Why are there no US soldiers in the UN peace keeping force?

Question

Not only in Lebanon in particular but anywhere in the world. Why doesn't the US contribute soldiers to the UN? For example, in Somalia, they were there as US soldiers while other countries were there representing the UN.

Answer 1

We are the UNs "bad cop" while peace keepers are "good cops."
Most other member nations want US dollars for the UN and to allow poorer nation to make their contributions by sending troops for these types of duties.

Generally speaking the US does not like to place its troops under foreign command, either.

The US is not opposed to peacekeeping work, either. The US military was an active participant in peacekeeping forces in Bosnia in the 90s. The US has also been involved in monitoring the Egypt-Israel border since those nations signed their peace accord in the late 70s.

The US currently has large numbers of forces deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan and would prefer not to contribute troops there if other nations are willing to take part.

Member nations for a peacekeeping force usually need to be acceptable to both sides In a conflict to reach a ceasefire. While I'm sure Israel wouldn't object to an American presence I imagine the Hezbollah leaders would object to an American presence (or else just attack them).

Answer 2

It's because the UN is a different military. The U.S. may lead UN missions (Korea, Gulf War One). If a U.S. soldier wants to be part of the UN, blue helmet team, they are required to be 26 years or older and are generally given police assignements. They wouldn't be listed as a U.S. soldier, but a UN one.

Answer 3

Because the US Military would actually do something. Think about it. Whenever you see the UN Peacekeepers on the news what are they doing? Yelling at people to stop shooting!!! It is like that Mom you see at the mall telling little Timmy to stop peeing on her , throwing feces at the priest and doing heroin or she will give him a time out!!! The US would see a Somalian drug lord and shoot the **** out of him the UN would "Sanction Him" and give him a cookie!! Then Kofi Annon would make a deal to make him some more money!!

Answer 4

Because the United Nations is an anti-American organization and when a US solider fires his weapon, something is going to happen other than a peace sign pop from the barrel.

Besides, the UN doesn't truly seek peace at all. They only wish to keep their global presence known so they can continue to extort money, favors and influence from countries gullible enough to play along.

Look at where the UN soldiers have been dispatched to in the recent past and what you find is UN soliders raping young women and extorting money from local residents. That sounds pretty peaceful to me.

Answer 5

A country offers peace keepers to the UN based on incident. Because of the US's close relationship as an ally to Israel and our status with Lebanon, it is not wise for the US to involve itself in this particular peace keeping effort.

Answer 6

Why does there have to be?

There are plenty of soldiers from Europe and the middle east who can help. Let someone else do the crap jobs in the world for a change.

Besides it's pointless, they won't let the UN force actually DO anything like disarm Hezbollah. It's all for show anyway.

Answer 7

The UN don't have a standing military. rather international locations make contributions forces to UN peacekeeping missions. so that you would want to affix your united states's defense force first, then be fortunate adequate to be in the right unit on the right time.

Answer 8

There have been US service members in the UN peacekeeping force, Haiti and Bosnia to name two, it's just that the media doesn't report it, and we don't advertise it. As far as the world is concerned, when a US service member deploys, the US is going in, NOT the UN.

Answer 9

Probably because the US is seen as being biased toward Israel (we are not neutral).

And the US seems to have a policy against placing US soldiers under UN command

Also, where would the extra troops come from? All the troops that we can spare are in Iraq.

Answer 10

Troop comitments in other theaters, i.e. Iraq, Afganistan, Korea, ect. mean few units available for such a mission not to mention the lingering effects of the last deployment to Lebanon, i.e. the attack on the Marine barracks in Beirut