is that the author and Fox News are attempting to stir up controversy where there is none.