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DATE=8/21/98 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-237491 TITLE=CONGRESS-TERROR (L) BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: TOP CLINTON ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS WENT TO CAPITOL HILL TO BUILD SUPPORT IN CONGRESS FOR A SUSTAINED WAR ON TERRORISM. V-O-A'S PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS THEY SHARED SECRET EVIDENCE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. TEXT: ONE PARTICIPANT IN THE MEETING SAYS THE EVIDENCE WAS STRONG. SENATOR GORDON SMITH WALKED OUT CONVINCED THE PRESIDENT DID THE RIGHT THING. ////SMITH ACT/// WHAT DOUBTS I HAD HAVE BEEN DISPELLED. ///END ACT/// THE OREGON REPUBLICAN SAID ALL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ARE UNITED AGAINST TERRORISM. BUT SOME HAVE RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TIMING OF THE PRESIDENT'S DECISION TO LAUNCH STRIKES. THEY SUGGESTED IT MIGHT BE AN ATTEMPT TO DIVERT ATTENTION FROM HIS PERSONAL PROBLEMS. SENATOR SMITH CALLED THE TIMING " UNFORTUNATE." BUT HE TOLD REPORTERS THE ATTACKS WERE JUSTIFIED. ///SMITH ACT/// IN MY MIND, THIS IS REALLY A TIME FOR SOME REPUBLICANS LIKE MYSELF AND OTHERS TO PULL TOGETHER AND SAY THIS ISN'T THE MOVIES, THIS IS REAL LIFE...THIS IS A REAL CONCERN. AND OUR GOVERNMENT HAS ACTED IN A RESPONSIBLE WAY. ///END ACT/// SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WILLIAM COHEN AND SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT WERE AMONG THOSE BRIEFING LAWMAKERS. MS. ALBRIGHT SAID SHE EMPHASIZED THE STRIKES ON TARGETS IN AFGHANISTAN AND SUDAN WERE JUST THE BEGINNING. ///ALBRIGHT ACT/// WE ARE INVOLVED HERE IN A LONG TERM STRUGGLE. WE HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THIS BEFORE. THIS IS, UNFORTUNATELY, THE WAR OF THE FUTURE. ///END ACT/// FRIDAY'S BRIEFING WAS INTENDED LARGELY FOR MEMBERS OF THE SENATE INTELLIGENCE AND FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEES. CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS WERE BRIEFED EARLIER BY THE PRESIDENT. (SIGNED) NEB/PW/JO 21-Aug-98 4:03 PM EDT (2003 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .