[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 53 (Tuesday, April 23, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3892-S3893]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       PLEASE, MR. PRESIDENT, NO UNITED STATES FORCES IN LIBERIA

  Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, 2\1/2\ years ago, 18 American soldiers were 
gunned down in the streets of Mogadishu, Somalia. What happened October 
3, 1993, in Somalia was another one of those tragic mistakes. U.S. 
servicemen should not be asked to risk their lives in so-called 
peacekeeping missions where there is really no peace, and where no U.S. 
national interests are at stake.
  As the last of United States forces pull out of Haiti, the American 
people

[[Page S3893]]

are learning that Operation Uphold Democracy was not the resounding 
success President Clinton led us to believe. The bottom line, it seems 
to me, is that America's military cannot achieve what the people and 
leaders of Somalia and Haiti refuse to do. This so-called nation 
building is fanciful rhetoric for fleecing the American taxpayers.
  I had hoped and prayed that President Clinton had learned his lesson 
from Somalia, and Haiti, but President Clinton has already landed 
several hundred Marines, from Camp Lejeune, NC, inside Liberia. More 
than 1,600 Marines and 1,900 sailors on warships are awaiting further 
orders.
  But, Liberia is in, quite literally, a state of anarchy, and I fear 
there is little the United States can do about it. Consider, Mr. 
President, that since 1990, American taxpayers have given Liberia--a 
country of 3 million people--at least $429 million of foreign aid, 
according to A.I.D.--and President Clinton proposes to forgive Liberian 
debt to the American taxpayers. And what has all this assistance 
accomplished? Since the outbreak of the civil war in 1989, intensive 
fighting has been the cause of the United States having to evacuate 
Americans and others from the country on three separate occasions. tens 
of thousands of Liberians are dead and thousands more fled.
  Tragically, the lives saved by $429 million in U.S. foreign aid are 
today being gunned-down at the hands of heavily armed drunken 
teenagers, looting the capital city of Monrovia, raping and killing for 
sport. The so-called leaders in Liberia, as in Somalia, are 
bloodthirsty warlords who are more vicious criminals than national 
leaders. In fact, one warlord, Charles Taylor, escaped from Plymouth 
County Jail in Massachusetts in 1985.
  Mr. President, on April 15, the Foreign Relations Committee was 
assured that if United States Marines went into Liberia, they would 
only be protecting the United States Embassy and assisting with 
evacuations, although all Americans who have asked to leave are already 
evacuated. The Sunday Washington Times, however, reported that several 
hundred Marines landed in Liberia over the weekend, and that they 
``would be able to provide humanitarian assistance.'' This makes me 
very concerned about mission creep.
  Congress does not want United States Marines hunting down Liberian 
warlords, as in Somalia, or picking up trash on the streets of 
Monrovia, as in Port-au-Prince. Mr. President, there are no United 
States interests in Liberia worth the life of even one United States 
service man or woman.
  I have written President Clinton to raise a number of questions about 
his policy. Congress and the American people deserve answers. Of 
course, I pray the President does not get the United States into 
another Somalia or Haiti.
  Mr President, I ask unanimous consent that my letter to the President 
be printed in the Record at the conclusion of my remarks.
  There being no objection, the letter was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                                      U.S. Senate,


                               Committee on Foreign Relations,

                                   Washington, DC, April 22, 1996.
     The President,
     The White House,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. President: In response to the most recent outbreak 
     of violence in Liberia and the mass evacuation that followed, 
     I note that the Administration has undertaken a comprehensive 
     review of its policy toward Liberia. Congress is also fully 
     aware of the likelihood of further humanitarian tragedy in 
     Liberia.
       With the unnecessary deaths of eighteen U.S. servicemen in 
     Somalia (October 3, 1993) lingering on our minds, the landing 
     of several hundred U.S. Marines in Liberia over the weekend 
     has Congress to be all the more concerned about developments 
     in Liberia--and, frankly, the Administration's response to 
     that crisis.
       Administration officials briefed Congressional staff this 
     past week about the situation in Liberia, but a number of 
     important questions went unanswered. The Foreign Relations 
     Committee will appreciate prompt answers to the following 
     questions:
       (1) What is the exit strategy for the U.S. troops currently 
     in Liberia?
       (2) Under what rules of engagement are U.S. servicemen in 
     Liberia operating?
       (3) As humanitarian concerns are necessarily incidental--as 
     important as they may be--what the U.S. national interests in 
     Liberia, besides protecting U.S. citizens?
       (4) What interests in Liberia are worth risking the life of 
     one American citizen?
       (5) Inasmuch as Liberia is in anarchy, why should any U.S. 
     Embassy personnel remain?
       (6) To whom is the U.S. Embassy accredited?
       (7) If U.S. Embassy personnel remain, what kind of security 
     will they have?
       (8) Has the U.S. Government received any assistance with 
     evacuations or security from France, Britain or any other 
     country?
       (9) What countries have overseas bases in African countries 
     in proximity to Liberia?
       (10) How many people, and from which countries, have been 
     evacuated from Liberia by U.S. forces?
       (11) How many private Americans and U.S. citizens working 
     at the Embassy remain in Liberia?
       (12) Do any United Nations Development Program personnel 
     remain in Liberia?
       (13) Are personnel from any United Nations agency on the 
     ground in Liberia?
       (14) To date, what is the total cost of the evacuation 
     effort?
       (15) How many U.S. Navy vessels have arrived off Liberia, 
     and how many Marines and sailors does this represent?
       (16) Under what circumstances would these Marines go into 
     Liberia?
       (17) Is an expanded role for U.S. military forces being 
     contemplated? If so, please explain.
       (18) If a contingent of U.S. forces goes into Liberia, from 
     where will they be supported?
       (19) What would such an operation cost?
       (20) Given the state of anarchy in Liberia, and the 
     individuals with whom diplomats are forced to deal, how does 
     the Administration expect to influence events?
       (21) To date, how much U.S. funding has ECOMOG received, 
     including equipment, and how effective has it been?
       (22) To date, how much U.S. funding have the countries of 
     ECOWAS received, including equipment, and how effective has 
     it been?
       (23) As Nigeria has been decertified on account of 
     noncooperation in the fight against illegal narcotics, how 
     does the Administration intend to provide funding to Nigerian 
     troops, which make up a majority of ECOMOG in Liberia--will 
     the Administration seek a waiver in order to provide funding 
     or equipment to Nigerian forces?
       (24) How much money and equipment does the Administration 
     propose giving ECOMOG and ECOWAS, and from where will the 
     funds come?
       (25) Since the outbreak of the civil war in 1989, how much 
     U.S. Government assistance has gone to Liberia?
       (26) Since the outbreak of the civil war in 1989, what is 
     the total amount of international assistance that has gone to 
     Liberia, including from United Nations agencies and all 
     international financial institutions?
       (27) Have any of the Liberian warlords ever been wanted, or 
     are currently wanted, in the United States for any violation 
     of law? If so, please explain.
       Many thanks.
           Sincerely,
     Jesse Helms.

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