U.N. Ambassador Rice Lays Out America’s Role In Global Peacekeeping Operations

By Mariko Lamb – Talk Radio News Service

Ambassador Susan Rice, U.S. Representative to the United Nations, described challenges facing the UN’s 15 peacekeeping operations in conflict areas around the world as well as the U.S.’s role in facing these challenges in her address to the House Foreign Affairs Committee Wednesday.

Key challenges include the rapid demand of riskier U.N. peacekeeping missions, lack of support and capabilities from member states, and lack of stability and legitimacy of host governments after the departure of U.N. forces.

“It will take concerted action by many actors to meet the difficult challenges facing U.N. peacekeeping. It will also take U.S. leadership,” Rice said.

“Increasing the effectiveness and the efficiency of peacekeeping is one of the Obama administration’s highest priorities at the United Nations,” she said. The U.S. is considering direct contribution to U.N. peacekeeping efforts in the form of military observers, military staff officers, civilian police, and other civilian personnel.

The U.S. share of the U.N.’s peacekeeping costs will amount to an estimated $2.2 billion in 2009.

“It is pragmatism and a clear sense of America’s interests that drives us to support U.N. peacekeeping today,” said Rice, adding that “2.2 billion is a lot of money, but the costs of inaction would likely be far greater, both in blood and treasure.”