28ifpk.pdf Key Problems UN peacekeeping activism expanded in 1988-1994 as 29 new missions were launched. Bills drafted by Republican lawmakers have sought to impose even stricter limits than those already embraced by the president for U.S. support of UN peacekeeping. The Clinton administration came into office espousing support for UN peacekeeping. UN peacekeeping activism expanded rapidly between 1988 and 1994.After a period of enthusiastic U.S. backing, problems emerged and Washington's support declined. Many in Washington blamed the UN for the deaths of 18 U.S. Rangers in Somalia, even though they were part of a non-UN, unilateral U.S. military operation and were under direct U.S. command.
Polls show that a large majority of the U.S. public continues to support peacekeeping.
Brushing aside the UN's peacekeeping successes, however, the prevailing focus in Congress was and remains the failures. After intense public and policy maker debate during 1993-95, UN peacekeeping was sharply discredited. The Clinton administration began to sound the peacekeeping retreat in late 1993, after the Somalia crisis triggered vehement criticisms of administration policy on Capitol Hill. When our interests dictate, the U.S. must be willing and able to fight and win wars, unilaterally whenever necessary. Several bills drafted by Republican lawmakers have sought to impose even stricter limits than those already embraced by the president for U.S. support of UN peacekeeping.