    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1994, Book II)]
    [September 24, 1994]
    [Pages 1606-1607]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    September 24, 1994

        Good morning. This week I'm in Chicago, where my radio address is
    carried live each week by radio station WMAQ.
        One week ago, America stood ready to use force if necessary to help
    restore the democratically elected government in Haiti. American power
    marshaled in pursuit of our national interest enabled American diplomacy
    to succeed. Haiti's military leaders agreed to leave power no later than
    October 15th. And our troops entered Haiti peacefully and without
    bloodshed, leading an international coalition of 28 nations that will
    work to bring greater security to the people and restore to power
    Haiti's democratically elected government.
        Today I am pleased to report on the progress of our mission. The
    U.S. contribution to the international coalition will soon be at full
    strength, some 14,000 American service men and women. Our troops include
    nearly 1,000 military police, who are working to help ensure that the
    Haitian police act with restraint toward the Haitian people. Police
    monitors from our coalition partners, Argentina, Jordan, and Bolivia,
    are expected to arrive next week. And the United Nations human rights
    observers expelled from Haiti 2 months ago will soon return. We've also
    have begun programs to confiscate heavy weapons controlled by the
    Haitian military and to buy back light weapons from the militia and
    civilians.
        Our presence, in short, is helping to restore civil order in a
    country wracked by violence and instability. Perhaps the best evidence
    of our success is that 200 to 300 Haitian refugees who we sheltered at
    our base in Guantanamo will go home on Monday. And we expect more to
    follow soon.
        This remains a difficult undertaking, as with all military
    operations, and as I speak to you, Secretary of Defense Perry and
    General Shalikashvili, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, are
    traveling to Haiti to review our progress on the ground. I am proud of
    our troops and their commanders there. They deserve our thanks, our
    prayers, and our praise.
        Our success in Haiti to date shows what the international community
    and American leadership can achieve in helping countries in their
    struggle to build democracy. Our mission, however, is limited. We must
    remember, as I plan to tell the United Nations General Assembly

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    on Monday, that it is up to the people in those countries ultimately to
    ensure their own freedom. This is the great challenge and opportunity of
    democracy.
        That's also one of the lessons I hope Americans will learn as
    Russian President Boris Yeltsin and South African President Nelson
    Mandela visit our country in the next 2 weeks. Their visits will be
    occasions to reflect on the remarkable democratic transformations of
    Russia and South Africa, which the United States has done a great deal
    to promote.
        America should be proud of our leadership in helping to build open
    societies around the world. By supporting democracy and promoting
    economic growth, we are actively helping others, but we're helping
    ourselves at the same time.
        Despite this, some people in our country question the importance of
    American engagement in the post-cold-war world. They say we should hide
    behind the walls of protectionism and isolationism. But they're wrong.
        That's why early next week I'll submit to Congress legislation to
    implement the GATT world trade agreement, the largest trade agreement in
    history. By cutting tariffs around the world, GATT will mean a $36-
    billion tax cut for Americans over the coming 10 years. It will also
    generate between 300,000 and 700,000 permanent new jobs in those years
    and in time many, many more for our children. And most of all, it will
    mean that we are facing this moment of decision with the confidence we
    need to meet the challenges of the post-cold-war world, tearing down
    walls that separate nations instead of hiding behind them.
        As we've learned again this week, when we approach our
    responsibilities around the world with the same sense of purpose, we can
    indeed accomplish great goals.
        Thanks for listening.

    Note: The President spoke at 9:06 a.m. from the Ritz Carlton Hotel in
    Chicago, IL.