DATE=2/24/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-227248
TITLE=SENATE-IRAQ REACT (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: SOME MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ARE GIVING AT LEAST GRUDGING
APPROVAL TO THE DEAL STRUCK BY IRAQ AND THE U-N
SECRETARY-GENERAL. BUT DESPITE A FRESH ROUND OF HIGH-LEVEL
BRIEFINGS FROM THE ADMINISTRATION (TUESDAY), SKEPTICISM IS STILL
RUNNING HIGH ON CAPITOL HILL. V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN REPORTS.
TEXT: THE LAWMAKERS COMPLAIN THEY HAVE NOT SEEN THE FINE PRINT
(DETAILS) OF THE PACT AND ARE WORRIED ABOUT ITS AMBIGUITIES.
WHILE THEY SEEM WILLING TO LET THE AGREEMENT PROCEED, OPPOSITION
REPUBLICANS QUESTION BOTH ITS VALUE AND ITS IMPACT ON NATIONAL
SECURITY.
ECHOING SEVERAL OF HIS COLLEAGUES, SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN VOICED
CONCERN ABOUT LEAVING THOUSANDS OF U-S TROOPS IN THE GULF REGION,
ON A MISSION WITH NO END IN SIGHT.
// MCCAIN ACT //
I'M VERY UNCOMFORTABLE ABOUT KEEPING AN ALL-VOLUNTEER
FORCE IN LARGE NUMBERS IN EXTENDED DEPLOYMENT IN PLACES
SUCH AS THE GULF AND IN BASES THAT ARE BASICALLY
ISOLATED AND AWAY FROM THEIR HOMES AND FAMILIES. WE'RE
ALREADY EXPERIENCING AN EXODUS OF QUALIFIED YOUNG MEN
AND WOMEN FROM THE MILITARY. I BELIEVE OVER TIME THIS
WILL EXACERBATE (MAKE WORSE) THAT PROBLEM.
// END ACT //
THE PENTAGON HAS YET TO GIVE CONGRESS THE ESTIMATED COST OF THE
OPERATION. REPUBLICANS ARE ALSO PRESSURING THE WHITE HOUSE FOR A
LONG-TERM STRATEGY FOR IRAQ, WHICH THEY SAY SHOULD INCLUDE AN
EFFORT TO OVERTHROW PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN. SENATE MAJORITY
LEADER TRENT LOTT TAKES CREDIT FOR PUSHING THE PRESIDENT TO THINK
ABOUT THE FUTURE, BUT HE ADDS, THERE ARE NO ANSWERS YET.
// LOTT ACT //
I CONTINUE TO ASK THE QUESTION ON BEHALF OF THE SENATE,
WHAT NEXT? NOW THE ODDS ARE BASED ON PAST PERFORMANCE
THAT IN TWO WEEKS OR TWO MONTHS OR SIX MONTHS WE'RE
GOING TO BE BACK IN THIS SAME SITUATION AGAIN. SO MY
QUESTION IS WHAT OTHER THINGS CAN WE DO TO BEGIN TO GET
PRESSURE ON SADDAM HUSSEIN.
// END ACT //
SO FAR, THERE ARE NOT MANY CONCRETE IDEAS ABOUT HOW TO LAUNCH
SUCH A CAMPAIGN. LIKE THE PRESIDENT, LAWMAKERS HOPE FOR A QUICK
TEST OF THE AGREEMENT, TO FIND OUT IF PRESIDENT SADDAM IS
SINCERE. REPUBLICAN SENATOR KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON SAYS THE CRISIS
IS PROBABLY NOT OVER.
// HUTCHISON ACT //
WE ALL KNOW THAT THIS IS A REPRIEVE. IT IS A PERIOD IN
WHICH EVERYONE IS GOING TO REASSESS. WE HOPE THAT SADDAM
HUSSEIN WILL ALLOW THE OPEN INSPECTION OF HIS PALACES
AND ANYPLACE ELSE THAT THE INSPECTORS WOULD LIKE TO GO.
BUT I THINK THAT ITS CLEAR THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO
HAVE A BACKUP.
// END ACT //
THE ADMINISTRATION'S BACKUP IS THE THREAT OF FORCE. IN LIGHT OF
THE AGREEMENT, THE SENATE HAS SET ASIDE PLANS TO GIVE THE
PRESIDENT A FORMAL STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR POSSIBLE MILITARY
ACTION. BUT REPUBLICAN LEADERS WANT CONGRESS TO DEBATE THE ISSUE
THOROUGHLY BEFORE THE UNITED STATES LAUNCHES A STRIKE.(SIGNED)
NEB/DS/TMD/KL
24-Feb-98 5:25 PM EST (2225 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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