Nancy Kassebaum: “I recently cochaired a working group with Congressman Lee Hamilton, sponsored by the Henry L. Stimson Center, on…”

“I recently cochaired a working group with Congressman Lee Hamilton, sponsored by the Henry L. Stimson Center, on peacekeeping and the U.S. national interest. Clearly peacekeeping is an issue which has generated much discussion and debate over the past year. Following the experiences of Somalia and Haiti, uneasiness about United States involvement in U.N. peacekeeping has grown. Some have called for the United States to abandon U.N. peacekeeping altogether and focus our efforts solely on unilateral U.S. action. Madam President, the Stimson working group rejected this view. We believe that U.N. peacekeeping can serve U.S. interests. However, recognizing the failures of the past and growing financial constraints, we also believe that the United Nations needs a new approach to peacekeeping, with greater selectivity, tougher mandates, financial reforms, and better training, equipment, and support. The working group also emphasized the importance of Congress and the Executive working together to form a more constructive and cooperative approach to U.N. peacekeeping.”