Can the Pentagon spare some change for U.N. peacekeeping?
The Pentagon may have made out like bandits in President Bush’s latest budget proposal, but U.N. peacekeepers? Not so much. The United States is already late on more than $1 billion in dues for peacekeeping missions, and the $1.5 billion Bush just proposed for next year falls more than half a billion dollars short of ...
The Pentagon may have made out like bandits in President Bush's latest budget proposal, but U.N. peacekeepers? Not so much. The United States is already late on more than $1 billion in dues for peacekeeping missions, and the $1.5 billion Bush just proposed for next year falls more than half a billion dollars short of U.S. obligations for the 17 U.N. peacekeeping operations around the world, which include those in Darfur, Haiti, and Lebanon.
We all know the Bush administration isn't big on the United Nations, but we're talking chump change when you consider the fact that the Pentagon is due to get more than half a trillion dollars in 2009. U.N. peacekeeping is far from perfect. But it becomes far less so when it's underfunded.
The Pentagon may have made out like bandits in President Bush’s latest budget proposal, but U.N. peacekeepers? Not so much. The United States is already late on more than $1 billion in dues for peacekeeping missions, and the $1.5 billion Bush just proposed for next year falls more than half a billion dollars short of U.S. obligations for the 17 U.N. peacekeeping operations around the world, which include those in Darfur, Haiti, and Lebanon.
We all know the Bush administration isn’t big on the United Nations, but we’re talking chump change when you consider the fact that the Pentagon is due to get more than half a trillion dollars in 2009. U.N. peacekeeping is far from perfect. But it becomes far less so when it’s underfunded.
More from Foreign Policy


Lessons for the Next War
Twelve experts weigh in on how to prevent, deter, and—if necessary—fight the next conflict.


It’s High Time to Prepare for Russia’s Collapse
Not planning for the possibility of disintegration betrays a dangerous lack of imagination.


Turkey Is Sending Cold War-Era Cluster Bombs to Ukraine
The artillery-fired cluster munitions could be lethal to Russian troops—and Ukrainian civilians.


Congrats, You’re a Member of Congress. Now Listen Up.
Some brief foreign-policy advice for the newest members of the U.S. legislature.