Voice of America, 98-01-28

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From: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>

CONTENTS

[01] EURO STOCKS (S-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)

[02] IRAQ / RUSSIA / FRANCE (L ONLY) (CQ) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

[03] N-Y ECON WRAP (S & L) BY BRECK ARDERY (NEW YORK)

[04] RUSSIA / GERMANY (L) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

[05] WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[01] EURO STOCKS (S-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)

INTRO: STOCK MARKETS IN WESTERN EUROPE WEDNESDAY CLOSED HIGHER, WITH THE LONDON MARKET POSTING A NEW RECORD. DETAILS FROM LONDON EDITOR PAUL FRANCUCH.

TEXT: LONDON'S "FINANCIAL TIMES" 100 ADDED 46-POINTS WHEN TRADING CLOSED, POSTING AN ALL-TIME HIGH FOR THAT INDEX. AT ONE POINT, THE "FOOTSIE" PASSED THE 54-HUNDRED MARK, BUT EASED IN LATER TRADING.

STOCKS SOARED IN FRANKFURT ON THE "DAX 30" INDEX, ADDING MORE THAN FOUR-PERCENT IN VALUE FOR THE DAY. EARLY TRADING ON THE DAX CLOSED UP 112-POINTS, AND LATE DAY COMPUTER TRADING ADDED ANOTHER 69-POINTS.

THE PARIS "CAC 40" CLOSED WITH A GAIN AS WELL -- UP 36-POINTS -- OR ABOUT ONE-AND-A-QUARTER PERCENT IN VALUE.

ANALYSTS WERE HARD-PRESSED TO CITE PARTICULAR FACTORS FOR EUROPE'S ADVANCES ON WEDNESDAY.

IN CURRENCY TRADING, THE U-S DOLLAR GAINED TWO PFENNIGE AGAINST THE MARK BUT WAS DOWN SLIGHTLY AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND.

GOLD CLOSED UP FOUR DOLLARS AN OUNCE IN LONDON AT 303-DOLLARS-FIVE CENTS. (SIGNED)
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28-Jan-98 2:00 PM EST (1900 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] IRAQ / RUSSIA / FRANCE (L ONLY) (CQ) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

INTRO: RUSSIA AND FRANCE ARE CALLING FOR DIPLOMACY TO BE GIVEN A CHANCE TO END THE STAND-OFF BETWEEN IRAQ AND THE UNITED NATIONS. JULIAN NUNDY IN PARIS REPORTS OFFICIALS OF THE TWO NATIONS SPOKE AFTER TALKS WEDNESDAY IN THE FRENCH CAPITAL.

TEXT: RUSSIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV, WHO HAS KNOWN IRAQI PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN PERSONALLY FOR SOME YEARS, SAID BAGHDAD MUST RESPECT U-N RESOLUTIONS AND ALLOW THE INSPECTION OF SUSPECTED CHEMICAL AND AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS SITES.

AFTER TALKS WITH FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC AND FOREIGN MINISTER HUBERT VEDRINE, MR. PRIMAKOV SAID FRANCE AND RUSSIA AGREE ON THE NEED TO SEEK A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION TO THE CRISIS BETWEEN IRAQ AND THE UNITED NATIONS.

RUSSIAN OFFICIALS MEANWHILE SAID MR. PRIMAKOV WILL HOLD TALKS WITH THE AMERICAN SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT IN MADRID FRIDAY. MRS. ALBRIGHT IS DUE TO LEAVE WASHINGTON FOR EUROPE FOR TALKS IN LONDON, PARIS, AND MADRID. AFTER THAT, SHE PLANS TO A TOUR OF THE GULF AND MIDDLE EAST.

THE FRENCH AND RUSSIAN MINISTERS MET IN PARIS THE DAY AFTER PRESIDENT CLINTON, IN HIS ANNUAL STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS, WARNED IRAQ THAT IT COULD FACE NEW AMERICAN BOMBARDMENTS IF IT DOES NOT ALLOW U-N INSPECTORS TO DO THEIR JOB. THE FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER SAID FORCE WOULD NOT SOLVE THE CURRENT PROBLEMS BETWEEN IRAQ AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.

PRESIDENT CHIRAC'S OFFICE, AS WELL AS THE RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, ALSO BACKED THE NEED TO RESPECT THE U-N MISSION IN IRAQ. BUT THE FRENCH PRESIDENCY ALSO STRESSED THAT FRANCE STRONGLY FAVORS A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION. BOTH RUSSIA AND FRANCE HAVE BEEN SEEKING WAYS OF EASING SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ, ARGUING THAT THE EMBARGO ON TRADE IS PUNISHING ORDINARY PEOPLE RATHER THAN THE IRAQI LEADERSHIP.

THE FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTRY, MEANWHILE, CRITICIZED THE CHIEF U-N ARMS INSPECTOR IN IRAQ, AUSTRALIAN RICHARD BUTLER, FOR COMMENTS HE MADE TO THE NEW YORK TIMES NEWSPAPER.

MR. BUTLER WAS QUOTED BY THE NEWSPAPER AS SAYING THAT IRAQ HAS ENOUGH BIOLOGICAL ARMS TO KILL THE POPULATION OF TEL AVIV.

THE FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN SAID MR. BUTLER SHOULD HAVE KEPT SUCH INFORMATION FOR THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL. THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE U-N INSPECTOR HAD NOT RESPECTED HIS ROLE AS A U-N OFFICIAL BY MAKING SUCH COMMENTS FIRST TO THE NEWS MEDIA. (SIGNED)
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28-Jan-98 2:35 PM EST (1935 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] N-Y ECON WRAP (S & L) BY BRECK ARDERY (NEW YORK)

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE UP STRONGLY TODAY (WEDNESDAY) ON CONTINUED OPTIMISM ABOUT CORPORATE EARNINGS. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 79 HUNDRED 15, UP 100 POINTS, MORE THAN ONE PERCENT. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT 977, UP EIGHT POINTS.

ANALYSTS SAY THAT, AS ON TUESDAY, NEW REPORTS OF VERY POSITIVE CORPORATE EARNINGS DROVE STOCK PRICES. THERE HAD BEEN SOME APPREHENSION THAT THE FINANCIAL CRISIS IN ASIA COULD SERIOUSLY HURT THE PROFITS OF U-S COMPANIES BUT, SO FAR, THOSE WORRIES SEEM EXAGGERATED.

ANALYSTS ALSO SAY WALL STREET TRADERS SEEM LESS CONCERNED WITH ALLEGED OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE AT THE WHITE HOUSE AND MORE FOCUSED ON ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS.

SOME OF THE COMPANIES REPORTING STRONG QUARTERLY PROFITS INCLUDE COCA-COLA, THE PHILIP MORRIS FOOD AND TOBACCO COMPANY,THE NORFOLK AND SOUTHERN RAILROAD AND COMP U-S-A, A COMPUTER RETAIL CHAIN.

THE U-S COMMERCE DEPARTMENT REPORTED THAT ORDERS FOR DURABLE GOODS -- PRODUCTS EXPECTED TO LAST THREE YEARS OR LONGER -- WERE DOWN MORE THAN SIX PERCENT IN DECEMBER, THE BIGGEST DROP IN SIX YEARS. BUT ANALYSTS SAY THE FIGURES WERE DISTORTED BY A HUGE DROP IN ORDERS FOR AIRCRAFT.

LAWYERS SAY THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO REACH A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT OF A MAJOR SEX DISCRIMINATION SUIT AGAINST MERRILL LYNCH, THE HUGE U-S INVESTMENT FIRM. THE SITUATION APPARENTLY OPENS THE POSSIBILITY OF A TRIAL ON CHARGES MERRILL LYNCH SYSTEMATICALLY DENIED PROMOTIONS TO WOMEN EMPLOYEES.

IT SEEMS THAT AL DUNLAP, THE CONTROVERSIAL CORPORATE TURNAROUND SPECIALIST, HAS DONE IT AGAIN. THE SUNBEAM SMALL APPLIANCE COMPANY, WHICH MR. DUNLAP NOW HEADS, REPORTS RECORD QUARTERLY PROFITS OF 42 MILLION DOLLARS. THAT COMPARES WITH A LOSS OF 234 MILLION DOLLARS IN THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR. MR. DUNLAP IS KNOWN AS A RUTHLESS COST-CUTTER WHO PUTS THE INTERESTS OF STOCKHOLDERS ABOVE ANY OTHER CONSIDERATION.(SIGNED) NEB/NY/BA/LSF/PT
28-Jan-98 5:20 PM EST (2220 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] RUSSIA / GERMANY (L) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTER IGOR SERGEYEV IS ON A TWO-DAY VISIT TO GERMANY, WHERE HE HAS CALLED FOR A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION TO THE ONGOING INTERNATIONAL CRISIS WITH IRAQ. V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS FROM BONN.

TEXT: GERMAN OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN HOPING TO USE THE RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTER'S VISIT TO TRY TO REASSURE MOSCOW THAT NATO EXPANSION PLANS ARE NOT A THREAT TO RUSSIAN SECURITY INTERESTS.

BUT FOLLOWING TALKS WITH GERMAN DEFENSE MINISTER VOLKER RUEHE, MR. SERGEYEV EXPRESSED UNHAPPINESS WITH NATO PLANS TO BASE A JOINT GERMAN-DANISH-POLISH MILITARY CORPS ON POLISH TERRITORY.

MR. SERGEYEV, WHO IS EXPECTED TO VISIT THE UNIT'S COMMAND CENTER ON THURSDAY, SAID RUSSIA TAKES A NEGATIVE VIEW OF THE PROPOSED DEPLOYMENT, WHICH IS PLANNED FOR SOME TIME IN 1999 AFTER POLAND BECOMES A NATO MEMBER.

MR. SERGEYEV DESCRIBED THE PROPOSAL AS A MOVE TOWARD THE RUSSIAN BORDER WITH GUNS IN HAND, BUT HE SAID RUSSIA COULD NOT OPPOSE IT BECAUSE IT WAS AN INTERNAL MATTER.

GERMAN DEFENSE MINISTER RUEHE TOLD REPORTERS THAT HE AND MR. SERGEYEV ALSO DISCUSSED INCREASING THE NUMBER OF RUSSIAN OBSERVERS AT MILITARY EXERCISES, AND PROPOSALS FOR GERMAN ASSISTANCE ON A PROPOSED TRANSPORT PLANE TO BE BUILT BY RUSSIA AND UKRAINE.

ON THE SUBJECT OF IRAQ, MR. SERGEYEV SAID RUSSIA WANTS ALL POLITICAL OPTIONS TO BE EXHAUSTED TO RESOLVE THE CRISIS OVER INTERNATIONAL WEAPONS INSPECTIONS. HE SAID THERE ARE POLITICAL OPTIONS THAT SHOULD BE EXPLORED SO WEAPONS DO NOT HAVE TO BE USED.

GERMAN DEFENSE MINISTER VOLKER RUEHE AGREED THAT POLITICAL OPTIONS SHOULD BE EXPLORED. BUT MR. RUEHE SAID IT IS IRAQ WHICH HAS BEEN BLOCKING U-N INSPECTIONS AND HE SAID MILITARY OPTIONS TO FORCE IRAQI COMPLIANCE WITH U-N RESOLUTIONS SHOULD NOT BE RULED OUT.

MR. SERGEYEV CALLED THE CRISIS IN IRAQ THE WORLD'S MOST DANGEROUS ISSUE AT THE MOMENT, AND HE CALLED THE DANGER OF ARMED CONFLICT VERY HIGH. (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/JWH/KL
28-Jan-98 11:25 AM EST (1625 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON DELIVERED HIS STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH TO A CROWDED SESSION OF CONGRESS TUESDAY NIGHT, WITH NO REFERENCE TO HIS PROBLEMS REGARDING AN ALLEGED AFFAIR WITH A WHITE HOUSE INTERN. MANY PAPERS ARE REACTING TO WHAT THE PRESIDENT HAD TO SAY ABOUT HIS AGENDA, AND HOW HE SAID IT, IN THE MIDST OF THIS SCANDAL.

OTHER TOPICS INCLUDE THE PRESIDENT'S COMMENTS ON IRAQ AND THE DEBATE OVER HOW TO RESPOND TO SADDAM HUSSEIN'S INTRANSIGENCE; DEALING WITH THE ASIAN FINANCIAL CRISIS; THE LINGERING ROLE OF DEATH SQUADS IN CENTRAL AMERICA; AND THE POPE'S MESSAGE TO CUBA AND THE U-S. NOW, JOINING US IN THE STUDIO IS ______________ WITH TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: PRESIDENT CLINTON'S SPEECH WAS WARMLY RECEIVED BY REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ALIKE IN THE CROWDED HOUSE CHAMBER, WHO INTERRUPTED THE PRESIDENT WITH APPLAUSE DOZENS OF TIMES. "THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION" SAYS MR. "CLINTON [WAS] ALL BUSINESS."

VOICE: AMID APPLAUSE AND APPREHENSION, PRESIDENT CLINTON TOOK A DEEP BREATH AND DELIVERED AN UPBEAT STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS TUESDAY. FOR DAYS, HE HAS BEEN BUFFETED BY QUESTIONS CONCERNING HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH A FORMER WHITE HOUSE INTERN. FOR A SHORT WHILE, AT LEAST, HE WAS ABLE TO DRAW THE SPOTLIGHT BACK TO HIS MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS. ..... PRESIDENT CLINTON ENDORSED A LONG LIST OF PROGRESSIVE INITIATIVES, INCLUDING A BOOST TO THE MINIMUM WAGE, MORE SPENDING FOR EDUCATION AND CHILD CARE, AN EXPANSION OF MEDICARE AVAILABILITY AND MORE RESOURCES FOR SCIENTIFIC AND MEDICAL RESEARCH.

TEXT: IN THE NORTHERN MIDWEST, "THE STAR TRIBUNE" IN MINNEAPOLIS REACTED THIS WAY:

VOICE: AS PRESIDENTIAL DUTY AND CONSTITUTIONAL RITUAL, THIS WAS THE SPEECH THAT AMERICANS DESERVED. THEY ARE WEARY OF SCANDAL AND EAGER FOR INSPIRATION. THEY SHOULD CELEBRATE THE NATION'S ACHIEVEMENTS, WHILE TAKING MEASURE OF ITS FAILINGS AND THEIR PRESIDENT'S PRESCRIPTIONS. IT WAS, IN FACT, REFRESHING TO KNOW THAT WHILE THE NATION HAS OBSESSED OVER IMPROPRIETIES, THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN THINKING ABOUT SADDAM HUSSEIN, SOCIAL SECURITY, THE QUALITY OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE FINANCIAL CRISIS IN ASIA.

TEXT: WHILE, NEW YORK'S "DAILY NEWS" MUSES ABOUT THE TWO SIDES OF THIS VERY COMPLEX MAN, NOTING:

VOICE: WHEN THE POET ROBERT FROST DEFINED COURAGE AS 'THE ABILITY TO MAKE THE BEST OF WHAT IS HERE AND NOT WHINE FOR MORE,' HE MIGHT HAVE HAD IN MIND BILL CLINTON'S PERFORMANCE LAST NIGHT. WITH THE WORLD WATCHING, [MR.] CLINTON DELIVERED A GUTSY STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS THAT REMINDED MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WHY THEY ELECTED HIM TWICE -- AND WHY THE SCANDAL ENVELOPING HIM IS THE STUFF OF GRAND TRAGEDY. HIS SPEECH WAS AN ADMIRABLE LIST OF REAL ACCOMPLISHMENT AND GRANDER VISION -- FROM A BALANCED BUDGET TO A SADDAM-FREE WORLD. IT WAS SUCH AN ALL-ENCOMPASSING RECORD OF THINGS DONE AND THINGS TO DO THAT, IN AN ORDINARY YEAR, IT MIGHT WELL HAVE BEEN A MOMENT OF TRUE TRIUMPH. AFTER ALL, AMERICA IS AT PEACE AND IS ENJOYING INCREDIBLE PROSPERITY - - THE TWO BASE MEASURES OF A PRESIDENT. BUT THIS IS NO ORDINARY YEAR, OF COURSE. THE BIZARRE STORY OF EX-WHITE HOUSE INTERN MONICA LEWINSKY IS TAKING EVER NEW TWISTS, SOME OF WHICH MIGHT GIVE [MR.] CLINTON AID. A FORMER TEACHER OF [MS.] LEWINSKY'S HAS COME FORWARD TO CORROBORATE HER TALES OF SEDUCING THE PRESIDENT. ..... THAT THE PRESIDENT COULD PUT ALL THAT OUT OF HIS MIND LONG ENOUGH TO GIVE THE 80-MINUTE SPEECH WAS REMARKABLE IN ITSELF. AND THAT HE COULD STAY TRUE TO THE POLITICS OF WHAT HE CALLED 'THE THIRD WAY' IS REFRESHING.

TEXT: IN CALIFORNIA, "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES" CALLS THE SPEECH "A PAUSE FOR POLICY ...... [MR.] CLINTON'S STATE OF THE UNION BREAKS FRENZY OF SCANDAL."

VOICE: ....[MR.] CLINTON ESSENTIALLY DID WHAT HE NEEDED TO DO TUESDAY NIGHT. HE CAME ACROSS AS PRESIDENTIAL. HE SEEMED TO BE AN ENGAGED CHIEF EXECUTIVE EAGER TO MOVE AHEAD WITH THE NATIONAL AGENDA. AND HE RECEIVED A RELATIVELY WARM RECEPTION FROM CONGRESS, CONSIDERING THE AWKWARDNESS OF THE SITUATION. THE SAD FACT REMAINS THAT WHETHER [MR.] CLINTON IS ABLE TO PUSH THROUGH ANY OF HIS AGENDA DEPENDS ON THE COURSE OF AN INVESTIGATION THAT IS UNFOLDING IN A FEDERAL COURTHOUSE A FEW BLOCKS AWAY FROM THE CAPITOL. AND THAT OUTCOME IS LARGELY BEYOND BILL CLINTON'S CONTROL.

TEXT: THE NATIONAL WEEK-DAY PAPER "USA TODAY" ASKS IN ITS EDITORIAL HEADLINE "EMBATTLED CLINTON FORGES AHEAD; WILL PUBLIC FOLLOW?"

VOICE: FOR ANY PRESIDENT, THE STATE OF THE UNION IS A ONCE-A-YEAR CHANCE TO BROADCAST A VISION TO CONGRESS AND THE NATION. FOR BILL CLINTON, TUESDAY NIGHT WAS MUCH MORE. IT HAD BEEN PLANNED AS THE OPENING SHOT OF THE '98 CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN: THE PRESENTATION OF A SERIES OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND INITIATIVES CAREFULLY CALIBRATED TO CAPTURE THE POLITICAL CENTER. BUT FRESH OFF A WEEK OF ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL MISBEHAVIOR AND WORSE, IT BECAME MORE BASIC: AN EFFORT JUST TO TURN THE NATION'S ATTENTION IN A NEW DIRECTION. IN MANY WAYS, BOTH EFFORTS SUCCEEDED. ..... [MR.] CLINTON PRESENTED HIMSELF AND HIS PARTY AS THE AUTHORS OF NEEDED SOCIAL LEGISLATION AND DEFENDERS OF FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. ... BUT THE PRESIDENT IS NOT OUT OF THE WOODS YET. DESPITE A NEAR-RECORD 59 PERCENT APPROVAL OF HIS HANDLING OF THE PRESIDENCY IN THE LATEST USA TODAY/ CNN / GALLUP POLL, ONLY 33 PERCENT CURRENTLY CONSIDER [MR.] CLINTON HONEST AND TRUSTWORTHY, A CLEAR WARNING THAT CONFIDENCE IN HIS LEADERSHIP COULD ERODE QUICKLY IF THE SCENT OF SCANDAL GROWS.

TEXT: LASTLY, ON THE STATE OF THE UNION, TODAY'S "NEW YORK TIMES" CALLS IT "A SPEECH IN THE EYE OF THE STORM.," ADDING:

VOICE: MR. CLINTON'S SPEECH WAS DEFINED BY THE FIRST BALANCED BUDGET IN A GENERATION AND HIS REJECTION OF ANY MAJOR NEW SPENDING INITIATIVES OR TAX CUTS. MOST OF THE SPECIFICS OF HIS PROGRAMS HAD BEEN DISCLOSED IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, PUTTING THE REPUBLICANS ON THE DEFENSIVE. THOSE PRE-SCANDAL DYNAMICS ARE NOW GONE, OF COURSE. BUT MR. CLINTON AND THE DEMOCRATS MAY STILL BE ABLE TO RETAIN THE UPPER HAND IN DEFINING HOW TO DEAL WITH THE BUDGET. ..... AMERICANS WERE [,] NO DOUBT [,] STUDYING THE SUBSTANCE OF MR. CLINTON'S REMARKS LAST NIGHT AS WELL AS THE THEATRICS. AFTER SOBER CONSIDERATION OF WHAT HE HAD TO SAY, THEY WILL PROBABLY RETURN TO THE DIZZYING BREW OF SCANDAL, LEGAL INQUIRY AND POTENTIAL TRAGEDY. THE TRUE MEASURE OF THE PRESIDENT'S SUCCESS WILL LIE, OF COURSE, IN WHETHER THE PROGRESSIVE AGENDA HE OUTLINED CAN SURVIVE HIS TROUBLES.

TEXT: ONE OF THE MOST POINTED REMARKS PRESIDENT CLINTON MADE IN HIS SPEECH WAS A NEW WARNING TO SADDAM HUSSEIN, AND TODAY'S TOPEKA [KANSAS] CAPITAL-JOURNAL, SAYS THE IRAQI RULER WOULD BE MAKING A MISTAKE TO THINK THE CURRENT SEX SCANDAL HAS DIVERTED ATTENTION FROM HIS NEFARIOUS ACTIONS.

VOICE: SADDAM HUSSEIN HAS ROUTINELY HIDDEN BEHIND HIS NEGLECTED PEOPLE, PRINCIPALLY THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN OF BAGHDAD, IN PAST CONFRONTATIONS WITH THE WORLD. IT SHOULD COME AS NO SURPRISE, THEN, THAT HE QUICKLY SCURRIED BEHIND FORMER WHITE HOUSE INTERN MONICA LEWINSKY THE MOMENT SHE ENTERED THE WORLD STAGE. HUSSEIN KNOWS THAT HE CAN CONVINCE SOME OF THE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD THAT ANY MILITARY ACTION TAKEN AGAINST HIM NOW WOULD BE MERELY A DIVERSIONARY TACTIC BY BILL CLINTON: THAT THE U-S PRESIDENT WOULD RESORT TO ANYTHING, EVEN THE BOMBING OF IRAQ, TO TAKE THE PUBLIC'S MIND OFF THE MUSHROOMING SEX-LIES-AND AUDIOTAPE SCANDAL IN WASHINGTON.

ABSOLUTE NONSENSE. IF THE WORLD TAKES ACTION AGAINST HUSSEIN FOR HIS REFUSAL TO ABIDE BY THE GULF WAR AGREEMENT ALLOWING U-N WEAPONS INSPECTIONS, IT WILL HAVE BEEN COMING A LONG TIME PRIOR TO MS. LEWINSKY'S EMERGENCE ON THE SCENE. .... IF A MILITARY CONFLICT RESULTS, IT WILL BE HUSSEIN WHO'S THE PROVOCATEUR -- NOT A 24-YEAR-OLD WOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.

TEXT: IN NEW ENGLAND, TODAY'S "BOSTON GLOBE" SECONDS THAT OPINION.

VOICE: THE CRISIS THAT MAY LEAD TO U-S MILITARY ACTION AGAINST SADDAM HUSSEIN WAS CREATED BY THE IRAQI DICTATOR, NOT BY A PRESIDENT CLINTON SEEKING TO DIVERT ATTENTION FROM HIS CURRENT LEGAL TROUBLE. INDEED, A CRUCIAL REASON WHY THE CRISIS PRESENTS [MR.] CLINTON WITH SUCH STARK AND CIRCUMSCRIBED OPTIONS IS PRECISELY THAT FOR TOO LONG HE HAS BEEN IN DENIAL ABOUT THE PERSISTENT DANGER FROM SADDAM. .... SEVEN YEARS AGO, SADDAM MISJUDGED [FORMER PRESIDENT GEORGE] BUSH. NOW IT IS [MR.] CLINTON'S TURN TO DELIVER AN ULTIMATUM TO SADDAM - - AND BACK IT UP, IF NEED BE. [MR.] CLINTON ALSO NEEDS TO EMULATE THE COALITION-BUILDING OF [PRESIDENT] BUSH, EVEN THOUGH HIS OWN NEGLIGENCE HAS MADE THAT TASK MUCH HARDER THAN IT WAS IN 1990. ABOVE ALL, HE MUST PREPARE TO SOLVE THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM OF SADDAM ONCE AND FOR ALL.

TEXT: "THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" TALKS OF THE PENDING ATTACKS AND WHAT SHOULD BE THEIR OBJECTIVE.

VOICE: MOST IMPORTANT, THE MILITARY OBJECTIVES MUST BE CLEAR. ATTACKS ON SUSPECTED CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL SITES MUST RECOGNIZE THE POSSIBILITY OF RELEASING DANGEROUS MATERIALS INTO THE ATMOSPHERE. AND OTHER STEPS MUST BE WEIGHED: SHOULD THE ACTION INCLUDE ATTACKS ON THE REPUBLICAN GUARD THAT KEEPS SADDAM IN POWER? SHOULD THE 'NO FLY' ZONES BE FURTHER ENLARGED TO AID KURDISH AND OTHER OPPONENTS OF SADDAM? ANY STRIKES SHOULD BE MORE THAN THE 'PINPRICKS' OF 1996 AND SHOULD OCCUR IN STEPS, GIVING SADDAM OPPORTUNITIES TO BACK DOWN AND COMPLY. OF COURSE, EVERY EFFORT SHOULD BE MADE TO LIMIT, OR AVOID, CIVILIANS CASUALTIES.

TEXT: "THE WASHINGTON POST" CONTINUES TO WORRY ABOUT THE BEST WAY TO HANDLE THE ASIAN FINANCIAL CRISIS AND RESPONDS TO PRESIDENT CLINTON'S COMMENTS FROM HIS STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH ON THE SUBJECT.

VOICE: PRESIDENT CLINTON LAST NIGHT URGED CONGRESS TO PROVIDE MORE MONEY TO THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND, WHICH HAS LED THE FINANCIAL RESCUES OF SOUTH KOREA, THAILAND AND INDONESIA IN RECENT MONTHS. THE PACKAGES ARE NOT AT STAKE, BUT THE I-M-F'S ABILITY TO DETER OR CONTAIN NEW CRISES WILL DEPEND ON CONGRESSIONAL ACTION. THAT PUTS PRESSURE ON CONGRESS TO ACT; THE ADMINISTRATION ARGUES THAT REJECTING THE 18-BILLION DOLLAR I-M-F FUNDS WILL WEAKEN U-S CREDIBILITY AND SO ENCOURAGE FINANCIAL INSTABILITY. IT'S A POWERFUL ARGUMENT, ESPECIALLY WHEN ASIA'S CURRENCIES ARE STILL PLUMMETING (AS IN INDONESIA) WHEN OTHER 'EMERGING MARKETS,' FROM RUSSIA TO BRAZIL, REMAIN AT RISK. YET THERE ARE LEGITIMATE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE I-M-F ROLE, AND CONGRESS IS RIGHT TO DEBATE THEM.

TEXT: TURNING TO A GROWING CONFLICT IN SOUTH AFRICA, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" NOTES THE REFUSAL SO FAR OF FORMER PRIME MINISTER P-W BOTHA TO APPEAR IN PERSON BEFORE THE TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION.

VOICE: THE APARTHEID REGIME THAT P-W BOTHA RULED FROM 1978 TO 1989 NEVER PERMITTED BLACK SOUTH AFRICANS TO BECOME JUDGES. NOW, IN WHAT MUST BE ONE OF HIS WORST NIGHTMARES COME TO LIFE, MR. BOTHA IS A DEFENDANT IN A BLACK MAGISTRATE'S COURT. HIS TRIAL, FOR IGNORING SUBPOENAS TO TESTIFY BEFORE THE TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION, HAS BEEN CRITICIZED BY MR. BOTHA'S SUPPORTERS AS AN ACT OF REVENGE ON APARTHEID'S MOST REVILED AND LEAST REPENTANT LIVING FIGURE. BUT MR. BOTHA HAS DEFIED THE LAW AND SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE.

TEXT: THE ISSUE OF DEATH SQUADS STILL HANGS HEAVY IN THE AIR OVER THE NEWLY EMERGING DEMOCRACIES OF CENTRAL AMERICA, AND "THE WASHINGTON POST" SAYS THE TRAIL OF ONE HONDURAN DEATH SQUAD MAY LEAD TO WASHINGTON, D.C..

VOICE: THE EMERGING OUTLINES OF THIS AFFAIR INDICATE THAT THE UNITED STATES, IN WORKING WITH THE HONDURAN MILITARY TO SUPPORT ANTI-COMMUNIST FORCES IN EL SALVADOR AND NICARAGUA, SET UP A SPECIAL 'BATTALION 3-16' TO 'MONITOR AND DESTROY ... SUBVERSIVES' IN HONDURAS. THAT IS, THE CIA ALLEGEDLY HAD TO DO WITH A DEATH SQUAD WHOSE VICTIMS WERE SELECTED, JUDGED AND DISPOSED OF BY AN UNRECONSTRUCTED CENTRAL AMERICAN MILITARY ESTABLISHMENT OPERATING BEYOND ANY LEASH OF LAW. AMONG THE VICTIMS WAS AN AMERICAN-BORN JESUIT PRIEST, JAMES CARNEY, WHO WAS REPORTEDLY DROPPED FROM A HELICOPTER.... FOR THE CIA IT CANNOT BE EASY TO OPEN UP MATERIAL THAT MAY TOUCH NOT ONLY ON INTELLIGENCE SOURCES AND METHODS ... BUT ON DARK DEEDS AS WELL. BUT THE AGENCY ALSO NEEDS TO LOOK AT THE LARGER PICTURE.

TEXT: LASTLY, "NEWSDAY" HOPES THAT BOTH WASHINGTON AND THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT WILL DWELL LONG AND HARD ON THE WORDS OF POPE JOHN PAUL DURING HIS RECENT VISIT TO THE ISLAND NATION.

VOICE: AT ANY OTHER TIME, POPE JOHN PAUL[']S HISTORIC VISIT TO CUBA WOULD HAVE DOMINATED THE WORLD'S HEADLINES. INSTEAD, IT WAS OBSCURED BY THE FRENZY SWIRLING AROUND THE WHITE HOUSE SEX SCANDAL. THAT'S UNFORTUNATE, BECAUSE THE POPE'S WORDS IN CUBA HELD STRONG AND WELCOME APPEALS FOR CHANGES IN THE WAY FIDEL CASTRO'S GOVERNMENT TREATS ITS PEOPLE AND THE WAY WASHINGTON TREATS CUBA.... IT IS EVIDENT THAT JOHN PAUL'S MEASURED PHRASES WERE CLARION CALLS FOR INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND RELIGION IN CASTRO'S CRUMBLING MARXIST REGIME. AND THEY WERE EQUALLY STRONG CONDEMNATIONS OF THE UNNECESSARY MISERY IMPOSED ON ORDINARY CUBANS BY THE U-S TRADE EMBARGO. /// OPT /// ..... THE U-S-CUBAN RELATIONSHIP IS STILL FREIGHTED WITH THE SHIBBOLETHS OF A COLD WAR STRUGGLE AS IRRELEVANT TO TODAY'S LIFE AS THE THEOLOGICAL DEBATES OF MEDIEVAL MONKS. THE POPE KNOWS THIS. LET'S LISTEN TO HIM AND END THIS CHARADE BEFORE THE END OF THE MILLENNIUM. /// END OPT ///

TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENT IN THE DAY'S U-S PRESS.
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28-Jan-98 11:13 AM EST (1613 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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