[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 51 (Tuesday, May 3, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 HAITI

  Mr. PRESSLER. Mr. President, I thank the managers of the bill for 
this opportunity to say a few words about the situation in Haiti.
  I believe strongly that we should not send any troops to Haiti. We 
should have a policy of keeping our troops out of there. We should have 
a policy of keeping illegal immigrants out of the United States; and 
proceed only with lawful, traditional immigration rules.
  We should keep a light embargo on Haiti to signal that we are for 
democracy. But the United States cannot solve the problems in Haiti. 
The people of Haiti have to solve them themselves.
  If we send troops, it will just enmesh us and put a great burden on 
the U.S. taxpayer. In the end, we will be blamed for everything.
  Haiti has been an economic disaster for the past 100 years, and 
nothing is likely to change that fact. Certainly the presence of U.S. 
troops will not. We saw what happened in Somalia.
  We cannot have a domestically-driven foreign policy. Just because 
certain groups in the United States advocate the invasion of Haiti does 
not mean that we should do so. We should base foreign policy on foreign 
policy objectives. We must not engage in foreign policy adventures. We 
must think of the American taxpayer and the long-run implications of 
our actions.
  Mr. President, in summary, the policy this Senator recommends, based 
on listening to my constituents in South Dakota and people elsewhere, 
is the following:
  First, we should keep our troops out of Haiti; no use of United 
States troops;
  Second, keep any illegal immigrants from coming to our shores; only 
legal immigrants;
  Third, continue with a light embargo because a very heavy embargo 
hurts the poorest people and lines the generals' pockets.
  I do not necessarily approve of the government in Haiti. But I do not 
want a single drop of American blood shed in this dispute. Can you 
imagine what would happen if a prisoner of war or prisoners of war were 
taken in Haiti? Getting out would be the problem.
  It is easy to advocate sending troops but that is an adventure. Let 
us look 1, 2, 3 years down the road. We saw what happened in Somalia.
  Mr. President, on a somewhat related note, I would like to 
congratulate the people of Panama on their upcoming national elections. 
Senator Pell and I have been asked to join President Jimmy Carter on a 
delegation to observe the elections in Panama on May 8, 1994. The 
delegation, led by President Carter, is sponsored by the Council of 
Freely Elected Heads of Government, an organization composed of 24 
heads of government. I was privileged to accompany President Carter, 
previously, to observe the historic elections in Nicaragua in 1990.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. RIEGLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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