Speech #990023491

It is the purpose of their massive military buildup either to actually employ force against their neighbors or fearing the response that would be expected under the Rio Treaty obligations they will simply use it to extort. Mr. President. the fourth fact is that imposing a threat to their neighbors in Central America and ultimately to Mexico. the Sandinista regime in Nicaragua. acting as a surrogate for the Soviets and the Cubans. poses a threat to the United States Itself not Just to our sealanes in communication in the Gulf of Mexico but along an 1.800milelong undefended land border across which massive illegal immigration. including literally threequarters of 1 million Salvadorans. perhaps as many as a quarter of 1 million other refugees from other countries have fled. Obviously. the consequence of this threat is that one day the American people might awaken and might plausibly demand that we bring home American troops from other theaters. from NATO. from Korea. to engage in a defense of that MexicanUnited States border. And another plausible defense is that one day. because of the temerity of this body and because of our inability to see and deal with reality.