DATE=12/17/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243172
TITLE=CONGRESS / IRAQ (L)
BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE U-S HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IS MEETING IN A SPECIAL
POST-ELECTION SESSION. MEMBERS ORIGINALLY PLANNED TO OPEN DEBATE
TODAY ON IMPEACHMENT CHARGES AGAINST PRESIDENT CLINTON. BUT AS
V-O-A'S PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS, EVENTS IN THE GULF PROMPTED A
CHANGE OF PLANS.
TEXT: A HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THAT IS SPLIT ALONG PARTY
LINES IS PROVIDING UNIFIED SUPPORT FOR U-S FORCES IN THE GULF.
OUTGOING HOUSE SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH OPENED THE SESSION BY
ISSUING A MESSAGE TO IRAQ AND THE WORLD. HE SAID EVEN IN TIMES
OF DOMESTIC DIVISIONS, AMERICA WILL FULFILL ITS LEADERSHIP ROLE.
/// GINGRICH ACT ///
NO ONE ANYWHERE ON THIS PLANET SHOULD DOUBT THE WILL OF
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO SUPPORT FREEDOM, AND THE WILL OF
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO PROVIDE LEADERSHIP AND OUR
CAPACITY TO SUBORDIINATE OUR PERSONALITIES AND
SUBORDINATE ISSUES TO ENSURE THAT WE AS A NATION ARE
STRONG ON THIS PLANET.
/// END ACT ///
MR. GINGRICH REFUSED TO JOIN SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER TRENT LOTT
IN QUESTIONING THE PRESIDENT'S MOTIVES. OTHER HOUSE MEMBERS
FOLLOWED HIS LEAD.
EVEN THOSE WHO ORIGINALLY DECRIED THE PRESIDENT'S DECISION --
CALLING IT AN EFFORT TO DISTRACT ATTENTION FROM PENDING
IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS WATCHED THEIR WORDS IN THE HOUSE CHAMBER.
THE HOUSE RESOLUTION DOES MORE THAN BACK THE TROOPS. IT ALSO
REAFFIRMS SUPPORT FOR EFFORTS TO REMOVE SADDAM HUSSEIN FROM
POWER. AS THE DEBATE EVOLVED, MANY LAWMAKERS URGED PRESIDENT
CLINTON TO TAKE STRONG ACTION AGAINST THE IRAQI LEADER. AMONG
THEM WAS COLORADO REPUBLICAN JOEL HEFLEY.
/// HEFLEY ACT ///
SADDAM HUSSEIN IS A PSYCHOPATHIC BULLY IN THE
INTERNATIONAL PLAYGROUND. AND AS WE ALL KNOW, THE ONLY
WAY TO DEAL WITH A BULLY IS SWIFTLY, DIRECTLY AND
HARSHLY.
/// END ACT ///
THIS DEBATE FOCUSED ON THE MILITARY. THE WORD IMPEACHMENT WAS
BARELY HEARD.
THE IMPEACHMENT DEBATE WAS POSTPONED A FEW HOURS AFTER THE U-S
AND BRITAIN LAUNCHED THE ATTACK ON IRAQ. THE DELAY IS EXPECTED
TO BE RELATIVELY BRIEF -- PERHAPS JUST A FEW DAYS.
HOUSE MEMBERS WILL CONSIDER FOUR CHARGES AGAINST THE PRESIDENT --
ALL CONNECTED TO HIS EFFORTS TO CONCEAL HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH
FORMER WHITE HOUSE INTERN MONICA LEWINSKY. AT LEAST ONE OF THESE
SO-CALLED ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT IS EXPECTED TO PASS ON A PARTY
LINE VOTE. ONCE THAT HAPPENS, THE CONSTITUTION CALLS FOR A
SENATE TRIAL TO DETERMINE IF BILL CLINTON REMAINS IN OFFICE.
(SIGNED)
NEB/PW/LTD/KL
17-Dec-98 12:24 PM EST (1724 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
