The sudden, appearance of these conscientious defenders of truth is not an unexplainable phenomenon. A presidential reelection campaign advertisement announcing the influx of thousands of impoverished Haitians probably strikes Bush as far less appealing than an advertisement flaunting the triumphant victory of overwhelming U.S. military forces over a despotic and tyrannical dictator.

Pat Buchanan would have a field-day railing against this latest group of immigrants despoiling our nation. Jimmy Carter went through hell trying to get Cuban refugees out of Florida and Arkansas in 1979. Ronald Reagan slammed him for it. Bush doesn't want to have to stave off a similar attack from Buchanan.

If the U.S. truly concern itself with the preservation of democracy and opposition to oppression, then decisive action to help the Haitians would achieve these ends more effectively than the restoration of rule to the Al-Sabahs in Kuwait. Unlike Emir Al-Sabah, Aristide was a democratically elected leader, the first ever in Haiti.

The administration's tacit acceptance of Aristide's ouster conveys a discouraging message to those who hope to reinstate the fledgling democracy of Haiti. The plan agreed to in Washington last week is only a token gesture which will have no effect in restoring political and personal liberty to Haiti as long as the country's military establishment opposes Aristide's return.

But the repatriated refugees will, of course, suffer the most dire consequences of this heartless policy. If the administration can trust the testimony of one self-interested Kuwaiti teenager, then shouldn't they believe the words of dozens of "double-backers" and the desperate actions of thousands of other Haitian refugees?

By choosing not to do so, Bush is guilty not just of employing a double standard--he is also responsible for the suffering that the repatriated Haitians endure.