Floyd Spence: “I rise in support of the Hefley amendment prohibiting the assignment of United States Armed Forces to the United Nations…”

“I rise in support of the Hefley amendment prohibiting the assignment of United States Armed Forces to the United Nations Rapidly Deployable Mission Headquarters. Last October, the State Department approved $200,000 from its voluntary peacekeeping account to create a U.N. Rapidly Deployable Mission Headquarters. This was the first down payment in the United Nations $2.3 million plan for this organization. Officially, the purpose of this RDMH, or whatever we call it, is to set up a command and control center for U.N. forces anywhere in the world. The headquarters is to have 8 officers, apparently permanently detailed to the U.N., and already has a Canadian Army Lieutenant Colonel who is 'on loan' to organize the headquarters and recruit other officers to join in. Mr. Chairman, I have no doubt that such an arrangement could improve the performance and professionalism of U.N. peacekeeping forces, and they certainly need it. However, it is clear that the U.N. continues to pursue a broader agenda, and that is the key element we are talking about here today.”