Speech #1030095270

That is. we do not send American military personnel into situations where they are unprotected. where they cannot protect themselves or expect to have reasonable protection from harmful situations. putting them In a position where they have to take casualties that are unnecessary. Putting them in a position where they become targets is intolerable. unacceptable and obviously a very wrongheaded policy that needs immediate correction. Listening to the spokespersons from the administration trying to defend what is going on in terms of our national security purposes that needs military personnel. about the only thing I have heard so far is to hear the Secretary of State say and some of our leading Members of Congress on the Hill in defense of the administration policy that we will somehow have an invasion coming at us from Haiti. hordes of immigrants landing on the shores of America if we do not keep troops. armed or unarmed. in Haiti. I suggest that is a very misleading picture. I think it belittles the American sense of compassion. and I think it illreflects what actually is going on. I would point out that our Coast Guard has done a magnificent job of providing a cordon to contain the problem of illegal immigration. On that subject. I am delighted to yield to my colleague. the gentleman from Florida who happens to live in a district where I believe most of the people coming from Haiti one way or the other have found their way.