[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 90 (Wednesday, July 13, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


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

 
                DO NOT RISK UNITED STATES LIVES IN HAITI

  (Mr. RAMSTAD asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Speaker, I could not sleep at all last night.
  I was haunted by the rumors swirling around the Capitol of an 
imminent United States invasion of Haiti. I was haunted by a call I 
received yesterday from the mother of a young Air Force pilot in my 
district sent to Puerto Rico on a couple of hours notice ``to be on the 
highest alert.''
  Mr. Speaker, I could not answer that young pilot's mother when she 
asked me, ``Why?
  ``Why invade Haiti when the President has yet to define any American 
national security interest?
  ``Why risk American lives when even former President Aristide said 
recently, `I am against a military invasion.'''
  Mr. Speaker, considering the cost of an invasion in blood and money, 
not to mention the danger and expense of a long-term peacekeeping 
force, I hope and pray the President revives the diplomatic effort and 
rejects the plan for a United States military invasion of Haiti.
  Otherwise many other American mothers will be calling us to ask, 
``Why?''

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