Henry J. Hyde United Nations Reform Act of 2005
HENRY J. HYDE UNITED NATIONS REFORM ACT OF 2005 -- (House of Representatives - June 16, 2005)
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Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.
The CHAIRMAN. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Part 1, Subpart B amendment No. 1 offered by Mr. Boozman:
In section 402(1) (relating to reform of United Nations peacekeeping operations), add at the end the following new subparagraph:
(E) GRATIS MILITARY PERSONNEL.--The General Assembly should lift restrictions on the utilization at the headquarters in New York, the United States, of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations of gratis military personnel by the Department so that the Department may accept secondments from Member States of military personnel with expertise in mission planning, logistics, and other operational specialties.
The CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to House Resolution 319, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Boozman) and a Member opposed each will control 5 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Boozman).
Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise today to offer an amendment that would give the United Nations greater flexibility in the peacekeeping operations that they are involved in by allowing voluntary military personnel to serve at the Department of Peacekeeping Operations in New York. This was the norm until early 1999. Over time, 130 experienced officers had been loaned. They had expertise in mission planning, logistics, all of the things that are so important in these types of missions. There was a lull and because of the complaint of some of the other nations that 85 percent of this group came from developed countries, it was discontinued.
As a member of the Committee on International Relations, I frequently hear of the problems that we have with peacekeeping, the atrocities in various parts of the world. Again, I think that this is a situation that would greatly remedy that.
Rotating these professionals into the U.N. on a periodic basis provides a means for introducing new ideas, techniques, and experience without having to deal with terminating contracts or moving people and positions. It allows the system to deal with unexpected demands. The U.N.'s new operational responsibilities demand a more flexible approach.
I think the other thing is that this would not cost anything. This would be a mechanism where, in fact, I think we could save a great deal of money by being much more efficient. We are asking the United Nations to be more effective with their planning and their operations. The other thing that is important is that in no way does this require our Department of Defense to assign any U.S. military personnel. It only leaves the door open.
I want to thank my chairman and thank the ranking member for their work on this and, again, our staffs.
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
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Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Not too long ago, my wife came to me. She had, the night before, seen a program on television. She said, John, is it true that the U.N. peacekeepers are trading sex for peanut butter with 9- and 10-year-old kids? She could not believe it. I looked at her, and I said, Cathy, it's true. That is happening.
I talked to Chairman Smith and he subsequently held hearings. They came over and assured us that things were getting better. We were told that basically the implication was on the battlefield, these things happen, sexual abuse occurs. My response was, This isn't sexual abuse. That taking pictures of 9- and 10-year-old kids, exploiting them, was child abuse and a criminal matter.
We heard that there would be zero tolerance. A week later, another television program and the guy said, We have heard there is going to be zero tolerance. He said, What does that mean? He showed pictures of these guys sneaking out at night to a village, again to do their work and showed a picture of a guy riding around in a U.N. vehicle with a prostitute.
I think we have worked, we have held our hearings, we have coerced. I think the time now is to demand accountability. Again, I would ask all of my colleagues to vote for this amendment.
Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
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