Porter Goss: “since I spoke about Haiti at morning business early today, I have seen still more evidence to suggest that there is a de…”

“since I spoke about Haiti at morning business early today, I have seen still more evidence to suggest that there is a de facto strong man regime being run in Haiti by former President Aristide, one that functions contrary to and does damage to the embryonic democratic process the United States is supporting there with so many United States tax dollars and so much of our credibility. International observers and Haitian political parties alike say that the April 6 elections were fraudulent. They were rigged in favor of Aristide, a man who today is sabotaging the economic reform process that is so desperately needed in Haiti, the poorest nation in this hemisphere. Worse still is the fact that all the candidates who are not of Aristide's Famille Lavalas Party are boycotting this Sunday's elections because they are based on a flawed process, as well. Mr. Speaker, I ask, where are those colleagues today, those champions of Aristide who rallied at the White House to support him when he was President-in-exile? Will they be around to support democracy in Haiti, which is what this is about, rather than restoring a strong man?”