[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 37 (Monday, March 18, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S2240]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    CLINTON POLICY FAILURE IN HAITI

  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, today at Fort Polk, President Clinton 
welcomed our troops back from Haiti, and commended them for a job well 
done. It was appropriate for the President to do so. As they always do, 
U.S. forces exhibited a high degree of professionalism and courage in 
the performance of their mission.
  However, it is quite another matter to suggest that the restoration 
of the Aristide regime was a worthwhile mission for U.S. forces to 
undertake in the first place. The Clinton administration has made Haiti 
a test case for their foreign policy. But what its Haiti policy has 
clearly revealed is that the administration's foreign policy is based 
on international social work, not on defending United States' 
interests.
  Dozens of political and extra-judicial killings occurred after 
Aristide was returned to power, and are continuing under the Preval 
regime. There is credible information available to the President from 
the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of State that 
indicates the involvement of officials in the Aristide and Preval 
governments in the planning, execution, and coverup of some of these 
murders.
  Last year, an amendment authored by Senator Dole passed Congress, 
requiring the President to certify the Haitian Government's progress in 
investigating political murders before the United States provided Haiti 
with anymore aid. But President Clinton could not certify that Haiti 
was investigating political murders allegedly committed by members of 
the Haitian Government for a very simple reason--the Haitian Government 
has steadfastly declined to undertake such investigations.
  Since he could not certify, President Clinton used his authority to 
waive the Dole conditions, saying--disingenuously, I believe--that the 
waiver was ``necessary to assure the safe and timely withdrawal of 
United States forces from Haiti.''
  Earlier this month, at least seven more Haitian citizens were killed 
apparently by members of the United States-hand picked, United States-
trained, and United States-equipped Haiti national police. The victims 
were shot at point blank range. Witnesses report that they saw 
policemen do the killings. Mr. President, 24 hours after the shootings, 
the bodies had not been picked up, and no member of the Haiti judicial 
system had made an official report. The UN/OAS Mission has opened an 
inquiry into the killings, but not any member or agency of the 
Government of Haiti.
  It is a sad commentary on the administration's policy that after the 
United States has spent $2 billion, and the men and women of the U.S. 
Armed Forces endured hardship and danger, the government they were sent 
to restore and protect has participated in death squads, and done so 
with impunity.
  As a final act of gratitude, President Aristide recognized the 
government of the man who recently ordered the murder of American 
citizens--Fidel Castro.
  The Clinton administration's policy in Haiti is a failure. I yield 
the floor.
  Mr. REID addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Nevada.

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