[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 97 (Friday, July 22, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 22, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]


                              {time}  1030
 
               LITTLE SUPPORT NOTED FOR INVASION OF HAITI

  (Mr. LAZIO asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LAZIO. Mr. Speaker, I recently contacted the President regarding 
the tragic situation in Haiti. While I remain concerned about the 
political repression and human rights violations going on there, I 
cannot, at this time, support an invasion by the U.S. military.
  Our military success in an invasion is likely, but there are 
currently no clear national security interests at stake in Haiti, there 
is no definable objective for an invasion, there is no estimate on how 
long an invasion and the ensuing occupation would take, and there is 
little support of an invasion by the American people.
  The last thing the United States needs is to fight another public 
sentiment battle at home, while putting the lives of our service men 
and women at risk overseas. Nor should we repeat the experiences of our 
last military involvement in Haiti, which took 19 years and failed to 
yield long-lasting results.
  The Constitution clearly gives Congress the power to declare war. 
Before committing U.S. forces into combat, Congress must have the 
opportunity to fully debate the issues involved and to vote on whether 
to authorize it.
  The President mut provide Congress with clear, definable, obtainable 
military objectives, and a strategy for withdrawal once those 
objectives are achieved. Additionally, the American people must be 
convinced that our national interests are at stake in Haiti. Otherwise, 
it would be unacceptable to ask our military forces to risk their 
lives.

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