DATE=12/18/98 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-243265 TITLE=IRAQ ATTACK / IMPEACHMENT (S-ONLY) BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE DATELINE=PENTAGON CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: WITH AMERICAN MILITARY FORCES STILL IN ACTION AGAINST IRAQ, THE U-S CONGRESS IS DECIDING WHETHER TO IMPEACH PRESIDENT CLINTON, THE TROOPS' COMMANDER IN CHIEF. A COMMANDER IN THE PERSIAN GULF, AIR FORCE GENERAL HAL HORNBURG, SAYS DEVELOPMENTS IN WASHINGTON WILL HAVE NO EFFECT ON OPERATIONS NEAR IRAQ. V-O-A'S NICK SIMEONE REPORTS. TEXT: GENERAL HORNBURG IS HALF A WORLD AWAY FROM THE HISTORIC IMPEACHMENT DRAMA UNFOLDING IN WASHINGTON. IN A TELEPHONE CONFERENCE CALL, HE ANSWERED THE INEVITABLE QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER PRESIDENT CLINTON'S LIKELY IMPEACHMENT IS AFFECTING THE MORALE OF THE FORCES HE COMMANDS. /// HORNBURG ACT /// OUR MISSION HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE POLITICAL PROCESS. OUR OATH AS PROFESSIONAL AIRMEN, SAILORS SOLDIERS AND MARINES IS TO SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION. WE WILL DO THAT AND TAKE THE ORDERS GIVEN TO US. ONE PROCESS DOES NOT AFFECT THE OTHER. /// END ACT /// PRESIDENT CLINTON AND HIS FOREIGN-POLICY ADVISERS HAVE SAID IT WAS ESSENTIAL TO CARRY OUT THE MISSION AGAINST IRAQ NOW -- IMPEACHMENT HEARINGS OR NOT -- IN ORDER TO PREVENT IRAQ FROM DISPERSING ITS MILITARY ASSETS. YET SOME PEOPLE ARE NOT CONVINCED. ANTI-AMERICAN PROTESTS BROKE OUT IN A NUMBER OF ARAB CAPITALS FRIDAY, WITH DEMONSTRATORS SAYING THE ATTACKS ARE AN EFFORT BY PRESIDENT CLINTON TO DIVERT ATTENTION AWAY FROM HIS LEGAL AND POLITICAL PREDICAMENT. (SIGNED) NEB/NJS/WTW 18-Dec-98 4:33 PM EST (2133 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
