ISSUE: OPPOSING U.S. FORCES UNDER FOREIGN COMMAND

(Resolution No. 419)

BACKGROUND: A 1994 Presidential Decision Directive says the President ". . . retains and will never relinquish command authority over U.S. Forces. On a case by case basis, the President will consider placing appropriate U.S. Forces under the operational control of a competent UN commander for specific UN operations authorized by the Security Council." Despite the historic fact that U.S. forces have operated under foreign command since the American Revolution, there is widespread public concern that U.S. forces have been and are being improperly employed in post-Cold War situations that endanger their lives. If U.S. military forces were to be placed under foreign command (as they were in Macedonia), they could be removed from their primary missions of defending the United States, its citizens and its territory. Furthermore, by permitting U.S. military forces to operate under the orders of any international organization, these forces could find themselves executing military operations which are not in the national interests of the United States. We believe the American people will not support the deployment of American soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen in dangerous life threatening missions that do not affect the security of the United States, its citizens or its territory.

VFW POSITION: Resolution 419, Opposing U.S. Forces Under Foreign Command, states the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States resolves "…that we oppose any plan or directive placing U.S. military forces under the command of foreign military officers including those who are operating exclusively under orders from the United Nations." Further, the VFW resolves,". . .that Congress be urged to examine Presidential Decision Directive 25 to determine if any Constitutional authority has been misused, and if so, to find an appropriate remedy."

A-3
(05/14/98)