[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 20 (Tuesday, February 24, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H542-H543]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 HAITI

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise with the Members of the 
Congressional Black Caucus' Haiti Task Force to urge immediate action 
to assuage the political crisis that we see in Haiti.
  I wrote a letter to Secretary of State Powell dated February 17 
urging a more forceful effort to quell insurgents and to maintain 
democracy and respect for the rule of law in the region. Haiti has long 
been suffering with dire economic conditions and the devastation of 
HIV/AIDS. But now, Haiti has reached a state of crisis. To date, more 
than 60 people have been killed in the rebellion that is quickly 
escalating to a civil war.
  Humanitarian aid and military assistance are needed now given the 
threat that demonstrators may thwart the delivery of food and other 
relief items.
  I and the other Members of the Congressional Black Caucus have 
consistently supported an active role for the United States in 
providing humanitarian and military assistance to Haiti. Many other 
Members of the House and Senate have expressed a willingness to support 
more engaged and aggressive peace-keeping activities to prevent a full-
scale civil war so close to our border and to head off the large exodus 
of refugees to our shores that it might precipitate.
  Secretary Powell made a statement earlier about Haiti, committing the 
United States to working toward a political resolution to the situation 
in Haiti. However, he expressed his concern that the ``enthusiasm'' 
does not exist for the United States to take a stronger approach.
  It may be necessary to use more forceful means in the short-run to 
prevent a humanitarian disaster. The United States must act on its 
commitment to upholding the constitutional process and the rule of law 
as the optimal way to maintain civil stability and respect for human 
rights in that region. We should support the proposal adopted by the 
Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in Nassau as a viable option to restore 
peace.
  As we work with the government of Haiti to explore the role of the 
international community in averting civil war, we must also start to 
look beyond the current crisis. For example, Haiti continues to be in 
dire need of food aid and medical assistance. The current unrest has 
already set off an exodus of refugees; and uncertainty regarding the 
timing and fairness of the next elections is further promoting 
suspicions and instability. The United Nations has great experience in 
handling such issues. Even as we concentrate on quelling the violence, 
we must also think in terms of promoting peace and stability in the 
aftermath.
  Operation Iraqi Freedom provides a strong model of what we should not 
do. Without reliable or corroborated information, we initiated 
aggressive war efforts and amassed large war-related expenses and lost 
lives of our brave young men and women. Former United Nations weapons 
inspector David Kay has testified to the fact that there have not been, 
nor

[[Page H543]]

will there be found any stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction as 
possessed by Iraq. Nevertheless, our troops have been deployed and 
stationed in that region since the beginning of the war, and the cost 
has been tremendous. With the government projected to run one of the 
largest deficits in history, it is not enough to simply consider the 
cost of the war today; we must also consider how much money we will be 
spending on it for years to come. Although the stated cost of the war 
on April 17 was $34 billion, the actual cost was closer to $47.6 
billion, due to the $13.6 billion we will be spending in interest. In 
addition, the cost of occupation is more accurately stated as $5.46 
billion monthly, of which $1.56 billion is interest.
  With respect to the situation in Haiti, there has been a cry for 
assistance by President Aristide. The poorest country in the Western 
Hemisphere that is celebrating its 200th anniversary of independence 
from French rule with over 8 million citizens aided by a 4,000-officer 
police force has requested humanitarian aid and security forces. The 
U.S. contingency plan to deal with the massive refugee exodus that will 
soon occur is to send them to Guantanamo, Cuba, which received 
thousands of Haitian refugees during the last crisis 10 years ago, when 
a military junta seized power from Aristide.
  The exodus will indeed be massive; but we can avoid or at least 
ameliorate it by taking more forceful action to quell the situation 
immediately.

                                                February 17, 2004.
     Hon. Colin L. Powell,
     Secretary, Department of State,
     C Street NW, Washington, DC.
       Dear Secretary Powell: I am deeply concerned about the 
     escalating violence in Haiti. Haiti has long been suffering 
     with dire economic conditions and the devastation of HIV/
     AIDS. But now, Haiti has reached a state of crisis. The 
     recent uprising could rapidly degrade into a catastrophic 
     civil war. I respectfully urge you to move immediately to get 
     humanitarian aid and military assistance to the people of 
     Haiti, in order to help bring about some safety and 
     stability.
       I understand that you may feel there is no ``enthusiasm'' 
     at present for sending U.S. troops or police to Haiti to help 
     quell the violence. However, I believe that the political 
     will to address the problem is rising. We Members of the 
     Congressional Black Caucus have long-been supporters of an 
     active role for the United States in providing needed 
     assistance to Haiti. Many other Members of the House and 
     Senate have expressed a willingness to support possible 
     peace-making and peace-keeping activities, to prevent a full-
     scale civil war so close to our border, and to head off the 
     large exodus of refugees to our shores that it might 
     precipitate.
       Furthermore, there seems to be a feeling in the 
     international community and in Haiti itself, that some 
     foreign intervention may now be necessary in Haiti. I hope 
     that you will work with our allies and the United Nations to 
     craft a resolution to this crisis. I am confident that you 
     will exercise your excellent diplomatic skills to craft a 
     political approach to promoting long-term democracy in Haiti. 
     However, please also consider that it may be necessary to use 
     more forceful means in the shortrun to prevent a humanitarian 
     disaster.
       Please let me know if you would like to discuss this matter 
     or if I can be of further service.
           Sincerely yours,
                                               Sheila Jackson-Lee,
     Member of Congress.

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