[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 144 (Thursday, October 6, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 6, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
            OPPOSING THE USE OF U.S. MILITARY FORCES IN HAITI

                                 ______


                            HON. DICK SWETT

                            of new hampshire

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 6, 1994

  Mr. SWETT. Mr. Speaker, I welcome this debate in the House of 
Representatives regarding the Administration's decision to send U.S. 
military forces to Haiti. I regret, however, that we are debating this 
issue after the President has already committed our military forces to 
action in Haiti. This is a matter that should have been fully debated 
and considered before the troops were sent into potential combat.
  In our democratic society, decisions about committing our armed 
forces to potential or actual hostile action is not solely a 
prerogative of the Executive Branch, it is a critical decision that 
must be made based upon thorough consideration of the alternatives and 
it is a decision that under our Constitution requires the action of the 
Congress. Most importantly, this is a decision that requires the 
commitment of the American people. Clearly, Mr. Speaker, the American 
people are not supportive of this military action.
  Mr. Speaker, there have been a number of occasions over the past 
three years when the Congress has debated American interests in Haiti 
and the policy the United States should follow in dealing with the 
serious problems of Haiti. I have consistently indicated my very strong 
opposition to the sending of U.S. military forces to Haiti. At the same 
time, I have consistently supported the use of economic, political, and 
diplomatic sanctions in order to bring about the restoration of 
democracy and the end of military authoritarianism on that Caribbean 
island.
  I still believe, Mr. Speaker, that this is the policy we should 
pursue in Haiti. Sanctions can be effective, and we should have given 
those sanctions more time to accomplish their effect. Sanctions were 
having the desired effect in Haiti, but sanctions are not an instant 
solution. We should have had the patience to allow the sanctions to 
work.
  While I think most of us here in this body deeply deplore the Haitian 
military's brutal coup against the democratically elected president of 
Haiti, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, and its arbitrary and tyrannical 
repression of the Haitian people, it is very clear to me, Mr. Speaker, 
that Haiti is not a vital national interest of the United States. The 
tragic problems of Haiti are no threat to our nation's immediate or 
long term security. The problems are an irritating boil, but not a 
life-threatening disease.
  Despite my strong opposition to the commitment of U.S. troops in 
Haiti, Mr. Speaker, I do wish to make clear my commendation for the 
activities of the delegation to Haiti consisting of former President 
Jimmy Carter, our colleague from the Senate Sam Nunn, and for the 
former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Colin Powell. I 
am sorry American troops are in Haiti, but it is infinitely better that 
our armed forces entered Haiti with the consent and cooperation of 
Haitian military leaders, rather than having to fight their way in 
against a resisting and hostile force. We owe these three distinguished 
men a debt of gratitude for their diplomatic success.
  Mr. Speaker, I also want to make clear that my opposition to the 
placement of our troops in Haiti should in no way be seen as a 
criticism of the fine men and women who are now serving in our forces 
in Haiti. Our Nation's military personnel should be commended for the 
outstanding professional way in which they have undertaken the very 
difficult and awkward task of establishing control in Haiti. Our 
military personnel have shown superior performance under very difficult 
circumstances. Our troops have acted with great discipline and 
restraint in situations that could easily turn violent. The actions of 
our forces are a great credit to their professionalism, their excellent 
training, and their extremely competent leadership.
  Nevertheless, Mr. Speaker, the decision to put our troops in Haiti is 
a flawed decision, and it is essential we take action to withdraw them 
from Haiti as quickly as this can be done without destabilizing the 
situation there. We are already seeing an inflation in the numbers of 
troops that are required--initially we were told that up to fifteen 
thousand would be necessary to accomplish the task, but now the number 
has exceeded twenty thousand. In a situation such as Haiti--as we 
learned so tragically in Somalia--there is a great danger of ``mission-
creep'' as limited humanitarian goals are imperceptibly expanded to 
include the goals of nation-building and the difficult task of 
establishing a democratic civic culture. Inevitably our troops will 
become embroiled in clearly domestic political problems, with a tragic 
consequences that we remember so well in Somalia.
  We must bring our forces home as quickly as possible. I urge my 
colleagues to join me in supporting action which will assure that our 
troops are returned quickly and that our limited interests in Haiti are 
more defined, more clearly and carefully defined.

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