21571: (Hermantin)PalmBeachPost-Congressmen urge keeping U.S. troops in Haiti (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: leonie hermantin <lhermantin@hotmail.com>

Congressmen urge keeping U.S. troops in Haiti

By Bill Douthat, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Saturday, April 24, 2004



WEST PALM BEACH -- Haiti's interim leaders want U.S. troops to remain as the
primary security force in the strife-torn nation at least until national
elections are held next year, members of a congressional delegation said
Friday.

"Their concern was that they couldn't get to that destiny without a military
presence by the United States," U.S. Rep. Mark Foley, R-West Palm Beach,
said.

Foley and five other congressmen visited Haiti Friday to meet with Haitian
President Boniface Alexandre and Prime Minister Gerard Latortue to assess
the country's stability.

Foley said both Alexandre and Latortue, a former resident of suburban Boca
Raton, pledged not to seek political office in a new government.

"These are two reluctant warriors," Foley said from Palm Beach International
Airport, where the group arrived Friday evening. "They are not looking for a
palace or an entourage, but want to help Haitians finally get a breath of
freedom."

U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, D-Miami, said Latortue hopes to have municipal
elections early next year, followed by parliamentary elections and a
presidential election in the fall.

Meeks said members of Aristide's Lavalas political party are expected to
offer candidates for parliament and president.

The transition to fair, democratic elections demands a longer U.S. military
presence in Haiti, Meek said.

The United States sent 1,940 troops to Haiti in February after former
Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide went into exile during widespread
political violence. The U.S. wants the United Nations to take a larger role
in peacekeeping in the Caribbean country.

"If we don't want Haitians boarding boats and coming to South Florida, and
drowning at sea, we must set an environment that Haitians will not be
victims of political persecution," Meek said. "If they don't have security,
that's what's going to happen."

Meek said guns and gangs remain prevalent on the streets of Haiti.

"Don't be fooled," Meek said. "Haiti is still a very dangerous place for
some people."

Foley said he would press the Bush administration to maintain its commitment
to provide troops in Haiti, saying the U.S. Marines gives the country a
"sense of calm."

"Haiti is at a critical moment in its history," said U.S. Rep. Elijah
Cummings, D-Maryland, another member of the delegation that spent the day
talking to Haitian leaders. "The question is whether we will continue our
efforts to uplift them."

bill_douthat@pbpost.com

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