DATE=2/23/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-227181
TITLE=CONGRESS-IRAQ (L)
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN'S AGREEMENT WITH IRAQ
BEING RECEIVED COOLLY IN THE U-S CONGRESS. MEMBERS OF BOTH
PARTIES DOUBT PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN WILL HONOR THE DEAL. AND
AS V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN REPORTS, SOME ARE CALLING FOR A COVERT
EFFORT TO TOPPLE HIM.
TEXT: FOR MANY OPPOSITION REPUBLICANS, WHO HAVE REPEATEDLY
QUESTIONED PRESIDENT CLINTON'S HANDLING OF THE CRISIS, THE ACCORD
REPRESENTS ANOTHER SETBACK. SENATE MAJORITY LEADER TRENT LOTT
SAYS MR. CLINTON IS CONTRACTING OUT FOREIGN POLICY TO THE UNITED
NATIONS -- AND MAY NOW HAVE TO LIVE WITH A BAD DEAL.
/// LOTT ACT ///
I WAS WORRIED THAT THIS INITIATIVE BY ANNAN WAS GOING TO
PUT THE PRESIDENT IN A BOX. AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT'S
HAPPENED. NOW MAYBE THIS IS A BOX THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE
COMFORTABLE WITH.
/// END ACT ///
HOUSE SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH OFFERED A MORE MODERATE ASSESSMENT --
NOT CRITICIZING THE PRESIDENT BUT SAYING THE DEAL MUST GIVE U-N
WEAPONS INSPECTORS THE FREEDOM THEY NEED. DEMOCRATIC SENATOR
JOSEPH LIEBERMAN HELD OUT HOPE THE AGREEMENT WILL WORK, BUT HE
ALSO EMPHASIZED THIS SHOULD BE BAGHDAD'S LAST CHANCE.
/// LIEBERMAN ACT ///
IF IN THREE MONTHS FROM NOW THE IRAQIS BREAK THIS
AGREEMENT WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH ANOTHER PERIOD
OF HANDWRINGING AND GREAT POWERS RUSHING TO IRAQ TO SEE
IF THEY CAN WORK OUT A COMPROMISE. THERE IS GOING TO BE
IMMEDIATE ENFORCEMENT AS WE USED TO SAY IN THE LAW.
/// END ACT ///
THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S PLAN FOR ENFORCING ITS DEMANDS
THROUGH AIR STRIKES HAS ALSO DRAWN A SOMEWHAT SKEPTICAL REACTION.
A GROWING NUMBER OF LAWMAKERS ARE URGING A DIFFERENT APPROACH --A
LONGTERM EFFORT TO STRENGTHEN IRAQI OPPOSITION FORCES AND
ULTIMATELY OUST PRESIDENT SADDAM. DEMOCRATIC SENATOR AND VIETNAM
WAR VETERAN JOHN KERRY SUGGESTS THIS COULD MEAN SENDING U-S
COMMANDOS INSIDE IRAQ.
/// KERRY ACT ///
THERE ARE PLENTY OF COVERT OPERATIONS THAT I TOOK PART
IN IN PRIOR YEARS IN PLACES THAT WE WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO
BE. AND I'M QUITE CONFIDENT THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY
THROUGH PRESIDENTIAL FINDING (DIRECTIVE) OR OTHERWISE OR
EVEN MORE OVERTLY TO BE OF ASSISTANCE TO PEOPLE WHO WANT
TO MAKE IT THEIR BUSINESS TO MAKE LIFE MISERABLE FOR
SADDAM HUSSEIN.
/// END ACT ///
LIKE THE VOTERS WHO ELECTED THEM, MEMBERS OF CONGRESS HOLD A WIDE
RANGE OF OPINIONS ON THIS ISSUE. PARTY LEADERS HAVE BEEN TRYING
TO DRAW UP A FORMAL STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR THE PRESIDENT. FOR
NOW AT LEAST, THE MEASURE IS NOT LIKELY TO REACH THE FLOOR OF THE
HOUSE OR SENATE. (SIGNED)
NEB/DS/WDC/PT
23-Feb-98 3:49 PM EST (2049 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
