[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 146 (Saturday, October 8, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 8, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
     ``UNDERSTANDING THE PITFALLS OF INTERNATIONAL POLICE TRAINING''

                                 ______


                           HON. DOUG BEREUTER

                              of nebraska

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 7, 1994

  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, as this body debated the wisdom of the 
Clinton administration's occupation of Haiti earlier this week we once 
again are rediscovering the fact that peacekeeping/nationbuilding is a 
highly complex, dangerous, and extremely costly undertaking. Experience 
has demonstrated that, when it comes to rebuilding an entire civil 
society--as the Clinton administration presently is attempting in Haiti 
and as the Clinton administration unsuccessfully attempted in Somalia--
nothing is easy. Experience also demonstrates that the initial cost 
estimates for these sorts of operations tend to be grossly under-
estimated.
  This Member would point to one small aspect of the nationbuilding 
experience--the creation of an independent police force. Clearly any 
nation that is emerging from chaos or civil war needs a police force 
that will uphold order. Any new democracy needs a police force that 
will serve the people, not the dictators. To that end, the United 
States and the United Nations have supported the building of civilian 
police forces in nations such as Cambodia, El Salvador, Somalia, and 
the West Bank. From this experience, there are lessons that can be 
drawn and applied to Haiti.
  To begin with, it is important to understand that even our best 
efforts to build a civilian police force can fail. Local inhabitants 
often are simply not up to the task. For example, the international 
community has spent several years trying to build a police force in 
Cambodia, and it is by no means clear that this effort will succeed. In 
Somalia, the international community recruited volunteers and began 
training, but they got no further. Mr. Speaker, the United States 
provided $30 million in equipment and technical assistance to build a 
civilian police force in Somalia, and we have absolutely nothing to 
show for that $30 million investment. Quite the opposite, the Somali 
warlord Aidid has overrun some of the storage facilities and seized 
police vehicles, sidearms, communications gear, and other equipment had 
been stored. Thus, not only does Somalia not have a civilian police 
force, but our ill-fated police training efforts have had the 
unintended effect of helping to arm the Somali warlords.
  And police training is no easier and certainly no more cost-effective 
when it is performed by the United Nations. Indeed, when the United 
Nations becomes involved in police training, it tends to draw upon or 
at least creates a very highly compensated cadre of international 
police officers. The average cop that works with the United Nations can 
expect well in excess of an incredible $100,000 in annual salary and 
benefits! The work may be important, but under the United Nations 
approach it certainly does not come cheap. And this Member would remind 
his colleagues that we pay one-third of the salary of each of these 
U.N. police trainers. I believe our constituents would be very upset 
with these salaries and I ask the administration to examine and justify 
or change this situation.
  Mr. Speaker, this Member would caution that the training of Mr. 
Aristide's police force also will produce no end of frustrations and 
headaches. Yesterday it was reported in the media that the United 
States is paying the salary of General Cedras' police force, the very 
same police we invaded to Haiti to oust. Tomorrow we undoubtedly will 
learn of some other embarrassment. In short, building a police force is 
very difficult and expensive. The Clinton administration would be well 
advised to think very carefully about these difficulties and costs 
before embarking on such an effort.

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