US Plans on Increasing UN Peacekeepers

The U.S. plans to increase peacekeepers to the UN.  The U.S. currently does not provide troops for peacekeeping forces.

According to U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice:

But Rice said the United States "is willing to consider directly contributing more military observers, military staff officers, civilian police, and other civilian personnel — including more women — to U.N. peacekeeping operations."


The U.S. has already increased its military observers in the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Liberia and is providing two additional military staff officers to the mission in Chad and the Central African Republic, U.S. officials said.

The complete article can be read here.

Celebrating America's Independence in Liberia

Well,I am not used to people coming up and saying Happy Independence Day! Here working with the UN it happened all day. The US Contingent celebrated with a contingent meeting - it means no UN work that day. (OK say it- you know you want to "unwork") The greetings were nice - and somewhat unexpected by me. :))


We also had our medal parade on the 3rd of July, 5 guys got their medals for service in a UN Mission. I won't be eligible here for another 3 months. UNMIL policy is that you get the medal after 6 months. It was very short and non-ceremonial, as we did not want a lot of pomp and circumstance or whatever you get when you get medals. You can probably pick out the medals on the guys shirts.


It is kind of nice to have a peacekeeping medal - not everyone has one. I got one in Kosovo - it is a bit different.


Not much else - y'all stay safe!

A Day Late - Happy Peacekeepers Day!

OK, I know that I am like a day late and a dollar short. Yesterday, May 29 was International Peacekeepers Day. I should have posted sooner, but access to the internet was an issue. After all, I am a peacekeeper, so I should celebrate the day. It celebrates 60 years of international Peacekeeping.

This is how the day came about:

By resolution 57/129 of 11 December 2002, the General Assembly designated 29 May as the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, to pay tribute to all the men and women who have served and continue to serve in United Nations peacekeeping operations for their high level of professionalism,dedication and courage, and to honour the memory of those who have lost their lives in the cause of peace.

The Assembly invited all Member States, organizations of the United Nations system, non-governmental organizations and individuals to observe the Day in an
appropriate manner. The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the United Nations eace-keeping Forces in 1988.

You can find all about UN peacekeeping missions here. You can read about all the hoopla here. So anyways, happy belated peacekeepers day!