DATE=12/17/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243202
TITLE=CONGRESS IRAQ UPDATE (L) (CQ)
BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE U-S HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HAS PASSED A STRONG
RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR AMERICAN TROOPS IN THE GULF. V-O-A'S
PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS, THE RESOLUTION ALSO URGES EFFORTS TO
REMOVE SADDAM HUSSEIN FROM POWER.
TEXT: THE DEBATE WAS REMARKABLE FOR ITS RESTRAINT. AT A TIME
WHEN PARTISAN PASSIONS DOMINATE ON CAPITOL HILL, THE TONE IN THE
HOUSE CHAMBER WAS, FOR THE MOST PART, THOUGHTFUL AND
STATESMANLIKE.
AMONG HOUSE LEADERS THERE SEEMED TO BE A COORDINATED MESSAGE TO
IRAQ AND THE WORLD: THAT DOMESTIC DIVISIONS IN THE UNITED STATES
SHOULD NOT BE SEEN AS A SIGN OF WEAKNESS.
OUTGOING HOUSE SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH WAS RESOLUTE.
/// GINGRICH ACT ///
NO MATTER WHAT OUR DEBATES AT HOME, WE ARE AS A NATION
PREPARED TO LEAD THE WORLD.
/// END ACT ///
MR. GINGRICH REFUSED TO JOIN SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER TRENT LOTT
IN QUESTIONING THE PRESIDENT'S MOTIVES. MOST HOUSE MEMBERS
FOLLOWED THE SPEAKER'S LEAD. BUT NOT ALL.
/// OPTIONAL COOK TEASE ACT ///
I AM TROUBLED BY THE TIMING OF YESTERDAY'S BOMBING.
/// END OPTIONAL ACT ///
UTAH REPUBLICAN MERRILL COOK STRUCK A PARTISAN NOTE.
/// COOK ACT ///
I DON'T THINK IT'S COINCIDENTAL THAT THE BOMBS BEGAN
BEGAN FALLING ON IRAQ ONLY A SHORT HOUR BEFORE CAUCUSES
(PARTY MEETINGS) WERE CONVENING HERE IN WASHINGTON TO
DISCUSS THE IMPEACHMENT VOTE.
/// END ACT ///
IT WAS A RARE BIT OF SKEPTICISM. FLORIDA DEMOCRAT ROBERT WEXLER
SAID HE HOPES THE UNIFIED MESSAGE OF THE HOUSE RESOLUTION ON IRAQ
WILL PREVAIL
/// WEXLER ACT ///
I PRAY THAT THIS RESOLUTION UNDOES THE DAMAGE DONE
YESTERDAY BY THE MAJORITY LEADER IN THE SENATE AND
OTHERS WHO QUESTIONED THE JUDGMENT OF THE PRESIDENT, THE
JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF, THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE AND OUR
BRITISH ALLIES WHO OUTLINED THE URGENCY FOR THIS ACTION
AGAINST IRAQ.
/// END ACT ///
THE VOTE ON THE IRAQ RESOLUTION WAS ALMOST UNANIMOUS. ONLY FIVE
MEMBERS VOTED "NO" AND THEIR PRIMARY CONCERN WAS A CONSTITUTIONAL
ONE - - THE ABILITY OF THE PRESIDENT TO SEND TROOPS INTO HARMS'
WAY WITHOUT THE PRIOR APPROVAL OF CONGRESS.
ONCE THE RESOLUTION WAS APPROVED, TENSION RETURNED TO THE HOUSE
CHAMBER. MEMBERS WERE TOLD TO GO ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS UNTIL
IT'S TIME TO BEGIN THE IMPEACHMENT DEBATE. (OPT) THOUGH
REPUBLICANS SAY THEY ARE DETERMINED TO GO AHEAD WITH THE PROCESS,
DEMOCRATS ARE URGING FURTHER DELAYS. MICHIGAN'S DAVID BONIOR
MADE A PLEA TO THE HOUSE MAJORITY. (OPT MATERIAL CONTINUES
THROUGH BONIOR ACT)
/// OPTIONAL BONIOR ACT ////
WE WOULD LOOK DOWN UPON ANY ACTIVITY IN THIS BODY TO GO
FORWARD WITH IMPEACHMENT WHILE AMERICAN MEN AND WOMEN
ARE ENGAGED IN ARMED CONFLICT.
/// END OPTIONAL ACT ///
PRESIDENT CLINTON FACES FOUR COUNTS OF IMPEACHABLE CONDUCT - -
ALL STEMMING FROM HIS EFFORTS TO CONCEAL AN EXTRAMARITAL AFFAIR.
IF THE HOUSE VOTES TO IMPEACH, A SENATE TRIAL IN THE NEW YEAR
WILL DETERMINE THE FATE OF BILL CLINTON'S PRESIDENCY. (SIGNED)
NEB/PW/LTD/KL/WTW
17-Dec-98 5:55 PM EST (2255 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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