[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 59 (Friday, May 13, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 13, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                   UNITED STATES POLICY TOWARD HAITI

  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, it is high time for cooler heads to prevail 
on U.S. policy toward Haiti. We seem to be heading for another foreign 
policy mistake. The administration appears to be lurching toward the 
use of U.S. military force in Haiti, without clearly considering the 
consequences of such action and the history of United States 
involvement in Haiti.
  Moreover, the administration is not taking into account the views of 
the majority of Members of Congress who believe that any deployment of 
forces in Haiti should be authorized by the Congress. Today, there are 
reports, too, of opposition among a number of our friends in Latin 
America.
  United States policy in Haiti needs to be reviewed, and the first 
step toward rational consideration of United States options in Haiti 
should be the establishment of a bipartisan factfinding commission, an 
idea I have proposed to the President. The findings of such a 
commission could form the foundation for a new policy.
  Everyone wants to see democracy return to Haiti. However, it is not 
in the United States interest for Haiti to become a de facto United 
States colony. It is not in the U.S. interest to send American troops 
to put President Aristide back in power. I would certainly urge the 
President to support an independent commission as a critical first step 
toward a policy that does reflect U.S. interests.

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