ABSTRACT
American peacekeeping has been a reality since 1992 in Macedonia, where over 500 US soldiers serve with Nordic comrades to fulfil the UN's first preventive peacekeeping mission. Placing American soldiers alongside Nordic peacekeepers was an inspiration. In Macedonia, the UN's preventive mandate is modest and clearly stated, the commander's military mission is achievable, and he has adequate and appropriate resources. Macedonia is a good test-bed for evaluating the US presence in Peacekeeping Operations. The continued bilateral relationship between Macedonia and the United States proves that US leaders understand the importance of Macedonia. The UN commander used his influence with the Serbian and Macedonian general staffs to urge restraint. Initial visits uncovered Serbian suspicions that the UN force, especially with its US battalion, foreshadowed a major deployment of US and North Atlantic Treaty Organization forces. The military mandate clearly ordered a presence within Macedonia to protect Macedonia.
