Today's Article
The UN operations
keep much of the
world from sliding
down into chaos
--and possibly
pulling America
down with it.
keep much of the
world from sliding
down into chaos
--and possibly
pulling America
down with it.
The American Spark
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Has State Department Crippled UN Peacekeeping Missions?
By Cliff Montgomery - Dec. 22nd, 2008
The State Department has failed to provide Congress with vital "information about UN troop and other
resource gaps" in the United Nations' peacekeeping operations, reveals a Government Accountability Office
(GAO) study released on December 18th.
The UN operations maintain international security. They keep much of the world from sliding down into chaos--
and possibly pulling America down with it. Therefore it's essential that these operations are properly manned
and funded. This can only be ensured when our representatives in Congress, and the American people
themselves, know what is needed and what they can provide.
Below The American Spark offers some essential points of the study, quoted from the highlights of the report:
"The United Nations (UN) supports U.S. interests in maintaining international security by deploying and
operating 16 peacekeeping operations in locations in conflict, including Darfur, Lebanon, and Haiti.
"Over the past 10 years, the number of deployed UN personnel increased from about 41,000 peace-keepers
and civilian staff to about 109,000 in 2008.
"In this report on the UN’s capacity to deploy further operations, GAO was asked to examine (1) the evolution
of UN peacekeeping operations in the past 10 years; (2) the likely characteristics of a potential new
peacekeeping operation, given this evolution; (3) the challenges, if any, the UN would face deploying this
operation; and (4) U.S. efforts to support and report on UN peacekeeping."
"UN peacekeeping operations since 1998 have taken on increasingly ambitious mandates, been located in
more challenging environments, and grown in size and scope. UN operations in 1998 averaged three
mandated tasks, such as observing cease-fires; in 2008, they averaged nine more ambitious tasks, such as
restoring government institutions. Operations in 2008 were located in some of the world’s most unstable
countries, were larger and more complex than in 1998, and deployed thousands of civilians.
"Based on trends in peacekeeping and recent UN planning options, GAO analysis indicates that a potential
new operation would likely be large and complex, take place in sub-Saharan Africa, and have nine mandated
tasks.
"This potential new operation would likely require member states to contribute 21,000 troops and military
observers, including those in engineering and aviation units, and 1,500 police to carry out the mandate. The
UN would likely need to deploy 4,000 to 5,000 civilians. The operation’s logistics needs also would be large and
complex.
"The ability to fully deploy any potential new operation would likely face challenges, in view of current UN
resource constraints. As of September 2008, ongoing UN operations had about a 20 percent gap between
troops and military observers authorized to carry out operations and actual deployments.
"For police, the gap was about 34 percent; it was similar for civilians.
"Some gaps reflect UN difficulties in obtaining and deploying resources to carry out operations. Lack of these
resources, such as special military units, prevented some operations from executing mandates. Lack of
infrastructure in the potential new operation’s environment would challenge the UN to provide logistical needs.
"The U.S. government has helped train and make available over 40,000 troops and police through the Global
Peace Operations Initiative.
"The President is required to report to Congress on UN peacekeeping operations’ status and effectiveness.
State provides some of this information through its monthly briefings to Congress. However, in its notifications
and annual peacekeeping reports to Congress, State has not provided information about UN troop and other
resource gaps—important elements of status and effectiveness."
"To ensure Congress has the information needed to consider U.S. budget and other requests for
peacekeeping, GAO recommends that the Department of State include in its reporting to Congress
information about UN challenges and gaps in obtaining resources needed to carry out peacekeeping."
Like what you're reading so far? Then why not order a full year (52 issues) of the The American Spark e-
newsletter for only $15? A major article covering an story not being told in the Corporate Press will be
delivered to your email every Monday morning for a full year, for less than 30 cents an issue. Order Now!
By Cliff Montgomery - Dec. 22nd, 2008
The State Department has failed to provide Congress with vital "information about UN troop and other
resource gaps" in the United Nations' peacekeeping operations, reveals a Government Accountability Office
(GAO) study released on December 18th.
The UN operations maintain international security. They keep much of the world from sliding down into chaos--
and possibly pulling America down with it. Therefore it's essential that these operations are properly manned
and funded. This can only be ensured when our representatives in Congress, and the American people
themselves, know what is needed and what they can provide.
Below The American Spark offers some essential points of the study, quoted from the highlights of the report:
"The United Nations (UN) supports U.S. interests in maintaining international security by deploying and
operating 16 peacekeeping operations in locations in conflict, including Darfur, Lebanon, and Haiti.
"Over the past 10 years, the number of deployed UN personnel increased from about 41,000 peace-keepers
and civilian staff to about 109,000 in 2008.
"In this report on the UN’s capacity to deploy further operations, GAO was asked to examine (1) the evolution
of UN peacekeeping operations in the past 10 years; (2) the likely characteristics of a potential new
peacekeeping operation, given this evolution; (3) the challenges, if any, the UN would face deploying this
operation; and (4) U.S. efforts to support and report on UN peacekeeping."
"UN peacekeeping operations since 1998 have taken on increasingly ambitious mandates, been located in
more challenging environments, and grown in size and scope. UN operations in 1998 averaged three
mandated tasks, such as observing cease-fires; in 2008, they averaged nine more ambitious tasks, such as
restoring government institutions. Operations in 2008 were located in some of the world’s most unstable
countries, were larger and more complex than in 1998, and deployed thousands of civilians.
"Based on trends in peacekeeping and recent UN planning options, GAO analysis indicates that a potential
new operation would likely be large and complex, take place in sub-Saharan Africa, and have nine mandated
tasks.
"This potential new operation would likely require member states to contribute 21,000 troops and military
observers, including those in engineering and aviation units, and 1,500 police to carry out the mandate. The
UN would likely need to deploy 4,000 to 5,000 civilians. The operation’s logistics needs also would be large and
complex.
"The ability to fully deploy any potential new operation would likely face challenges, in view of current UN
resource constraints. As of September 2008, ongoing UN operations had about a 20 percent gap between
troops and military observers authorized to carry out operations and actual deployments.
"For police, the gap was about 34 percent; it was similar for civilians.
"Some gaps reflect UN difficulties in obtaining and deploying resources to carry out operations. Lack of these
resources, such as special military units, prevented some operations from executing mandates. Lack of
infrastructure in the potential new operation’s environment would challenge the UN to provide logistical needs.
"The U.S. government has helped train and make available over 40,000 troops and police through the Global
Peace Operations Initiative.
"The President is required to report to Congress on UN peacekeeping operations’ status and effectiveness.
State provides some of this information through its monthly briefings to Congress. However, in its notifications
and annual peacekeeping reports to Congress, State has not provided information about UN troop and other
resource gaps—important elements of status and effectiveness."
"To ensure Congress has the information needed to consider U.S. budget and other requests for
peacekeeping, GAO recommends that the Department of State include in its reporting to Congress
information about UN challenges and gaps in obtaining resources needed to carry out peacekeeping."
Like what you're reading so far? Then why not order a full year (52 issues) of the The American Spark e-
newsletter for only $15? A major article covering an story not being told in the Corporate Press will be
delivered to your email every Monday morning for a full year, for less than 30 cents an issue. Order Now!
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