Bob Dole: “press reports indicate the administration is considering deployment of United States military forces to Haiti-- either…”

“press reports indicate the administration is considering deployment of United States military forces to Haiti-- either as trainers or as an invasion force. The apparent purpose is to put exiled President Aristide back in power. Before we act hastily, let us look at the facts. Haiti poses no strategic threat to the United States. There has been no massive exodus of migrants from Haiti. Yes, the thugs and murderers running the country have committed horrible human rights violations-- but they have not threatened Americans in Haiti. But, if human rights violations were enough reason for United States intervention, we would be invading most countries in the world--Rwanda, Sudan, China, Syria, and many more. Last October 21, the Senate passed an amendment I drafted by a vote of 98 to 2. That amendment is now section 8147 of Public Law 103-139. The amendment calls on the administration to seek the authorization of Congress before deploying military force to Haiti. While it is a sense- of-Congress provision, it expresses the views of the overwhelming majority of Members. If President Clinton wants to use force in Haiti, he should make his case before Congress and before the American people. That is what President Bush did before Operation Desert Storm. Haiti should be no different. We tried invading Haiti once this century--after a sustained period of political violence in 1915.…”