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)
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Source: Voice of America
.