Voice of America, 96-08-21

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

CONTENTS

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

[02] BOSNIA / NATO (L) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

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

INTRO: AN EXTREMELY WIDE VARIETY OF TOPICS IS FOUND IN THE EDITORIAL COLUMNS OF THE LEADING U-S PAPERS THIS WEDNESDAY. AMONG THE SUBJECTS DISCUSSED ARE: APPARENT DISORDER IN THE KREMLIN OVER CHECHNYA; THE UNITED STATES' EMERGING GREENS POLITICAL PARTY; CHARGES AND COUNTER- CHARGES OVER TAXES IN THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN; DEVELOPMENTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST; [OPT] THE ANTI-IMMIGRANT SENTIMENT IN THE U-S; [END OPT] AND PROBLEMS WITH AMERICA'S WAR ON DRUGS. NOW, HERE IS ____________________WITH A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: THE NEW YORK TIMES IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE STATE OF RUSSIA'S LEADERSHIP AND ITS SEEMING LACK OF DIRECTION CONCERNING THE FIGHTING IN CHECHNYA.

VOICE: "AN AIR OF ANARCHY GROWS DAILY ABOUT THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT. PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN IS ILL AND ABSENT. HIS AIDES APPEAR TO BE WAGING A FIERCE STRUGGLE FOR POWER. MILITARY COMMANDERS MAY BE PREPARING A COUNTERATTACK AGAINST CHECHEN REBELS WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION FROM MR. YELTSIN AND IN DEFIANCE OF HIS TOP MILITARY ADVISER. IT IS A DEEPLY DISHEARTENING AND DISTURBING TURN [OF EVENTS] JUST WEEKS AFTER MR. YELTSIN'S DECISIVE ELECTION VICTORY."

TEXT: ON THE U-S POLITICAL FRONT, THE LOS ANGELES TIMES IN ITS LEAD EDITORIAL IS NOTING THE EMERGENCE OF A NEW NATIONAL POLITICAL PARTY, THE GREENS, WHICH IS RUNNING RALPH NADER, THE CONSUMER AND ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST, FOR PRESIDENT. THE TIMES SUGGESTS HE MAY NOT BE AS MINIMAL A FORCE AS MANY TRADITIONAL POLITICAL EXPERTS BELIEVE.

VOICE: "IN A LOS ANGELES TIMES POLL ... IN MARCH, FOR INSTANCE, [MR.] NADER WAS FAVORED BY SEVEN PERCENT, COMPARED WITH 12 PERCENT FOR [ROSS] PEROT, 31 PERCENT FOR [BOB] DOLE AND 47 PERCENT FOR [PRESIDENT] CLINTON. [MR. NADER] IS ALREADY ON THE BALLOT IN 12 STATES, INCLUDING CALIFORNIA AND NEW YORK, AND GREENS PARTY ACTIVISTS SAY THEY HOPE TO HAVE HIM ON AT LEAST 25 [STATE] BALLOTS BY NOVEMBER... HE IS TRYING ... TO RUN AN IDEAS-BASED CANDIDACY IN AMERICA..., AN HONORABLE DECISION, IF NOT A WINNING ONE."

TEXT: THE WASHINGTON POST SUGGESTS TAKES ISSUE WITH ALLEGATIONS BY THE CLINTON CAMPAIGN ORGANIZATION REGARDING REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE BOB DOLE'S VOTING RECORD ON TAX INCREASE LEGISLATION WHILE IN CONGRESS.

VOICE: "THE CLINTON PEOPLE ARE RIGHT THAT MR. DOLE HAS REVERSED HIMSELF ON TAX POLICY AND THE BUDGET, THAT WITH THE PRESIDENCY AT STAKE HE HAS PUT THE DESSERT BEFORE THE SPINACH IN A WAY HE WOULD PREVIOUSLY HAVE SCORNED... MR. DOLE DESERVES TO BE CHALLENGED ON THE SUBJECT. BUT THAT DOES NOT RELIEVE THE PRESIDENT OF THE OBLIGATION TO BE CREDIBLE AND FAIR, NOT TO MENTION CAREFUL [IN PUBLICIZING MR. DOLE'S TAX VOTING RECORD IN CONGRESS.]"

TEXT: THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR QUESTIONS THE WISDOM OF UNITED STATES EFFORTS TO IMPOSE A BOYCOTT ON IRANIAN AND LIBYAN OIL IN THE FACE OF THE WORLD'S STEADILY-RISING DEMAND FOR ENERGY.

VOICE: "ALREADY THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S CAMPAIGN TO PREVENT OTHER NATIONS FROM SUBSTANTIALLY INVESTING IN IRANIAN PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT IS BEGINNING TO LEAK. AND MORE SNUBS TO THE U-S-DECLARED BOYCOTT ARE LIKELY... THIS POTENTIAL COLLISION OF THE U-S WITH TRADITIONAL ALLIES AND FRIENDS IS DANGEROUS FOR TWO REASONS: ONE. CURBING IRAN'S SUPPORT FOR TERRORIST GROUPS -- THE RATIONALE FOR WASHINGTON'S THREAT -- IS UNDERCUT AS TEHERAN SEES ALLIES FLOUT THE BOYCOTT. [AND] TWO. LONGTIME ALLIES AMERICA AND TURKEY ARE MARCHING IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. AND THAT MAY AFFECT OTHER PROBLEMS AREAS: CYPRUS, THE MIDEAST, AND PIPELINES BRINGING OIL TO EUROPE."

TEXT: THE BOSTON GLOBE IS ACCUSING THE CONGRESS OF XENOPHOBIA FOR ITS PASSAGE OF ANTI-TERRORIST LEGISLATION THAT TIGHTENS U-S LAWS CONTROLLING IMMIGRATION, BOTH LEGAL AND ILLEGAL.

VOICE: "AMERICA WAS BUILT AND CONTINUES TO THRIVE ON THE LABOR OF THOSE WHO COME TO ITS SHORES FROM OTHER LANDS. OF LATE, HOWEVER, ONE MIGHT THINK LEGAL IMMIGRANTS CONTRIBUTE ONLY TO THE NATION'S ILLS. A NEW LAW PROVIDING FOR THE AUTOMATIC DEPORTATION OF MOST LEGAL IMMIGRANTS CONVICTED OF FELONIES IS JUST ONE IN A SERIES OF DECISIONS BY CONGRESS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THIS XENOPHOBIC MOOD... [OPT] AS WITH WELFARE REFORM, PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS LAMENTED THE IMPACT OF THE ANTI-TERRORIST LAW ON THE LEGAL IMMIGRANTS. HE MUST HOLD TO HIS PROMISE TO UNDO THE DAMAGE OF BOTH LAWS WHEN CONGRESS RECONVENES THIS FALL." [END OPT]

TEXT: UPSET BY A NEW REPORT THAT TEENAGE DRUG USE HAS RISEN DRAMATICALLY IN THE 1990S, TODAY'S NEW YORK POST PLACES SOME OF THE BLAME ON THE WHITE HOUSE.

VOICE: "TO BE SURE, WHITE HOUSE POLICY DOESN'T DETERMINE EVERYTHING; ILLEGAL DRUG USE HAS WAXED AND WANED IN A CYCLICAL FASHION FOR DECADES. BUT NATIONAL LEADERSHIP DOES MAKE A VAST DIFFERENCE. AND FROM THE MOMENT THEY CAME TO POWER, BILL CLINTON AND HIS ASSOCIATES MADE IT PLAIN THAT THEY DID NOT CONSIDER ILLEGAL DRUG USE MUCH OF A PROBLEM... WHITE HOUSE CLAIMS THAT THIS IS NOT AN APPROPRIATE ISSUE FOR PUBLIC DISCUSSION ARE RIDICULOUS."

TEXT: ON LONG ISLAND, NEWSDAY IS NOT HAPPY WITH ATTACKS AGAINST U-N SECRETARY GENERAL BOUTROS BOUTROS-GHALI ECHOING FROM THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN.

VOICE: "PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON AND REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER BOB DOLE -- EACH FOR TRANSPARENTLY POLITICAL REASONS -- HAVE DESIGNATED BOUTROS BOUTROS-GHALI, THE UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY GENERAL, AN INTERNATIONAL BOGEYMAN [BAD PERSON]. GRANTED, [MR.] BOUTROS-GHALI SHOULD GO: HIS HALF-HEARTED STABS [ATTEMPTS] AT REFORMING THE U-N'S SLUGGISH BUREAUCRACY HAVE YET TO YIELD RESULTS. BUT THE AMERICAN POLITICAL ATTACKS ON BOUTROS-GHALI SMELL SUSPICIOUSLY OF MISGUIDED U-N-BASHING [CRITICISM]."

TEXT: AND LASTLY, THE BOSTON GLOBE DRAWS AN ODIOUS COMPARISON TO A PAIR OF ANIMAL STORIES IN THE NEWS LAST WEEK. IN CHICAGO, A FEMALE GORILLA NAMED BINTI JUA, RESCUED A LITTLE BOY WHO FELL INTO HER ENCLOSURE, BUT IN YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK A GROUP OF BOY SCOUTS STONED TO DEATH A BEAR CUB WHO WANDERED INTO THEIR CAMP, AFTER IT SMELLED THEIR FOOD. SAYS THE GLOBE;

VOICE: "... PEOPLE CAMPING IN THE BACK COUNTRY ... ARE ALWAYS THE TRESPASSERS, NO MATTER HOW MANY CAMPING PERMITS THEY MAY HAVE IN THEIR POCKETS. ARROGANCE MAKES THEM THINK OTHERWISE, THOUGH... BINTI [THE GORILLA] CARRIED NO SUCH PSYCHOLOGICAL BAGGAGE. SHE COULD HAVE ATTACKED THE CHILD THAT SEEMED TO DROP OUT OF NOWHERE INTO HER WORLD, BUT INSTINCT TOLD HER THIS WAS NO THREAT. MAN MAY HAVE DESCENDED FROM THE APES, BUT EVOLUTION OBVIOUSLY ISN'T EVERYTHING."

TEXT: ON THAT CRITICAL COMMENT ABOUT MAN'S ARROGANCE TOWARD ANIMAL, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF REVIEW OF THE EDITORIALS IN TODAY'S U-S DAILY PAPERS.
NEB/ANG/PCH
21-Aug-96 11:01 AM EDT (1501 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America

[02] BOSNIA / NATO (L) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: NATO OFFICIALS IN BOSNIA SAY THEY ARE CONSIDERING WHAT TO DO WITH SEVERAL THOUSAND MORE TONS OF BOSNIAN SERB MUNITIONS. DAVID FOLEY REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO NATO IS ALREADY IN THE PROCESS OF DESTROYING 300 TONS OF CONTRABAND SERB AMMUNITION AND EXPLOSIVES SEIZED TWO WEEKS AGO.

TEXT: NATO DISCOVERED THE FIRST 300 TONS OF SERB AMMUNITION IN AN UNUSED SCHOOL BUILDING AT MARGETICI TWO WEEKS AGO. THE SITE HAD NOT BEEN AUTHORIZED BY NATO FOR MILITARY USE, AS IS REQUIRED BY THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT. AND THE MUNITIONS, INCLUDING AMMUNITION ROCKETS, AND ALMOST SIX-THOUSAND CASES OF MINES WERE CONFISCATED.

AT THE SAME TIME THE MARGETICI SITE WAS DISCOVERED, BOSNIAN SERBS ASKED NATO TO AUTHORIZE ALMOST 20 PREVIOUSLY UNREGISTERED MILITARY FACILITIES, EVEN THOUGH THE DEADLINE FOR DECLARING SUCH SITES PASSED MONTHS AGO. AT LEAST 10 OF THE NEWLY DECLARED SITES WERE FOR AMMUNITION STORAGE, AND THE NATO SPOKESMAN, BRETT BOUDREAU, SAYS NATO INSPECTORS HAVE IDENTIFIED A HUGE SUPPLY OF SERB MUNITIONS.

THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF AMMUNITION IN ALL OF THOSE SITES IS IN THE ORDER OF, WE ESTIMATE, IN THE ORDER OF THREE-THOUSAND TONS.

NATO COMMANDERS HAVE STATED REPEATEDLY THAT ANY WEAPONS OR AMMUNITION FOUND OUTSIDE OF NATO AUTHORIZED STORAGE SITES WOULD BE CONFISCATED. AND OFFICIALS NOW SAY THEY WILL DECIDE SOON WHETHER TO DESTROY ALL OF THE THREE-THOUSAND TONS OF SERB AMMUNITION.

SUCH A MOVE WOULD FURTHER INCREASE TENSIONS BETWEEN NATO AND THE BOSNIAN SERB ARMY. THE SERBS ARE ALREADY INCENSED BY THE ONGOING NATO OPERATION TO DESTROY THE FIRST 300 TONS OF MUNITIONS. NATO HAS INCREASED SECURITY FOR IT'S TROOPS ON SERB TERRITORY AFTER RECEIVING ANONYMOUS THREATS, AND SERB ARMY COMMANDERS SAY THE DESTRUCTION OPERATION THREATENS THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORD.

LOCAL SERB OFFICIALS IN SOKOLAC, NEAR THE DESTRUCTION SITE, HAVE ALSO COMPLAINED BITTERLY ABOUT THE OPERATION, WHICH IS BEING CARRIED OUT ON TWO SITES A FEW KILOMETERS APART. THE SERBS SAY BY EXPLODING THE MUNITIONS IN BURIED PITS, SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE AREA'S WATER TABLE COULD RESULT. MAJOR BOUDREAU SAYS NATO IS SENSITIVE TO THE SERB'S CONCERNS.

WE HAVE LISTENED TO THEIR CONCERNS, BUT ARE SATISFIED THAT THE OPERATION POSES NO SUCH DANGER. NONETHELESS WE HAVE DECIDED NOT TO USE THE SECOND SITE, THE ONE CLOSEST TO THE TOWN.

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