[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 102 (Friday, July 29, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 29, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                                 HAITI

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Florida [Mr. Goss] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, it is said that those who ignore history are 
destined to repeat it. And it is perhaps curious to note that yesterday 
was the anniversary date of the 79th invasion of Haiti by American 
Forces back in 1915. Anybody who studies that particular misadventure 
would surely hope that we are not going to repeat that 79 years later.
  So, Mr. Speaker, my advice to those who are advocating an invasion of 
Haiti today, as those at the White House are, I suggest to them that 
they go back and read some history.
  Our Marines were in Haiti for 19 years; almost a full generation. 
During that time, they did little to promote democracy in that country 
that was enduring.
  Yes, it is true that the American taxpayers in those 19 years 
contributed many dollars to the infrastructure of Haiti. Unfortunately, 
those infrastructure improvements have long since gone to seed. About 
all that remains of that 19-year occupation of that friendly 
neighboring country, Haiti, just to the south of Florida, is the ill-
will toward the American military that was inspired by that occupation 
resulting from the invasion by the Marines in 1915.
  I see no justification to repeat that at this time. There is no 
threat to the United States of America from Haiti. The Haitian Navy is 
incapable of going to sea, literally incapable of going to sea. They 
have no boats that float. They have no airplanes that fly. They are not 
going anywhere. They are on an island in the middle of the Caribbean. 
What are we talking about invading them for?
  I know that those who follow the issue closely understand that the 
issue is domestic politics. That is not a sufficient reason to risk the 
lives of our men and women in uniform in this country. Heaven forbid we 
ever do that.
  It is interesting that at this time the administration is standing on 
its head, bending over backward, jumping through hoops, whatever you 
want to say, to get the approval of the U.N. Security Counsel to invade 
Haiti. But they are not asking Congress. They are not asking the 
Congress of the United States, which is filled with people 
who represent Americans, people who come from all over this country, 
stay in communication with their constituents, and try and represent 
the will in a representative form of government here. And the people in 
America do not want to invade Haiti either. Any poll you take a look at 
shows somewhere between two out of three and five out of six Americans 
saying, do not invade Haiti. It is a bad idea. There is no reason to do 
that.

  So there apparently is no support in this country. The administration 
at the White House is willfully voiding the opinion of Congress, 
apparently it is willfully avoiding the American public. There is no 
congressional support that I am aware of to invade Haiti. Thank 
heavens.
  It is interesting that there is not much hemispheric support either. 
The traditional four friends of Haiti, that would be the United States, 
Canada, France, and Venezuela, Canada, and France do not want to invade 
Haiti either. So it is a little hard to understand where this 
initiative to invade Haiti is coming from.
  We know it is the White House. It is very hard to understand why. We 
apparently understand that President Aristide, who is the duly and 
popularly elected President by apparently two out of three votes, about 
67 percent, and I was there. It was a very enthusiastic election, and 
he is the rightful President of that country. But even he has not 
committed to go back to Haiti in the event there were an invasion. So 
that makes it even more puzzling that there should be an invasion.
  On top of all this, there are some duly-elected leaders in Haiti 
today. Members of Congress down there. They call it parliament, their 
chamber of deputies and their senate. There is about 48 of them who 
have written us letters up here and said, come on down. Let us talk and 
negotiate a settlement to the Haitian problem. We would like not to be 
invaded. We believe we can take to you folks in Congress and work out a 
solution to this problem.
  And do you know what? We have not responded. We have not responded to 
that invitation. The administration has simply said that they do not 
wish at this time to negotiate. They are only talking about invading 
unless things go exactly their way.
  That, to me, means we are missing a great opportunity to find a 
peaceful solution, responding to the invitation of these 48 
democratically elected members of their chamber of deputies and senate.
  This was the tract that Lawrence Pezullo, who was previously the 
Special Assistant to the President on Haitian Affairs, was trying to 
follow. As you recall, Mr. Pezullo got in in some trouble by being 
politically incorrect in pursuing this policy and he is now fired.
  I believe we need to respond to this invasion. I understand my time 
has run. I hope that those who are interested in this subject are 
listening closely and will convey the same message: There is no need to 
invade Haiti; do not invade Haiti.

                          ____________________