[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 100 (Wednesday, July 27, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 27, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
              UNITED STATES INVASION OF HAITI UNWARRANTED

                                 ______


                            HON. RON PACKARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 27, 1994

  Mr. PACKARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to share with my colleagues the 
concerns of a constituent of mine, Mr. Steven Burt of Laguna Niguel, 
CA. In a letter to me, Mr. Burt expressed his fears of an American 
invasion of Haiti. Mr. Burt has a personal interest in this issue; his 
son is a U.S. marine and is currently aboard the U.S.S. Inchon, which 
currently sits off the coast of Haiti. I have the same concerns as Mr. 
Burt and I would like to share some excerpts from his letter.

       There are no American citizens being held in Haiti against 
     their will. There is no Communist threat. There is no 
     economic benefits to be won or lost in Haiti. There is no one 
     who will reimburse our warchest. There is, however, a 
     political threat regarding Haiti, and that is the threat to 
     President Clinton's face. Soldiers should not be left to 
     defend the character of a U.S. President. Soldiers should not 
     be left without a Congress that lacks courage.
       There is absolutely no reason for my son to be put in 
     jeopardy in Haiti. Democracy and its freedoms must be fought 
     for, first, by native sons and daughters. This is not 
     happening in Haiti . . . show me one piece of rational that I 
     can lay at my son's grave or carve on his tombstone. Then, 
     and only then, will I sleep at night with the comfort that a 
     supreme sacrifice could be justified.

  Mr. Speaker, I agree with Mr. Burt's position on this issue. While I 
support the restoration of democracy in other countries, I will not 
support military intervention to accomplish this unless vital American 
interests are clearly at stake. The situation in Haiti does not meet 
this criteria, and thus a United States invasion of Haiti would be 
unwarranted. American men and women should not be sent into combat as a 
substitute for sound foreign policy.

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