Mooneyes -
I've spent a lot of time researching this subject. The best source for information is at www.freeminds.org. They have a boatload of information on the topic, as well as links and resources to do your own hunting.
A series of letters were actually sent out to the R&F during October of 2001. (Less than a month after 9/11, it is no surprise that many people did not hear about it, as most people's attention was focused on the 9/11 story(ies).) The first letters out on the topic were written to brothers in different countries, and conflicted with one another. Once they had a little "pow wow" and came up with the "official version", they sent out a "final" letter informing everyone to "disregard" any of the previous letters on the subject. Obviously they didn't want everyone "comparing notes." They'd found their story, and they were sticking to it!
Their story was they needed access to the Dag Hammarskjold Library, located on the UN campus, for research they were doing. They claim that the only way to get a library card for this library was to join the UN as an NGO (Non-Government Organization). Of course, they didn't think anyone was smart enough to figure out that the same information could be obtained through any of the library's satellite offices - without a library card! - and there was at least one of these satellite offices closer to Brooklyn than the UN Campus!
So, if the WTBTS could get the information they were seeking elsewhere without compromising their "beliefs", why did they join the UN as an NGO? Documentation widely available demonstrates that the reason they actually joined was to have political influence in nations which currently banned the teachings of the JW's. In other words - they were using the political system they warned their members to stay away from, in order to bring in more international sales of their materials!
Another interesting aspect of this story are the requirements imposed upon an entity who is chosen to become an NGO with the UN. In general, the UN preferrs to admit NGO's based upon their capability of disseminating UN information to their own "members". WTBTS was a great candidate because of their ability to publish "periodicals". Part of the agreement an entity makes with the UN - PRIOR to being accepted as an NGO is to publish favorable information regarding the UN and it's different programs and distribute it amongst their members. Then, they must submit a copy of this propaganda to the UN as proof they have complied with this obligation. Hence, numerous favorable articles on the UN in the Awake! magazine (you can find the links on freeminds and reference to them on the UN website). The WTBTS claims that they were not aware of this provision, and contends that NGO requirements were revised to add this particular standard in 1996 (I believe). However, you can access documentation on freeminds that shows that not only had this requirement not been added in 1996, but that they were IN PLACE in 1991 - when the WTBTS gained NGO status! (Can you see the big "LIAR" across their foreheads?!) Therefore, the WTBTS AGREED to abide by these rules from the beginning of their status as an NGO, and they COMPLIED with this requirement, as well!
Once someone stumbled across this little piece of information and let others know about it, the UN was inundated with letters from Active and non-active JW's asking for more information. The UN itself was overwhelmed by the interest in this subject, and since so many people who wrote exposed the WTBTS' assessment that the UN was in fact, "The Scarlet Beast" of Revelations, decided to launch an investigation into the WTBTS. Whether the WTBTS was embarassed once the "cat was out of the bag", or because of the fear of what the UN might find in their investigation, (or a combination of both), the WTBTS officially withdrew from the UN in October of 2001, thus halting the investigation.
Anyway, there is the "nutshell" version. Again, if you need documentation to back up all of this, Randy has great stuff on www.freeminds.org.
imallgrowedup