Presidential Decision Directive 25
Encyclopedia
Presidential Decision Directive 25 (PDD-25), is an executive order drafted by President of the United States Bill Clinton
on May 3, 1994 following a year-long executive agency policy review and bilateral consultations between dozens of members of Congress and the executive branch.
While the exact text of the order remains classified
by the government, it was summarized in a memo
distributed to the public on May 5, 1994.
PDD-25 created a "vital national interests test" that limited United States involvement in United Nations
Peacekeeping Operations. This test limited United States involvement to those operations which had United States military officers in control of United States troops, a mission that was in the best interests of the United States government, and required popular domestic support for the operation.
The order also seeks to reduce United States financial commitment to these operations from 31.7% in 1994 to around 25% in 1996.
PDD-25 was drafted with the knowledge that in the post-Cold War era, new threats to the United States would eventually emerge, and that the United States required a military that would be able to win wars unilaterally. http://www.fas.org/irp/offdocs/pdd25.htm It represented a continuing negative stance towards a standing United Nations army and prevented the earmarking of specific amounts of United States troops at the disposal of the United Nations international community.
PDD 25 was given as the legal basis for deploying American soldiers into Macedonia in 1993-1999, Operation Able Sentry. See www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/able_sentry.htm
It was also the legal basis for deploying Army Spc. Michael New, who was court-martialed for refusing to deploy on Operation Able Sentry under the command of officers not appointed by Congress. See www.MikeNew.com/
Congress has never been allowed to see PDD 25, which, according to the State Department, is now declassified, as of 2009. The Clinton Library is the repository of this document.
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
on May 3, 1994 following a year-long executive agency policy review and bilateral consultations between dozens of members of Congress and the executive branch.
While the exact text of the order remains classified
Classified information
Classified information is sensitive information to which access is restricted by law or regulation to particular groups of persons. A formal security clearance is required to handle classified documents or access classified data. The clearance process requires a satisfactory background investigation...
by the government, it was summarized in a memo
Memo
Memo may refer to:* Most commonly Memorandum.* Bench memorandum, law* Memorandum Recordings - record company* Mêmo* MEMO - specialization in electrical engineering that studies Microwaves, Electromagnetism and Optoelectronic...
distributed to the public on May 5, 1994.
United States involvement in United Nations Peacekeeping Operations
PDD-25 was created to prevent the United States from using peacekeeping operations as the centerpiece of its foreign policy. However, the United States does see the ability of involvement in these operations as a way to advance American interests globally. http://www.fas.org/irp/offdocs/pdd25.htmPDD-25 created a "vital national interests test" that limited United States involvement in United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Peacekeeping Operations. This test limited United States involvement to those operations which had United States military officers in control of United States troops, a mission that was in the best interests of the United States government, and required popular domestic support for the operation.
The order also seeks to reduce United States financial commitment to these operations from 31.7% in 1994 to around 25% in 1996.
PDD-25 was drafted with the knowledge that in the post-Cold War era, new threats to the United States would eventually emerge, and that the United States required a military that would be able to win wars unilaterally. http://www.fas.org/irp/offdocs/pdd25.htm It represented a continuing negative stance towards a standing United Nations army and prevented the earmarking of specific amounts of United States troops at the disposal of the United Nations international community.
Criticism of the Order
It has been argued that the executive order was drafted by Clinton because of the increasing political pressure and negative press surrounding the failure of the peacekeeping operation in Somalia, where 18 American soldiers in the Unified Task Force (UNITAF) were killed.PDD 25 was given as the legal basis for deploying American soldiers into Macedonia in 1993-1999, Operation Able Sentry. See www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/able_sentry.htm
It was also the legal basis for deploying Army Spc. Michael New, who was court-martialed for refusing to deploy on Operation Able Sentry under the command of officers not appointed by Congress. See www.MikeNew.com/
Congress has never been allowed to see PDD 25, which, according to the State Department, is now declassified, as of 2009. The Clinton Library is the repository of this document.