Invasion on Hold

The U.S. is nose to nose with Haiti, but Clinton has not yet decided how or when to intervene

In the White House basement's Situation Room last week, a dozen or so of Bill Clinton's senior foreign policy and defense officials were supposed to be planning the invasion of Haiti -- but quickly fell to bickering. The policymakers clashed over setting a deadline for the junta to step down, after which an invasion would be launched. Defense Secretary William Perry was vociferously opposed: he was certain a deadline, even a secret one, would leak -- forcing the U.S. to invade. "They always want us to knock heads," says a Pentagon official, referring to the State Department, "because they see 15...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!