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SLUG: 2-298208 CQ Congress-Democrats Korea (l-only)
DATE: NOTE NUMBER: |
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DATE=1-09-03 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT TITLE=CONRESS / DEMOCRATS-KOREA (L-O) NUMBER=2-298208 BYLINE=DAN ROBINSON DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL CONTENT= ///EDS: ADDING 'DEFENSE DEPARTMENT' IN 2ND GRAPH OF TEXT///
VOICED AT: INTRO: Democrats in the House of Representatives say the Bush administration should attempt to stay "within the spirit" of the 1994 Agreed Framework (accord) with North Korea, in any talks with Pyongyang. V-O-A's Dan Robinson reports from Capitol Hill: TEXT: The difficult North Korea situation, as well as the possibility of U-S led military action against Iraq, were two foreign policy issues discussed at length on Capitol Hill Thursday. In the morning, House lawmakers received a classified briefing on Iraq by officials from the State Department, Defense Department and C-I-A. But North Korea was also prominent in talks among members of the Democratic caucus (main group). The House Democratic leadership emerged from a discussion on a range of national security issues to brief reporters. Democratic leader, Nancy Pelosi, says "de-fusing" the North Korean situation will require, in her words, "a reiteration of the spirit behind the (1994 Agreed) Framework" with Pyongyang: /// PELOSI ACT /// What the countries in the region want us to do is to engage in dialogue, so we can avoid war, and we have some tools available to us that we should use, and as I say the spirit behind KEDO (Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization) is one of them. /// END ACT /// Agreeing with Mrs. Pelosi was Missouri Democrat Ike Skelton. In his words: "This is not a time to back away from dialogue and diplomacy." However, Mr. Skelton -- a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee had this to say when asked how capable U-S military forces are in dealing with possible multiple world trouble spots: /// SKELTON ACT /// Never doubt that they (U-S forces) can do, whether it be one or two contingencies at any one time. There will be strains, yes, on air lift, sea lift and the like. But never, never doubt their capability. /// END ACT /// /// OPT /// The comments came amid reports that a former House lawmaker, Bill Richardson, is expected to meet North Korea's U-N Ambassador. Now Governor of New Mexico, Mr. Richardson gained a reputation as a diplomatic "troubleshooter" on North Korea, and other world problem spots. /// END OPT /// House Democrats, meanwhile, fired off a few more blasts (criticisms) at Republicans, and at the Bush administration, on national security. The head of the House Democratic caucus (main group), Robert Menendez: /// MENENDEZ ACT /// We still continue to call upon the President, who has yet to deliver one dollar, Federal dollar, to states and municipalities across the landscape of this country, for first responders, for police, fire fighters, emergency management, the hospitals. /// END ACT /// The White House rejects charges it is not paying enough attention to domestic security concerns. But Democrats are increasingly using the question of preparedness for possible future terror attacks as a political issue. (signed) NEB/DAR/PT |
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