In Shifting Sands

BENJAMIN L. CARDIN
Special to The Jewish. News

Washingtoi?
he news headlines
have been domi-
nated by the
U.S.-led air
strikes against Iraq, the
House action on impeach-
ment of
Clinton,
and the president's visit to
Israel. Each of these issues
has special interest for us in
the Jewish community.
In launching last week's
air strikes against the regime
of Saddam Hussein, Bill
Clinton acted in the best
interests of the United States
and the international corn-
munity.
The case for this attack is
as unambiguous as any I can
remember.
There is no doubt
about the military pur-
poses of the attack. As
Defense Secretary
William Cohen said, the
strike was intended to
"degrade Saddam
Hussein's ability to make
his willingness to expand any conflict by
and to use weapons of mass destruc-
attacking Israel.
tion."
On Dec. 16, the night that the most
Indeed, that has been a primary
recent attacks were launched, I had a full
objective of U.S. and U.N. policy since
briefing by Secretary Cohen and Joint
Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990. Since
Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Henry
then, Hussein has been condemned by
H. Shelton. Their explanation of the
the international community for his
timing and causes of the airstrikes left
repeated acts of lawlessness and aggres-
no doubt as to the correctness of the
sion. His determination to develop
president's
action.
chemical, biological and nuclear
A
day earlier, President Clinton
weapons, and his willingness to
received
the report of the exec-
use them, constitute a major
Con mentary
utive chairman of the
destabilizing threat to the Middle & Analysis
UNSCOM inspection opera-
East. Hussein's intent is clearly
tion, which made clear Iraq had
hostile to Israel, and it is vital to
violated its promise to cooperate.
U.S. interests that Israel remain a secure
The timing of the attack also was dic-
and stable presence in the Middle East.
tated by the impending beginning of the
Hussein possesses a particular threat
Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
to the security of Israel. His Scud missile
Launching
the attack during Ramadan
attacks against Israel during Desert
would
have
damaged U.S. relations with
Storm gave clear evidence of his irra-
Arab
countries
and would have had
tional hatred. We should never doubt
adverse consequences for Israel by •
threatening to disrupt the peace process.
Benjamin L. Cardin is the
The riming of the attack, on the eve
Democratic U.S. representative from
of
the
scheduled House vote on
Maryland's 3rd District.

T

Jewish community. I
attribute this to the fact
that, as a religious minor-
ity in the United States,
Jews have a strong appre--
c
clarion for the protec-
tions of our Constitution
The debate on impeach-
ment is not about
whether the president's
behavior was acceptable.
Clearly, it was nor.
Rather, the question was
,
whether the Constituticc:
required the removal of
the president for this
behavior. Based on the
historical precedents,
including the Nixon
impeachment hearings, I
am convinced the
Constitution required a
vote against impeach-
ment.
Photo by the Associared Press/Murad Sezer
The process of
impeachment has
already had deleterious
effects on our nation's
ability to exert leadership
in the world. In the past
two weeks, we have wit-
nessed the shameful
spectacle of the president
impeachment, has led some to question
being questioned about the likelihood of
the president's motives. It is absolutely
impeachment during his visit to the
clear that the unanimous recommenda-
Middle East.
tion of the president's national security
On his recent visit to Israel, the presi-
advisers, including the Joint Chiefs, sup-
dent sought to continue his vital work
ported the attack. If the president had
in that region, which offers so much in
not ordered the attack, he would have
terms of Israel's future security. While
allowed the impend-
his trip was not
ing impeachment
without
controver- <'
Iraqi
veiled
women
survey
the
damage
vote to interfere with
sy,
it
again
marked
near
a
house
which
was
reportedly
his duty as comman-
the
president's
destroyed
by
a
missile
in
Qorna,
some
der-in-chief
commitment to
It also is clear that 300 miles south of Baghdad Sunday
bringing peace to
Witnesses
say
the
house
was
hit
by
a
the bombing of Iraq
missle
Saturday,
the
fourth
day
of
the
Middle East.
had no impact on the
United States and British attacks on
To
be
certain, the
House's action on
targets in Iraq.
events
of the past
impeachment. I
week
have
had a
opposed the impeach-
profound impact
ment of the president, because, in my
on our nation, and special importance
judgment, none of the charges brought
for the American Jewish community.
by the Judiciary Committee met the
Whether the question is U.S. policy
constitutional standard of "treason,
toward the Middle East, or military
bribery, or other high crimes and misde-
action against Iraq, or fundamental con-
meanors."
stitutional issues like impeachment, we
Opposition to impeachment has
must continue to make our communi-
been very widespread throughout the
ty's voice heard.

S

y

A Maryland Congressman defends the attack,
the President and the need for Jews to speak up.

12/25
1998

12 Detroit Jewish News

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