United States Support for United Nations Peace Operations: Where Are We? Where Are We Going?

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The United States is now the only true super power and finds itself wrestling with its new leadership role. One area that the United States is searching for clear policy guidance is in peace operations--specifically national and military strategy and doctrine as it pertains to supporting United Nations peace operations. Peacekeeping and peace enforcement are two vitally different roles requiring different forces, both qualitatively and quantitatively. The current Administration addresses peace operations in the White House document "A National Security Strategy of Engagement and Enlargement," dated February 1995. The strategy document states that peace operations are the best way to prevent, contain, and resolve conflicts that could otherwise be far more costly and deadly. A May 1994 Presidential Decision Directive addressed six major issues for reform. The United States military is making an attempt to establish peace operations doctrine in Joint Publication 3-07.3 and Army Field Manual 100-23. America cannot police every Third World skirmish, but it must ensure that when it commits troops they are used intelligently, with the correct doctrine, with clear military objectives, and with the proper training and equipment.