Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, July 17, 1994                   TAG: 9408100005
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: E2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

LESSONS OF 1915

In 1915, President Woodrow Wilson dispatched the Marines. Nineteen years later, when they finally left, Haiti was no less poor, violent or undemocratic.

There are differences now, to be sure.

In 1915, America's foreign policy, its military forces and its occupation of Haiti were explicitly racist. Today, the Congressional Black Caucus is the group most vocal in favoring invasion.

In 1915, Haitians had had no experience with democracy. Since then, they have enjoyed a taste, albeit brief, in the popular election of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who was ousted by the generals now oppressing the country.

In 1915, the invasion was unilateral. This time, the intervention President Clinton is considering would be multilateral - not just a show of the American flag, but a mix of forces sent by the Organization of American States and the United Nations.

Unfortunately, none of this changes the fact, well-established by experience, that nation-building is considerably harder than nation-invading.

Does anyone imagine, for example, that creating an effective and uncorrupt Haitian police force and court system, where none exists today, will prove a cakewalk? If any do imagine that, let's hope they have nothing to do with making U.S. policy toward Haiti.