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US Policy on UN Peacekeeping
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Peacekeeping
Key Documents and Reports
UN Peacekeeping Myths and Realities
A report of the Stimson Center suggests that President Bush’s budget request for 2003 includes an array of unrealistic assumptions. The Administration expects budget reductions in nearly all current UN peacekeeping operations and hopes for no new operations during 2003. The request does not allot additional funds for a peacekeeping reform.
Although the Bush Administration is not keen on a “Clintonesque” long-term peacekeeping operation in Afghanistan, staying until the Afghan army is back on its feet seems worthwhile and cost-effective. (National Journal)
In this report the General Accounting Office adopts a very broad definition of “support.” The US Congress auditing arm claims that the US contributed $3.45 billion directly and $24.2 billion indirectly to support UN peacekeeping operations during the 1996-2001 period.
A report, based on interviews with thirty US military leaders concludes that the US military strongly supports UN peacekeeping operations. The top officers emphasize that peacekeeping missions increase combat readiness and help in the fight against international terrorism. (Peace Through Law Education Fund)
The report by Foreign Policy in Focus warns against the US’s rapid expansion of military ties with countries accused of questionable human rights records. As the Bush administration appears to make critical oversight of these programs more difficult, the US can consequently “foster, rather than hinder, terrorism.” (OneWorld US)
The Council for a Livable World argues in its new publication that the US should be more involved in UN peacekeeping operations, and the UN should be reformed and strengthened.
C. David Welch, Assistant Secretary for International Organization Affairs, sets the record straight on peacekeeping successes and failures, as the US sees them. He also discusses peacekeeping assessment and reform, and if the UN is good, it "will reap an immediate benefit" of nearly $600 million from the US dues for peacekeeping (of which they owe over $1.3 billion). (US State Department)
Articles
Stiffing the Blue Helmets (February 21, 2008)
President Bush has heralded peaceful “democratic transition” in Africa while at the same time severely short-changing the UN peacekeeping budget, according to this Guardian article. The author, Mark Leon Goldberg, states that peacekeeping has proven to be one of the most successful forms of conflict resolution. While the US promotes peacekeeping verbally – it neglects to support missions financially or militarily. The article illustrates that the US will be US$610 million in debt to the UN peacekeeping budget this year, and US$2 billion in permanent arrears to the UN as a whole.Bolton Asks UN to Rethink Peacekeeping (October 6, 2005)
In light of the safety threats facing UN peacekeepers in Eritrea and Ethiopia, US Ambassador John Bolton suggested that the UN rethink the broader purpose of such missions. UN diplomats fear that Bolton’s remarks may compromise the future of peacekeeping missions, as the US is the largest contributor to the peacekeeping budget, with contributions amounting to approximately $1.2 billion a year. (New York Sun)US to Pull Forces From 2 UN Missions (July 1, 2004)
The Pentagon announced that it would pull US peacekeepers out of two UN missions because they are no longer immune from international prosecution for war crimes. This announcement comes shortly after the United States grudgingly rescinded its proposed Security Council resolution to exempt US soldiers from ICC prosecution. (Associated Press)US OKs Peacekeepers to the Ivory Coast (February 17, 2004)
After initially opposing the deployment of UN peacekeepers to war-ravaged Ivory Coast, the US has reversed its decision and asked Congress for approval. In light of this, the current Security Council president, Wang Guangya, has expressed hope that the UN will approve a peacekeeping force before the end of the month, when the mandate of the current UN mission and the French and African peacekeepers expires. (Associated Press)Bush May Forge New Model for Global Peacekeeping (July 14, 2003)
Despite spending almost four billion dollars per month, the US military has not created stability in post-conflict Iraq. The high costs in dollars and US lives may explain the Bush administration’s unexpected interest in creating a US-led peacekeeping force. (Christian Science Monitor)US Looks at Organizing Global Peacekeeping Force (June 27, 2003)
US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld would like to establish a peacekeeping force separate from the UN and NATO. A defense policy expert remarked, “[The US is] not terribly good at peacekeeping, so I don't know why [it] would train people to be peacekeepers.” (Los Angeles Times)The Unlawful Attempt by the Security Council to Give US Citizens Permanent Impunity from International Justice (May 1, 2003)
Amnesty International questions the legality of Security Council resolution 1422 which grants US citizens immunity from the ICC’s jurisdiction. They call on member states to reject a renewal of the resolution when it expires on June 30, 2003.US Must Affirm Its Commitment to Peacekeeping (July 18, 2002)
The dispute between the US and the UN regarding the ICC and peacekeeping has left the world with a bitter aftertaste. The issue has “lent credibility” to those who worry about US unilateralism and has raised further questions about American commitment to peacekeeping. (Baltimore Sun)US Delays Veto of UN Troops in Bosnia: Security Council allowed 12 Days to Solve Court Crisis (July 4, 2002)
The US agreed to a 12-day extension of the UN peacekeeping mission in Bosnia. The delay will allow Washington and its opponents in the UN Security Council to find solutions that will bridge the differences on the jurisdiction of the ICC over US peacekeepers. (San Francisco Chronicle)White House: Won't Abandon Bosnia (July 3, 2002)
The EU ambassadors unanimously rejected the US proposal, which would have allowed Security Council permanent members to permanently block ICC’s prosecution of peacekeepers. Washington vowed to stay committed to its peacekeeping obligations in Bosnia even if the deadlock persists. (Associated Press)EU Ready to Take Control of UN Bosnia Mission (July 3, 2002)
The EU has shown resolve to take over police training if the US vetoes an extension of the peacekeeping mission in Bosnia. Despite the negative effects on the peace process in Bosnia, such scenario could catalyze the formation of the EU peacekeeping force. (Reuters)Bosnia: Fears Over UN Pullout (July 3, 2002)
A US veto on the renewal of the UN peacekeeping mission in Bosnia will have deep repercussions. The Institute for War and Peace Reporting says that the premature ending of the mission will undermine the rule of law and the respect for human rights, leave hundreds unemployed, and leave organized crime unchecked.Collateral Costs in Fighting a New Court (July 2, 2002)
The top UN official in Sarajevo, Paddy Ashdown, suggests that an early pullout of the UN police force from Bosnia will slowdown the training of Bosnian police force. Law-enforcement remains crucial in bringing order back, giving refugees confidence to return, and, above all, fighting organized crime. (New York Times)UN Peace Operations in Danger of Being Crippled (July 2, 2002)
Following its veto on the renewal of the UN peacekeeping mission in Bosnia, the US could veto the continuation of five other mandates, expiring in July. US reluctance to simply withdraw its peacekeepers, instead of vetoing renewals, clearly shows its broader goal of undermining the International Criminal Court. (The Times)US Vetoes Bosnia Mission, Then Allows 3-Day Reprieve (July 1, 2002)
Claiming to remain “committed to international peace and security,” the US has vetoed the UN resolution renewing the peacekeeping mission in Bosnia and will not “budge down in its demand” for immunity. Arguing that “none of this is our doing,” the US is devoted to undermining international law. (New York Times)US Vetoes Peacekeeping Extension (June 30, 2002)
Following its threats, the US has vetoed the Security Council Resolution renewing the UN peacekeeping mission in Bosnia as a result of its failure to win immunity for US citizens from the ICC. (Associated Press)US Proposals to Undermine the International Criminal Court Through a UN Security Council Resolution (June 25, 2002)
A Human Rights Watch backgrounder analyzes the US attempts to undermine the ICC. The document argues that the Bush administration was wrong to draw parallels between its own draft resolution and the UK negotiated exemption from prosecution for ISAF peacekeepers in Afghanistan.Diplomacy's Odd Couple, the US and the UN (June 26, 2002)
The US wants UN peace operations to be selective, efficient, and cost effective. It would work to increase the military capabilities of the UN but will leave fighting to multinational coalitions. The US wishes the UN to be the only acceptable legitimator of international military action for all except the US and NATO. (International Herald Tribune)US Veto Threat 'Frontal Attack' On Law (June 22, 2002)
Canada condemns the US threat to disrupt international peacekeeping operations, unless a clause for immunity is inserted, as a “frontal attack on international law and the rule of law.” Canada believes that such a proposal undermines the rule of law, and urges the Security Council to reject it. (National Post)US Imperils UN Peacekeeping (June 20, 2002)
The US has threatened to veto the extension of the peacekeeping mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, unless the UN Security Council adopts a text exempting peacekeepers from prosecution by the International Criminal Court. Such a move could put the entire Bosnia peace process in a precarious situation. (National Post)US to Request Immunity for Peacekeepers (June 18, 2002)
The US will attempt to introduce to the Security Council a resolution that will exempt US peacekeepers from prosecution by the International Criminal Court. If the resolution does not go through, the US threatens to “reexamine” its financial contributions to the UN peacekeeping or reduce it peacekeeping personnel. (The Washington Times)UN Envoy Seeks Help from US (June 15, 2002)
The UN chief for peacekeeping, Jean Marie Guéhenno, visited Washington and attempted to raise support for UN peacekeeping operations. He hoped to win the backing of many by pointing that Al Qaeda’s operations proved that remote and unstable regions could be a threat to the US. (The Washington Times)Now Showing on Satellite TV: Secret American Spy Photos (June 13, 2002)
The “top secret” surveillance images, which US spyplanes provide to support the peacekeeping operations in the Balkans, have been publicly available over satellite TV and the Internet. Such operational flaws endanger the effectiveness of the peacekeeping missions and undermine UN legitimacy. (The Guardian)Unilateralism vs. Multilateralism: America Can't Go It Alone (June 13, 2002)
By insisting that the United Nations do the ''dirty work'' of nation-buildinThe Bush administration has lost balance and has tilted towards unilateralism. A return to multilateralism will entail convincing old and new friends to go along with the US. It will also require increased US participation in multilateral actions, but only if they clearly coincide with US interests. (International Herald Tribune)Confronting the Warlord Culture (June 06, 2002)
By insisting that the United Nations do the ''dirty work'' of nation-building without ensuring a secure foundation upon which to build, President George W. Bush is setting up the UN to fail in Afghanistan, much as his father's policies sowed the seeds for failure in Somalia. (The Boston Globe)US Backs Further from Peacekeeping (June 5, 2002)
Following the retraction from the treaty on the International Criminal Court, the Bush Administration has decided to close the US Army's Peacekeeping Institute. The move clearly signals the Administration’s intent to disengage as much as possible from international peacekeeping efforts. (Inter Press Service)US Makes International Court Demands (May 21, 2002)
The US failed to amend UN Security Council resolution 1410 on East Timor, to include language, which would have prevented the International Criminal Court from being able to prosecute US members of the East Timor peacekeeping mission.(Associated Press)US Seeks Court Immunity For East Timor Peacekeepers (May 16, 2002)
The International Criminal Court might be a stumbling block to future US participation in peacekeeping missions. The US seeks assurances that its UN personnel in East Timor will be exempted from prosecution by the ICC. Major US allies oppose these demands, and see them as another move to undermine the ICC. (The Washington Post)Wider Mission Stretches Military (May 2, 2002)
Chasing terrorists around the globe is putting a strain on the US military. The US Defense Secretary argues that the US should cut involvement in “non-military duties” such as international peacekeeping so the military can engage in “real” military duties. (Christian Science Monitor)The Evolving President (April 21, 2002)
Although the US has been reluctant expand the multinational peacekeeping force in Afghanistan, the US must provide the means if the Bush Administration wants to reconstruct Afghanistan. (Washington Post)US Companies Hired to Train Foreign Armies (April 14, 2002)
“The war on terrorism is the full employment act for these [private military companies (PMCs)],” says a Pentagon spokesman. Training the Afghan army may require the hiring of some of the often controversial PMCs. (Los Angeles Times )Pentagon Challenge: Build an Afghan Army (April 11, 2002)
The Pentagon plans to deploy its special forces to jump-start the Afghani army. Yet the task of creating an ethnically balanced and a government-controlled army is not easy. (Christian Science Monitor)Guns Before Butter: Afghanistan (April 6, 2002)
Before turning down the possibility of extending the Intern Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, the US should remember its peacekeeping experience in Bosnia. Although Bosnia is far from perfect, the significant US troop contribution to the region has undeniably contributed to peace. (Economist)Rebuilding Nations . . . (April 6, 2002)
Richard Holbrooke, the former US Ambassador to the UN, argues that fighting for and reconstructing Afghanistan are both integral parts in the campaign against terrorism. (Washington Post)Help Africa Help Itself Militarily (March 18, 2002)
If the US seriously wants the African countries to help themselves, why cut the budget for the African Crisis Response Initiative (ACRI), a US-sponsored African military training program? (Baltimore Sun)Peacemaking too Important to Be Left to the US (February 23, 2002)
US unparalleled military power is creating a world where “the US fights, the UN feeds and the EU funds.” However, European officials are wary of giving the US a “carte blanche” for its military operations. (Irish Times )Both Savior and Victim: Black Hawk Down Creates a New and Dangerous Myth of American Nationhood (January 29, 2002)
Initially, the US entered Somalia in 1992 to do “God’s work” in a nation devastated by clan warfare and famine. Yet far from resolving the conflict, the US accidentally escalated aggression and transformed UN’s peacekeeping mission into a partisan war. (Guardian)US Says 'Not Yet' To Patrol By Allies (November 30, 2001)
The US Central Command halted the deployment of thousands of international peacekeepers because “the best intentions in the world, if provided in an uncoordinated way, makes things worse instead of better."
(Washington Post)Powell's Peacekeeping Promise (May 24, 2001)
The US has guaranteed support to Nigerian peacekeepers in UNAMSIL – a good excuse not to send US troops to Africa. Interestingly, the US also has oil interests in Nigeria. (AllAfrica.com)West Face Peacekeeping Accusations (May 16, 2001)
The International Institute for Strategic Studies’ annual report accuses Western countries of participating in peacekeeping efforts only if they have a strategic interest.(CNN)Bolton's Address on the US and UN Peacekeeping (October 11, 2000)
A criticism of the US government for being too loose over policy directions on UN peacekeeping, causing confused and misunderstood missions, which "continues to haunt both the UN and the United States in several current crises." (US Federal News Service)Holbrooke’s Address to UN Budgetary Committee on Peacekeeping (October 3, 2000)
Holbrooke asked the Fifth Committee to re-evaluate the assessment scale for the financing of peacekeeping missions. This is the full transcript of his speech. (US Mission to the UN)Peacekeeping with Honor (September 18, 2000)
Lead editorial in the New York Times calls for strengthened UN peacekeeping, but insists that the US must be ready to act alone or with its allies if its 'vital interests' are threatened.US Blamed for Peacekeeping Failures (August 31, 2000)
“US is to blame”—such was the message of Kofi Annan in his interview with Time magazine. Even though the Secretary General did not explicitly criticize the Clinton administration, his words were more than direct when he talked about the US as a country that “will not accept a single casualty.” (Guardian Unlimited)US Assists Africa From Distance (August 25, 2000)
The unwillingness of the West to get involved in the UN peacekeeping operations in Africa has now become notorious. In fact, many have hinted at the existence of “an unspoken policy that the United States won't send troops to Africa.” (Associated Press)US Proposal For Senior UN Peacekeeping Post Is Blocked (August 5, 2000)
France brushes off the US’s attempt to snatch the top position in the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations. France complains that the US is trying to further exert its already excessive authority in the UN.(Washington Post )White House Backs Request by Annan (August 5, 2000)
The Clinton administration has begun consultations with the US Congress on beefing up the mission in Sierra Leone. Yet many UN officials remain skeptical of how the US Ambassador to the UN can cajole the notoriously reluctant US Congress to move along with this plan. (Washington Post )Washington Takes a Blast From Its Envoy at the U.N. (July 21, 2000)
Surprisingly, US Ambassador Richard Holbrooke publicly criticized Washington's funding of UN peacekeeping efforts. This is the first time since his tenure at the UN that Ambassador Holbrooke has turned against his Washington cronies. (New York Times)UN Council Calls for AIDS Training for UN Troops (July 17, 2000)
Although some delegations expressed queasiness of discussing HIV/AIDS in the Security Council, the resolution passed by a strong push by the US Ambassador to the UN. (Reuters)UN Says Its Peacekeepers are Spreading AIDS (July 7, 2000)
Alarmed with the disturbing phenomenon, the US proposed a UN Security Council draft resolution that calls the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations to educate all peacekeepers to halt the proliferation of HIV. (Washington Times)Briefing By US Envoy to the UN Richard Holbrooke on Africa (June 30, 2000)
At a briefing with African journalists, the US Ambassador to the UN explained that Africa is a top priority for the US government. He denied the US's alleged "double" standard towards Africa, but admitted that the US is "partly to blame" for the difficulties in UN peacekeeping. (UN Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN)/ Africa News )US Ambassador to UN Calls for Changes in Peacekeeping (June 14, 2000)
Amb. Holbrooke of the US urged the professionalization of UN peacekeeping by "borrowing" experienced military personnel to organize effective operations. Holbrooke also argued that all UN members should give more support to the peacekeeping operations. However this is unlikely to be well received considering the criticism against the US for its lack of support of the UN through lagging behind in payments. (New York Times)Can the UN Help Resolve Africa Conflicts Without US? (May 23, 2000)
Still haunted by the disastrous mission in Somalia, the US is reluctant to provide military or financial support to peacekeeping operations in Africa. Without backing from the US however, peace is becoming more difficult to implement.(Christian Science Monitor )The United Nations and International Security: Dilemmas and Agendas for American Engagement (April 10, 2000)
A paper by Jeffrey Laurenti expresses the widening gap between the US and the rest of the world regarding the question of legitimate authority to use military force in interstate relations. It highlights the ultimate benefits of working towards international peace and security through the UN.US Amb. Richard Holbrooke on Revised US Assessments (March 23, 2000)
In his statement to the Fifth Committe of the General Assembly, Amb. Richard Holbrooke urges a lower scale of assessments for the United States and warns that if the US share is not lowered, the financing of the UN and of peacekeeping could collapse.A Degrading Policy (April 8, 1999)
William D. Hartung's insightful proposals on how the US can avoid future repetitions of the disaster in Kosovo. The US is largely to blame for th UN financial crisis which dangerously reduces its peacekeeping capabilities and capacities to prevent future conflicts.US Policy on Reforming Multilateral Peace Initiatives (February 1996)
A page posted by the US State Department which summarizes the Clinton Administration's Presidential Decision Directive 25 (May, 1994), setting out US policy on peacekeeping. Initially intended by the Administration as a guideline for broadened multilateralism, PDD 25 came under intense pressure in Washington during the drafting process and emerged as a document which narrowed US commitment to the UN and called for a reduction in peacekeeping spending. For more on PDD 25 and Clinton Administration policy, click here.Remaking UN Peacekeeping: US Policy and Real Reform (1995)
Executive summary of a reform proposal for a more effective peacekeeping system, written by Worldwatch Institute Senior Researcher Michael Renner. For full report, see bibliography below.Links
Permanent Mission of the United States to the United Nations
Permanent Mission of the US to the UN: peacekeeping section - provides a collection of updated statements by the US mission on UN peacekeeping.
Ted Turner’s Better World Campaign: A US perspective on the US role and involvement in UN peacekeeping.
The Partnership for Effective Peacekeeping (PEP)
The International Peace Operations Association - an Washington based association of Military Service Provider companies that do everything from mine clearance, to armed logistics, to emergency humanitarian services, to actual armed peacekeepers.
US Army Peacekeeping Institute (scheduled for closure in 2003.)
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