Clinton Administration Shifts Stance on Peacekeeping

The Clinton Administration has announced a policy shift on peacekeeping, releasing a directive that defines strict conditions for setting up peacekeeping operations and committing US troops to them. The decision, reflected in "Presidential Decision Directive 25," comes after unsuccessful peacekeeping operations in Somalia and Haiti and a year of internal feuding within the administration. The policy rejects the idea of the United Nations as the global policeman, as envisioned by Bill Clinton in 1992, and instead emphasizes a more selective approach to peacekeeping.

Key Takeaways:

• The Clinton Administration's new peacekeeping policy, outlined in "Presidential Decision Directive 25," sets strict conditions for setting up peacekeeping operations and committing US troops to them.
• The policy requires consideration of advancements of US interests, availability of personnel and funds, need for participation, support of Congress, presence of clear objectives, and acceptable command and control arrangements before involving troops in an operation.
• The directive also establishes conditions for new peacekeeping operations, including a threat to international security, consent of parties, availability of money and troops, a mandate appropriate to the mission, and a realistic strategy to end the mission.
• The administration does not support the creation of a standing United Nations army and will not contribute troops to such a force.
• The policy aims to reduce the US contribution to 25 percent of the total peacekeeping budget, down from 31.7 percent.
• The US has already begun following many of the guidelines in the directive, blocking requests for peacekeeping operations in Burundi, Georgia, and Angola due to unrealistic goals.
• The new policy is designed to make multilateral peace operations more selective and effective, rather than expanding US involvement.

Statistics:

• The US pays 31.7 percent of the total peacekeeping budget, down from 25 percent as envisioned by the policy.
• The US is almost $1.1 billion behind in its peacekeeping dues to the UN by the end of September.
• Less than 1 percent of the 80,000 troops serving under the UN flag are Americans.
• The US has diverted money from supplemental aid intended to pay $670 million of its peacekeeping debt to underwrite repairs after the LA earthquake.

Sources:

• The New York Times, "Clinton Rejects Role as Global Policeman in New Peacekeeping Policy" (date unavailable)
• The Washington Post, "Clinton Axes Use of UN Army" (date unavailable)