[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 134 (Thursday, September 22, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


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

 
 REGARDING SENATE RESOLUTION 259 COMMENDING THE PRESIDENT AND SPECIAL 
 DELEGATION TO HAITI AND SUPPORTING UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES IN HAITI

  Mr. COATS. Mr. President, like all Americans, I am greatly relieved 
that the deployment of United States troops to Haiti occurred under 
peaceful rather than hostile circumstances. As a result, many Haitian 
as well as American lives have been spared.
  I am also greatly relieved that General Cedras and the ruling 
military junta in Haiti have agreed to relinquish their grip on 
government and, thanks to the compelling argument of former Chairman of 
the Joint Chiefs, Gen. Colin Powell, cooperate in a peaceful transition 
of power.
  Mr. President, I commend America's military men and women for their 
excellent performance in carrying out their duties, fully support them 
in their complex and difficult mission, and pray for their safe and 
quick return.
  I fear, however, that our most difficult days lie not behind us but 
ahead.
  Mr. President, the occupation, not the invasion, of Haiti has always 
been recognized as the more difficult part of this mission. In many 
respects, that occupation has now been made even more difficult by the 
circumstances under which it has occurred.
  The Haitian population is by no means at peace, the institutions of 
civil government have yet to be established, and democracy is far from 
assured. The task we face in Haiti is not one of restoring democracy, 
but of building a nation. And, as we tragically learned in Somalia, 
that is not an appropriate mission for the United States military 
forces.
  After nearly 3 days of intervention in Haiti, we have already seen 
that the United States military has become a local police force.
  Before the invasion, the President promised that our Armed Forces 
cannot and will not be Haiti's police. But yesterday, the President 
said the military police will, ``monitor the Haitian police'' and 
attempt to deter violence ``by their own presence.'' But the President 
added, ``Our Armed Forces cannot and will not become Haiti's police 
force.''
  There was a very disturbing passage in a Washington Post story from 
this morning:

       On their third day in Haiti * * * the GI's know what their 
     mission is not. It is not the invasion they had planned for 
     months until calling it off last weekend. What they do not 
     know is just what their mission is.

  We are not in Haiti to protect American lives. We are not in Haiti to 
protect American property. We are not in Haiti to deter aggression from 
another nation. We are not in Haiti to protect United States national 
interests.
  We are once again placed between at least two warring factions in an 
unstable society. To try to resolve a conflict that exists among the 
Haitian people.
  Restoring democracy, policing the streets, refereeing local disputes, 
is not and has never been an appropriate mission for the U.S. military.
  For those reasons, Mr. President, as well as the fact that no United 
States national interest is at stake in Haiti, or has been demonstrated 
to be at stake in Haiti, I opposed a United States invasion of Haiti. 
For the same reasons, Mr. President, I now urge a timely conclusion to 
the United States occupation of Haiti, and the speedy withdrawal of all 
United States troops.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor
  Mr. GRAHAM addressed the Chair.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Florida is 
recognized.
  Mr. GRAHAM. Mr. President, parliamentary inquiry. Am I correct that 
Senator Hatfield and I have reserved 30 minutes at this point?
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator is correct. The Senator 
from Florida [Mr. Graham] and the Senator from Oregon [Mr. Hatfield] 
are recognized to speak for a total of 30 minutes.
  Mr. GRAHAM. Thank you, Mr. President. I will speak for 15 minutes and 
then my colleague, Senator Hatfield, will use the remainder of the 
time.
  (The remarks of Mr. Graham and Mr. Hatfield, pertaining to the 
introduction of legislation are located in today's Record under 
``Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions.'')

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