Peacekeeping: Issues of U.S. Military Involvement
Abstract
For several years, Congress has expressed reservations about many complex and intertwined peacekeeping issues. In an attempt to resolve some of them, on May 3, 1994, President Clinton signed presidential Decision Directive (PDD) 25, defining the scope and conditions of future U.S. participation in multilateral peacekeeping efforts. Thousands of U.S. military personnel currently serve in or support peacekeeping operations, performing tasks ranging from providing humanitarian relief to monitoring and enforcing cease-fires or other agreements designed to separate parties in conflict. Of these, 25 were serving in mid-1999 in four operations under United Nations control. The others are serving full-time in operations run unilaterally by the Department of Defense (DoD) or together with U.S. allies in support of these operations, particularly the NATO Stabilization Force (SFOR) in Bosnia and the NATO Kosovo Force (KFOR). About 37,000 more serve in or support peacekeeping operations in South Korea. These peacekeeping operations are undertaken to promote, maintain, enforce, or enhance the possibilities for peace, and can sometimes be dangerous. For Congress, two enduring, primary issues have been whether U.S. troops should be placed under United Nations control, and when the President should consult with and seek congressional approval to deploy U.S. troops on peacekeeping missions. In PDD 25, the President sets forth the procedures for informing Congress and consulting with congressional leaders about ongoing and potential peacekeeping operations, but does not say that congressional approval would be sought. Other important concerns have been the high cost of and the appropriate method for funding DoD peacekeeping activities; the suitability and desirability of U.S. military participation in peacekeeping operations; and whether the U.S. Army should be increased in size, and perhaps reconfigured, to perform peacekeeping missions with less strain on the force.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 25, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA477217
Entities
People
- Nina M. Serafino
Organizations
- Library of Congress