DATE=12/16/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243118
TITLE=CONGRESS/IRAQ/IMPEACHMENT WRAP (L)
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE U-S ATTACK ON IRAQ HAS PUSHED BACK THE LOOMING VOTE
IN THE HOUSE (OF REPRESENTATIVES) ON IMPEACHING PRESIDENT CLINTON
(FOR THE MONICA LEWINSKY AFFAIR). WHILE SOME CONGRESSIONAL
LEADERS SUPPORT MR. CLINTON'S DECISION TO STRIKE, OTHERS OPENLY
QUESTION HIS TIMING. V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN REPORTS.
TEXT: OPPOSITION LAWMAKERS HAVE DECIDED IT WOULD NOT BE WISE
TO TAKE UP IMPEACHMENT AT A TIME WHEN AMERICAN FORCES ARE IN
ACTION OVERSEAS. AFTER AN APPARENTLY LIVELY CLOSED-DOOR
REPUBLICAN MEETING, INCOMING SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE BOB LIVINGSTON
ANNOUNCED A POSTPONEMENT IN THURSDAY'S SCHEDULED DEBATE.
/// LIVINGSTON ACT ///
WE THINK THAT TOMORROW (THURSDAY) THE ONLY THING THAT WE
NEED DO IS GO FORWARD AND PASS A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT
FOR OUR TROOPS. WE'RE GOING TO DEFER ACTION TOMORROW ON
ANY OTHER LEGISLATION.
/// END ACT ///
MANY REPUBLICANS DRAW A LINE BETWEEN SUPPORTING THE TROOPS AND
BACKING THE PRESIDENT'S POLICY. THEY ARE SKEPTICAL ABOUT THE
TIMING OF THIS ATTACK, SUGGESTING MR. CLINTON HOPED TO DELAY A
VOTE ON IMPEACHMENT OR BOOST HIS STANDING WITH THE PUBLIC.
THE DOUBTERS INCLUDE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER TRENT LOTT, WHO SAYS
HE CAN NOT SUPPORT THIS ACTION, BECAUSE TIMING AND POLICY ARE
BOTH SUSPECT. BUT OTHERS SAY THE PRESIDENT ACTED CORRECTLY,
INCLUDING THE NEXT CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE ARMED SERVICES
COMMITTEE, JOHN WARNER.
/// WARNER ACT ///
THIS STRIKE WAS NEEDED IF SADDAM HUSSEIN CONTINUED TO
VIOLATE THE RULE OF LAW AS ESTABLISHED BY THE CONSORTIUM
OF NATIONS AND THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE SECURITY
COUNCIL. AND HE KNEW HE WAS VIOLATING IT AND HE KNEW
THE CONDITIONS OF THAT VIOLATION AND THEREFORE HE
BROUGHT THIS UPON HIMSELF.
/// END ACT ///
MEANWHILE, DEMOCRATS ARE STANDING BEHIND MR. CLINTON'S DECISION
TO STRIKE AND STRIKE NOW. SENATOR JOSEPH BIDEN SAYS THE TIMING
HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IMPEACHMENT.
/// BIDEN ACT ///
THE TIMING WAS DICTATED BY SADDAM HUSSEIN, THE UNITED
NATIONS AND THE (MUSLIM) HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAN. THE
CONFLUENCE OF THESE EVENTS HAS COME ABOUT IN A WAY THAT
THE PRESIDENT HAD ONLY ONE WINDOW, ONE WINDOW, IN WHICH
TO ACT.
/// END ACT ///
THE IRAQI SITUATION GIVES MR. CLINTON A LITTLE MORE TIME BEFORE
THE IMPEACHMENT DEBATE, BUT MAY NOT CHANGE THE OUTCOME IN THE
HOUSE. THE POOL OF MODERATE REPUBLICANS WHO MIGHT SIDE WITH THE
PRESIDENT IS STILL SHRINKING. SEVERAL MORE OF THESE LAWMAKERS
HAVE NOW SAID THEY FAVOR IMPEACHMENT, LIKE CONGRESSMAN BOB NEY OF
(THE MIDWESTERN STATE OF) OHIO.
/// NEY ACT ///
HE HAS LED THE U-S HOUSE TO THE PATH IT MUST NOW TAKE.
VERY SIMPLY, THE HIGHEST LAW-ENFORCEMENT OFFICER IN THE
LAND HAS COMMITTED FELONIES [SERIOUS OFFENSES], WHICH BY
THEIR VERY NATURE CONSTITUTE HIGH CRIMES WORTHY OF
IMPEACHMENT.
/// END ACT ///
MR. CLINTON IS ACCUSED OF PERJURY, OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE AND
ABUSE OF POWER. IF HE IS IMPEACHED THE CASE GOES TO THE SENATE
FOR TRIAL. REPUBLICAN LEADERS SAY THE VOTE COULD COME IN THE
NEXT FEW DAYS. ALL SIGNS STILL SUGGEST IT WILL GO AGAINST MR.
CLINTON. (SIGNED)
NEB/DS/ENE/WTW
16-Dec-98 9:38 PM EST (0238 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
