Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, September 13, 1994 TAG: 9409130076
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES AND THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
The Clinton administration, laying the groundwork for a yearlong multinational occupation of Haiti, announced Monday that 17 nations have agreed to put 1,500 police and military personnel on the island - as long as U.S. forces go ashore first.
Meanwhile, Republican leaders said Congress should debate a resolution authorizing the commitment of U.S. forces to an invasion.
Administration officials said the new force commitments will save the United States from being stuck with sole responsibility for the potentially dangerous mission of policing Haiti after an invasion. That, they said, should help build public and congressional support for intervening.
Secretary of State Warren Christopher announced the 17-nation enlistment, which came after weeks of behind-the-scenes appeals to foreign leaders from President Clinton and his aides.
The countries offering to lend forces soon after U.S. forces enter Haiti include Britain, Israel, the Netherlands, Belgium, Argentina, Panama, Bolivia, Bangladesh and nine former British colonies around the Caribbean, officials said.
But at least six other countries, including longtime U.S. allies France and Canada, turned Clinton down, at least for now. Christopher aides drafted a list of 23 participating countries Monday morning, but they pared it back to 17 as it became clear that some commitments were not coming through.
Christopher said he expected more countries to join in the coming weeks, however.
Monday, Republican leaders sent a letter to House Speaker Tom Foley, D-Wash., and Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell, D-Maine, saying there is ``ample time'' to debate the invasion question since the United States and its citizens are not immediately threatened.
The Republicans noted that the Bush administration received prior approval for launching Operation Desert Storm to liberate Kuwait from Iraqi invaders.
by CNB