Voice of America, 6 February 1996

From: "Ioannis V. Bousnakis" <[email protected]>

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

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

INTRO: A HOST OF TOPICS, MANY OF THEM DOMESTIC FIND THEIR WAY INTO THE NATION'S EDITORIAL COLUMNS THIS FIRST TUESDAY IN FEBRUARY. ON THE INTERNATIONAL SCENE ARE CHINA'S BELLIGERENCE TOWARD TAIWAN AND THE PENDING BAN ON THE IMPORT OF INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL NEWS; THE MILITARY COUP IN NIGER; THE DEATH OF A U-S SERVICEMEN IN BOSNIA; AND RUSSIA'S DEBATE OVER RATIFICATION OF THE START TWO TREATY. [OPT] DOMESTICALLY THERE IS COMMENT ON THE COLD; WHITEWATER; THE RETURN OF CHAIN GANGS AND STEVE FORBES' FORTUNE. [END OPT] NOW, HERE IS ____________________WITH A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: CHINA IS THE SUBJECT OF AT LEAST TWO MAJOR EDITORIALS, THE FIRST, THE LEAD IN TODAY'S "WASHINGTON POST," DISCUSSES THE POTENTIAL U-S REACTION IF THE CHINESE WERE TO ATTACK TAIWAN AS THEY HAVE SUGGESTED MAY BE POSSIBLE.

VOICE: "IF IT CAME TO THAT, THE UNITED STATES WOULD HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO HELP TAIWAN - - A FLOURISHING FREE-MARKET DEMOCRACY - - DEFEND ITSELF AGAINST ATTACK BY COMMUNIST CHINA. NO TREATY OR LAW COMPELS THIS RESPONSE, BUT DECENCY AND STRATEGIC INTEREST DEMAND IT. AN AMERICAN GOVERNMENT THAT ALLOWED THE ISSUE OF TAIWAN'S FUTURE TO BE SETTLED BY CHINA'S FORCE WOULD BE IN DISGRACE AS WELL AS IN ERROR. ..... BUT ... TO BE FACED WITH AN ACTUAL DECISION ON RESCUING A THREATENED TAIWAN WOULD ITSELF SIGNIFY A CALAMITOUS AMERICAN POLICY FAILURE."

TEXT: WHILE ON ANOTHER ISSUE, THE RECENT BEIJING ANNOUNCEMENT THAT IT SEEKS TO CONTROL ALL ECONOMIC NEWS, BRINGS THIS FROM TODAY'S "WALL STREET JOURNAL":

VOICE: "WHEN CHINA RECENTLY ANNOUNCED ... IT WOULD BRING ALL ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL NEWS UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE OFFICIAL XINHUA NEWS AGENCY, THE THOUGHT OCCURRED THAT THIS MIGHT BE SOME CLEVER BUREAUCRAT'S WAY OF COOLING OFF THE CHINESE ECONOMY. NOW COMES WORD OVER THE WEEKEND THAT CHINA NEXT PLANS EXTENSIVE CONTROLS OVER THE INTERNET..... WE LOOK FORWARD TO NEXT WEEKEND'S ANNOUNCEMENT REQUIRING THE SUN AND RAIN TO CONFORM WITH XINHUA'S WEATHER FORECASTS FOR THE MAINLAND. ..... [OPT] IN A COUNTRY AS BIG AS CHINA IT WILL BECOME IMPOSSIBLE TO MONITOR EVERY CALL MADE DOWN INTERNATIONAL TELEPHONE LINES."

TEXT: [BEGIN OPT] TODAY'S "ORLANDO SENTINEL" COMMENTS ABOUT LAST WEEK'S COUP IN NIGER:" THE MILITARY BULLIES WHO OVERTHREW NIGER'S FIRST DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED PRESIDENT AND BANNED POLITICAL PARTIES DESERVE THE CRITICISM THEY HAVE RECEIVED." [END OPT]

U-S ARMY SERGEANT DONALD DUGAN DIED SATURDAY IN BOSNIA. FRIST REPORTS SAID THE SOLDIER WAS KILLED WHEN HE STEPPED ON A LAND MINE. BUT AN INVESTIGATION SEEMS TO INDICATE THAT HE DIED WHEN HE PICKED UP A MINE AND IT EXPLODED. "THE NEW YORK POST" IS NOT HAPPY THE WAY THE STORY IS BEING REPORTED IN THE AMERICAN MEDIA.

VOICE: "HE WAS NOT, IN ANY SENSE, A 'VICTIM' OF ANYTHING AND ATTEMPTS BY THE MEDIA AND ELECTED OFFICIALS TO PAINT HIM AS SUCH ARE ALTOGETHER INAPPROPRIATE. SGT. DUGAN'S SACRIFICE DEMANDS RESPECT OF A SORT THAT HAS NOTHING IN COMMON WITH AMERICAN-STYLE VICTIMOLOGY. ..... IT IS DESTRUCTIVE FOR THE MEDIA TO CAST THE QUITE UNDERSTANDABLE GRIEF OF SGT. DUGAN'S FAMILY IN POLITICAL TERMS. AND IT BORDERS ON THE PERVERSE FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO SEIZE ON THIS INCIDENT IN ORDER TO SECURE SHORT-TERM POLITICAL ADVANTAGE."

TEXT: IN GEORGIA, "THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION" CONTINUES "THE POST'S" CRITICISM.

VOICE: "NATO'S PRESENCE HAS PUT A STOP TO ATROCITIES LIKE THIS AND PROVIDED A SEMBLANCE OF ORDER FOR U-N WAR-CRIMES INVESTIGATORS TO DO THEIR WORK. ..... UNFORTUNATELY, NOT EVERYBODY SEES THE BOSNIAN TRAGEDY IN THAT CONTEXT. ONE PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDER, SENATOR PHIL GRAMM, REPUBLICAN OF TEXAS, SEIZED UPON [SGT] DUGAN'S DEATH AS AN OCCASION TO TRY TO EXTRACT POLITICAL ADVANTAGE, PLEDGING TO ORDER A U-S WITHDRAWAL FROM BOSNIA AS HIS FIRST ACT AS PRESIDENT, IF ELECTED. A MORE PRINCIPLED VIEW IS THAT CONFRONTING DANGER IS OFTEN THE PRICE FOR MAINTAINING WORLD LEADERSHIP AND UPHOLDING AMERICAN VALUES."

TEXT: IN NEW YORK "THE DAILY NEWS" ADDED: "[SENATOR] GRAMM'S ISOLATIONISM IS AS APPALLING AS HIS TACTLESSNESS." [BEGIN OPT] WHILE ON A DIFFERENT TOPIC FROM THE SAME NATION, TODAY'S "PORTLAND [MAINE] PRESS HERALD" NOTES:

VOICE: "ALL OVER BOSNIA, THE DEAD ARE STARTING TO TELL THEIR TALES. THEIR BONES WON'T REST UNTIL THE EVIL ONES WHO MURDERED THEM RECEIVE THEIR REWARD. ..... AS MANY AS 7-THOUSAND RESIDENTS OF SREBRENICA ARE MISSING AND BELIEVED DEAD. TWO THOUSAND WERE HERDED INTO A WAREHOUSE IN KRAVICA, AND DISPATCHED WITH BULLETS AND GRENADES. ..... THE YUGOSLAV WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL ALREADY HAS INDICTED RADOVAN KARADZIC, THE BOSNIAN SERB LEADER, AND GENERAL RATKO MLADIC, SERB ARMY COMMANDER, BOTH OF WHOM HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS BEING AT OR NEAR THE SCENES OF SLAUGHTER IN SREBRENICA. ONLY WHEN THEY AND [SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN] MILOSEVIC ARE IN THE DOCK WILL THE DEAD WHO SCREAM FOR JUSTICE BE ASSUAGED."

TEXT: ON THE SUBJECT OF THE START TWO STRATEGIC NUCLEAR ARMS LIMITATION TREATY, "NEWSDAY" IS QUITE UPSET AT A U-S SENATOR WHO MAY HAVE CAUSED THE TREATY TO FAIL IN RUSSIA.

VOICE: "THE INEXCUSABLE FOREIGN POLICY BOYCOTT WAGED FOR MONTHS BY SENATOR JESSE HELMS, CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE, MAY HAVE COST THE UNITED STATES THE ALL IMPORTANT START TWO NUCLEAR ARMS TREATY WITH MOSCOW. ..... THE WILL BE LITTLE CHANCE FOR THE RUSSIAN DUMA [PARLIAMENT] TO CONSIDER THE TREATY BEFORE THE APRIL DEADLINE SET BY PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN FOR RATIFICATION. [OPT] RUSSIAN HARD-LINERS HAVE VOICED SUSPICIONS THAT [SENATOR] HELM'S ENLISTMENT OF REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES IN ATTEMPTS TO REVIVE PLANS FOR A 'STAR WARS' STRATEGIC MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM SHOWS THE UNITED STATES WANTS TO NEUTRALIZE WHATEVER NUCLEAR DETERRENT MOSCOW RETAINS."

TEXT: AMONG THE LEADING DOMESTIC TOPICS IS THE COLD WEATHER THAT HAS PRODUCED RECORD TEMPERATURES THROUGHOUT THE MIDWEST, SOUTH AND EAST, TO WHICH "THE PORTLAND [MAINE] PRESS HERALD" RESPONDS:

VOICE: "THERE'S ONE PIECE OF ADVICE THAT WASN'T BEING OFFERED IN MAINE ON MONDAY: NO TEENAGER HAD TO TELL ANYONE TO 'CHILL OUT' [SLANG FOR "REGAIN CONTROL OF YOUR EMOTIONS"]. IT WASN'T AS COLD IN MAINE AS IT WAS IN THE MIDWEST, WHERE ONE TOWN HIT MINUS 52-DEGREES CELSIUS. ..... PORTLAND WAS A BALMY MINUS 24 CELSIUS AT DAWN, ONE DEGREE SHORT OF A RECORD. COASTAL RESIDENTS WERE TREATED TO A DISPLAY OF GHOSTLY ARCTIC SEA SMOKE, AS THE COLD AIR CONDENSED EVAPORATING SALT WATER."

TEXT: TURNING TO THE WHITEWATER INVESTIGATION BY THE SENATE BANKING COMMITTEE, TODAY'S "CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" SUGGESTS THAT THE SENATE SHOULD EXTEND THE LIFE OF THE COMMITTEE AND GIVE IT SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO FINISH IT WORK, WHICH OTHERWISE WILL EXPIRE IN ABOUT A MONTH. "THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION" SAYS THE IDEA OF BRINGING BACK THE "CHAIN GANG" OF CONVICTS, CHAINED TOGETHER, TO DO ROAD MAINTENANCE IN GEORGIA, AS FLORIDA HAS RESUMED DOING, IS A BAD IDEA. "THE CONSTITUTION" CALLS A BILL REINSTATING CHAIN GANGS THAT PASSED THE GEORGIA HOUSE "REGRESSIVE LEGISLATION" AND CALLS ON THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR TO DEFEAT IT. AND IN POLITICS, TODAY'S LEAD EDITORIAL IN "THE NEW YORK TIMES" DISCUSSES THE FAMILY FORTUNE OF REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE STEVE FORBES.

VOICE: "..... MR. FORBES'S ABILITY TO PARLAY HIS WEALTH INTO ALMOST INSTANT POLITICAL CREDIBILITY POINTS TO REAL WEAKNESSES IN THE NATION'S SYSTEM FOR FINANCING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. THE CHALLENGE IS TO IMPROVE THAT SYSTEM FOR NON-WEALTHY CANDIDATES, WITHOUT INCREASING THEIR RELIANCE ON MONEY FROM FAVOR-SEEKERS."

TEXT: AND WITH THAT WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF SOME OF THE NATION'S EDITORIALS THIS FIRST TUESDAY IN FEBRUARY.

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06-Feb-96 10:47 AM EST (1547 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[02] BOSNIA / PRISONERS (L) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT SAYS IT HAS CAPTURED EIGHT BOSNIAN-SERB SOLDIERS, INCLUDING A GENERAL, AND IS HOLDING THEM ON SUSPICION OF INVOLVEMENT IN WAR CRIMES. DAVID FOLEY IN SARAJEVO REPORTS INTERNATIONAL INVESTIGATORS ARE EXPECTED TO EXAMINE THE GOVERNMENT'S EVIDENCE AGAINST THE MEN TODAY.

TEXT: THE EIGHT BOSNIAN SERB SOLDIERS, INCLUDING A GENERAL AND A COLONEL, WERE REPORTEDLY CAPTURED IN SEVERAL GROUPS DURING THE PAST TWO WEEKS WHEN THEY APPARENTLY GOT LOST CROSSING SARAJEVO'S NATO-CONTROLLED AIRPORT AND DROVE INTO GOVERNMENT TERRITORY.

THOUGH NONE OF THE MEN HAS BEEN INDICTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE, BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE EVIDENCE THE SERB GENERAL AND COLONEL PARTICIPATED IN, AND HELPED ORGANIZE KILLINGS OF CIVILIANS DURING THE BITTER THREE-AND-ONE-HALF YEAR WAR. THREE OTHER SERBS ARE SUSPECTED OF CARRYING OUT MURDERS IN EASTERN BOSNIA. THE REMAINING THREE SERB SOLDIERS ARE BEING HELD AS POSSIBLE WITNESSES, AND ARE EXPECTED TO BE RELEASED SHORTLY.

INVESTIGATORS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL ARE EXPECTED TO REVIEW THE GOVERNMENT'S EVIDENCE TODAY. BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN, MIRZA HAJRIC, SAYS THE GOVERNMENT WILL ABIDE BY THE TRIBUNAL'S DECISION.

THE HAGUE REPRESENTATIVE WHO WILL COME TO SARAJEVO AND INVESTIGATE AND ALSO INTERVIEW THESE INDIVIDUALS. HE WILL MAKE A DECISION. IF THEY ARE TO BE FREED IT WILL BE A DECISION OF THE HAGUE REPRESENTATIVE, AND IF THEY ARE TO BE INDICTED IT WILL BE AGAIN SO.

MR. HAJRIC SAYS THE GOVERNMENT UNDERSTANDS THIS INCIDENT COULD DAMAGE RELATIONS AMONG THE BOSNIAN SERBS, THE PEACEKEEPING FORCE, AND THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT. BUT HE POINTS OUT THE MEN WILL BE HELD UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW, AND SAYS THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT BELIEVE IT WILL COMPLETELY DISRUPT THE PEACE PROCESS.

NATO OFFICIALS SAY A SENIOR SERB GENERAL WAS EXTREMELY ANGRY WHEN HE HEARD THE NEWS. THERE HAS BEEN NO FORMAL REACTION FROM THE SERBS, BUT NATO HAS SAID IT HOPES THE INCIDENT WILL NOT ENCOURAGE WHAT IT CALLED -- A BEIRUT-STYLE EXCHANGE OF ARRESTS OR KIDNAPPINGS.

NATO SPOKESMAN, BRIGADIER ANDREW CUMMING, SAID THE ARRESTS ARE LIKELY TO INFLAME THE ALREADY TENSE SITUATION AROUND SARAJEVO.

EVERYTHING IS VERY FRAGILE, PEOPLE ARE FINDING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO LEARN TO LIVE WITH THEMSELVES TOGETHER. WE ARE HOPING THAT THIS OPERATION WILL BE COMPLETE BY THE END OF THIS YEAR, AND THAT BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA CAN START TO LIVE AGAIN. SMALL THINGS LIKE THIS MAY, OR COULD HAVE AN EFFECT OUT OF ALL PROPORTION TO WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED, WHICH WOULD BE A PITY.

TENS-OF-THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN SERB-HELD SARAJEVO ARE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR SAFETY WHEN THE SERB AREAS COME UNDER GOVERNMENT RULE IN SIX-WEEKS, AND THEY WILL NOT BE REASSURED BY THESE LATEST ARRESTS. BUT, OFFICIALS SAY IT IS ENCOURAGING THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT SAYS IT WILL DEFER COMPLETELY TO THE DECISION OF THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL WHETHER TO CHARGE THE MEN. (SIGNED)

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06-Feb-96 10:18 AM EST (1518 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[03] BOSNIA SITREP (L) BY WAYNE COREY (VIENNA)

INTRO: THE BOSNIAN SERBS SAY THEY ARE SUSPENDING ALL CONTACTS WITH THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT AND THAT NO SERB REPRESENTATIVES WILL ENTER GOVERNMENT-HELD TERRITORY. THIS FOLLOWS THE GOVERNMENT'S DETENTION OF A SERB GENERAL, A COLONEL AND OTHER SERB SOLDIERS WHO ARE BEING INVESTIGATED FOR WAR CRIMES. V-O-A'S CENTRAL EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT, WAYNE COREY, REPORTS.

TEXT: THE SERB NEWS AGENCY SAYS ALL CONTACTS WITH THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED BECAUSE OF THE DETENTION OF THE SERB SOLDIERS.

THE AGENCY ALSO SAYS SERB REPRESENTATIVES ARE BANNED FROM VISITING GOVERNMENT-HELD AREAS OF SARAJEVO UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. IT ADDS THAT FUTURE TALKS ON IMPLEMENTING THE BOSNIAN PEACE AGREEMENT MUST BE HELD IN NEUTRAL TERRITORY.

SERB LEADERS ARE DEMANDING THE PROMPT RELEASE OF A GENERAL, A COLONEL, AND OTHER SOLDIERS, TAKEN INTO CUSTODY BY THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT.

THE SERB LEADERSHIP SAYS THE ARREST OF THE SOLDIERS VIOLATES THE BOSNIAN PEACE AGREEMENT'S PROVISION FOR THE RIGHT OF FREE MOVEMENT BY EVERYONE IN BOSNIA.

THE GOVERNMENT SAYS THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT THE GENERAL AND THE COLONEL ORGANIZED AND EVEN PARTICIPATED IN THE KILLING OF MUSLIM CIVILIANS.

SOME OF THE OTHER DETAINED SERBS ARE ALSO SAID TO BE SUSPECTED OF KILLING CIVILIANS OR MAY BE WITNESSES TO WAR CRIMES. IF THE SUSPECTS ARE FOUND TO BE INNOCENT, THE GOVERNMENT SAYS THEY WILL BE FREED.

A NATO SPOKESMAN IN SARAJEVO HAS CRITICIZED THE DETENTIONS. HE SAYS THEY COULD, OBVIOUSLY, COMPLICATE THE PEACE PROCESS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. BUT, THE NATO SPOKESMAN DENIES THAT THE SERBS WERE ON THEIR WAY TO MEET WITH NATO OFFICIALS IN SARAJEVO WHEN THE GOVERNMENT SEIZED THEM. THAT WAS THE SERB VERSION OF HOW THEIR SOLDIERS WERE CAPTURED.

THE DETAINED SERBS ARE NOT ON THE LIST OF WAR CRIMINALS INDICTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL, ALTHOUGH THE TRIBUNAL HAS SAID THAT LIST IS NOT COMPLETE.

THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT IS EXPECTED TO HAND OVER WHATEVER EVIDENCE IT MAY HAVE CONCERNING THE SUSPECTS TO THE TRIBUNAL. TRIBUNAL REPRESENTATIVES ARE REPORTED TO HAVE ALREADY BEGUN TO QUESTION THE DETAINED SERBS. (SIGNED)

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06-Feb-96 2:43 PM EST (1943 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[04] CROATIA / CHINA / L-O BY GIL BUTLER (BEIJING)

INTRO: CROATIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER MATE GRANIC SAYS CHINA CAN PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN NORMALIZING RELATIONS BETWEEN CROATIA AND THE NEW, SMALLER YUGOSLAVIA. DOCTOR GRANIC HAS ENDED A TWO-DAY VISIT TO BEIJING. V-O-A'S GIL BUTLER HAS A REPORT FROM THE CHINESE CAPITAL.

TEXT: FOREIGN MINISTER GRANIC TOLD A NEWS CONFERENCE IN BEIJING'S GREAT HALL OF THE PEOPLE HE IS VERY SATISFIED, AFTER TWO MONTHS, WITH THE INTERNATIONAL MILITARY FORCE IMPLEMENTING THE PEACE AGREEMENT.

DOCTOR GRANIC SAYS HE IS OPTIMISTIC THERE WILL BE A PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM OF EASTERN SLAVONIA, WHERE THERE IS A LARGE ETHNIC-SERBIAN POPULATION.

THE CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS CHINA CAN PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART IN NORMALIZING RELATIONS BETWEEN ZAGREB AND BELGRADE.

CHINA HAS HAD VERY-GOOD RELATIONS WITH BOTH COUNTRIES -- THE REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA AND CROATIA. WE HAVE VERY-STABLE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC RELATIONS WITH CHINA AND CONCERNING MANY DIFFERENT PROBLEMS BETWEEN CROATIA AND THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA, I THINK THAT THE INFLUENCE OF CHINA -- ESPECIALLY ON BELGRADE -- CAN BE VERY SUCCESSFUL, ESPECIALLY CONCERNING THE MUTUAL RECOGNITION OF THE COUNTRIES AND THE NORMALIZATION OF RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES.

ON CROATIA'S RELATIONS WITH CHINA, DOCTOR GRANIC SAYS ECONOMIC TRADE AND COOPERATION IS GROWING. HE SUPPORTS THE UNIFICATION OF CHINA WITH HONG KONG AND MACAO AND SETTLEMENT OF THE TAIWAN ISSUE ON THE BASIS THAT THERE IS ONE CHINA. (SIGNED)

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06-Feb-96 7:14 AM EST (1214 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[05] POLITICS AND THE FIRST AMERICAN DEATH IN BOSNIA BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE WEEKEND DEATH OF AN AMERICAN SOLDIER IN BOSNIA, SERGEANT DONALD DUGAN, HAS CAUSED A FLURRY OF EDITORIALS IN THE U-S PRESS, NOT ONLY OVER THE DEATH ITSELF, BUT ALSO CONCERNING THE WAY THE DEATH QUICKLY MADE ITS WAY INTO THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN. WE GET A SAMPLING NOW FROM _____________ IN TODAY'S U-S OPINION ROUNDUP.

TEXT: SGT. DUGAN, A CAREER ARMY SOLDIER, WAS KILLED SATURDAY WHEN HE APPARENTLY PICKED UP A PIECE OF UNEXPLODED ORDINANCE A CHECKPOINT OUTSIDE TUZLA AND IT BLEW UP IN HIS HANDS. TEXAS SENATOR PHIL GRAMM IMMEDIATELY INJECTED THE TRAGEDY INTO THE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE. SENATOR GRAMM USED THE SERGEANT'S DEATH AS THE BASIS OF A NEW ATTACK ON THE LEADERSHIP OF SENATE MAJORITY LEADER BOB DOLE, THE LEADING CONTENDER FOR THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION. HIS REMARKS DREW A FAST RESPONSE FROM THE NATION'S EDITORIAL PAGE WRITERS. WE BEGIN OUR SAMPLING WITH A BYLINED EDITORIAL BY PUBLISHER NACKEY LOEB OF NEW HAMPSHIRE'S TRADITIONALLY CONSERVATIVE "UNION LEADER" IN MANCHESTER.

VOICE: 'IN THE PURSUIT OF PEACE' IS THE NEW PHRASE THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS TRYING OUT TO EXPLAIN WHEN AMERICAN SOLDIERS ARE INJURED OR KILLED WHILE ON MISSIONS THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE DEFENSE OF THE UNITED STATES... IN OFFERING HIS CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF OUR FIRST SOLDIER KILLED IN BOSNIA, PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS, 'HE DIED IN THE NOBLEST OF CAUSES -- THE PURSUIT OF PEACE.' THIS IS NOT ENOUGH. WHY, WE ASK AGAIN, HAVE OUR MEN AND WOMEN BEEN SENT INTO DANGER IN BOSNIA? THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF WHO ORDERED THEM IN HAS YET TO GIVE A PLAUSIBLE ANSWER... WE SEND OUR HEARTFELT SYMPATHY TO THE FAMILY THAT HAS JUST LOST A LOVED ONE ... HE DID NOT DESERVE TO DIE FOR AN UNEXPLAINED CAUSE IN A FARAWAY PLACE."

TEXT: ONE OF THE OLDEST PAPERS IN THE U-S MIDWEST, "THE ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH", SEES THE DEATH SOMEWHAT DIFFERENTLY.

VOICE: "... SERGEANT DUGAN'S DEATH QUITE NATURALLY BECAME AN OCCASION FOR REFLECTION ON THE U-S MISSION TO BOSNIA. PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON EXPRESSED HIS CONDOLENCES. BUT BY NOTING THAT SERGEANT DUGAN 'DIED IN THE NOBLEST OF CAUSES -- THE PURSUIT OF PEACE,' THE PRESIDENT ALSO MADE IT CLEAR THAT THE UNITED STATES WOULD STAY THE COURSE IN BOSNIA; THE TROOPS WOULD NOT BE WITHDRAWN BECAUSE OF THIS UNFORTUNATE DEATH... WITHDRAWAL, THOUGH, IS THE WRONG LESSON TO DRAW. DESPITE THE LOSSES OF ONE AMERICAN AND EIGHT EUROPEANS, THE MISSION TO BOSNIA HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL SO FAR. NO FATALITY WAS CAUSED BY ATTACKS ON NATO FORCES BY RECALCITRANT WARRING FACTIONS; THE COMBATANTS IN THIS UGLY WAR HAVE STOPPED FIGHTING. NORMALCY IS SLOWLY RETURNING TO BOSNIA."

TEXT: IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, "THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE" IS SADDENED BY THE SERGEANT'S DEATH BUT CONVINCED OF THE MISSION'S VALIDITY.

VOICE: "AS SAD AS THE OCCASION IS ... (THE DEATH OF SERGEANT DUGAN) UNDERSCORES THE REMARKABLY SUCCESSFUL NATURE OF THE MILITARY ASPECT OF THE MISSION SO FAR -- A MISSION MANY FEARED COULD INVOLVE NUMEROUS BLOODY CLASHES BETWEEN NATO FORCES AND LOCAL MILITIAS OPPOSED TO CEDING TERRITORY. INDEED, SUNDAY'S DEADLINE FOR THE SEPARATION OF FORCES -- THE MISSION'S MAJOR MILITARY OBJECTIVE -- HAS NOW LARGELY BEEN MET. BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT ACCOMPLISHMENT PROVIDES ONLY THE MINIMUM FOUNDATION FOR THE BUILDING OF PEACE IN BOSNIA... PRESIDENTS TUDJMAN AND MILOSEVIC, OF CROATIA AND SERBIA, HAVE LIKEWISE RESISTED THE COOPERATION THEY PROMISED ON HANDING OVER INDICTED WAR CRIMINALS TO THE INTERNATIONAL COURT IN THE HAGUE, INSISTING INSTEAD ON TRYING THEM IN CROATIA AND SERBIA, WHICH WOULD BE A COMPLETE FARCE."

TEXT: DEALING WITH THE ISSUE THAT SENATOR PHIL GRAMM USED THE U-S SOLDIER'S DEATH TO LAUNCH A NEW ASSAULT ON THE LEADING REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE BOB DOLE, "THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS" ASSERTS:

VOICE: "SERGEANT FIRST CLASS DONALD DUGAN MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE FOR BOSNIAN PEACE. THAT SOME AMERICAN POLS [POLITICIANS] WANT TO TURN HIS HEROIC SERVICE TO CAMPAIGN ADVANTAGE IS SHAMEFUL... SENDING AMERICAN TROOPS TO THE BALKANS WASN'T MEANT TO BE A WALK IN THE PARK [AN EASY, RISK-FREE TASK]. PRESIDENT CLINTON PREPARED THE NATION FOR THE DANGER IN DECEMBER IN A NATIONALLY-TELEVISED OVAL OFFICE ADDRESS. 'NO DEPLOYMENT OF AMERICAN TROOPS IS RISK-FREE, AND THIS ONE MAY WELL INVOLVE CASUALTIES,' HE SAID. ... 'THERE ARE TIMES WHEN AMERICA, AND AMERICA ALONE, CAN AND SHOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE.' SO IT HAS BEEN FOR GENERATIONS. YET THAT HASN'T STOPPED POLITICIANS -- MOST NOTABLY G-O-P PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFULS SENATOR PHIL GRAMM AND PAT BUCHANAN -- FROM HOVERING LIKE BUZZARDS OVER AMERICA'S 20-THOUSAND TROOPS, SALIVATING FOR A CHANCE TO USE CASUALTIES AS POLITICAL AMMUNITION. ... [SENATOR] GRAMM'S ISOLATIONISM IS AS APPALLING AS HIS TACTLESSNESS."

TEXT: "THE NEW YORK POST" SAYS THE DEPLOYMENT OF U-S TROOPS TO BOSNIA IS, IN ITS WORDS, "NO TIME FOR POLITICS" AND GOES ON TO CRITICIZE SENATOR GRAMM THIS WAY:

VOICE: "WE, TO BE SURE, WERE CONFIRMED SKEPTICS REGARDING THE COMMITMENT OF AMERICAN TROOPS TO BOSNIA. ASIDE FROM THE NEED TO ENSURE THE STABILITY OF NATO -- NO MINOR MATTER -- IT NEVER SEEMED TO US THAT VITAL AMERICAN INTERESTS WERE IN PLAY IN THE BALKANS. BUT THAT WAS THEN. NOW, WITH SOME 18-THOUSAND-500 U-S TROOPS ON THE GROUND ... AMERICA NEEDS TO MAINTAIN A UNITED FRONT. THE DEBATE OVER WHETHER OR NOT TO SEND TROOPS HAS BEEN OVER FOR MORE THAN TWO MONTHS. IT IS DESTRUCTIVE FOR THE MEDIA TO CAST THE QUITE UNDERSTANDABLE GRIEF OF SGT. DUGAN'S FAMILY IN POLITICAL TERMS. AND IT BORDERS ON THE PERVERSE FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO SEIZE ON THIS INCIDENT IN ORDER TO SECURE SHORT-TERM POLITICAL ADVANTAGE. THIS IS THE CONTEXT IN WHICH WE VIEW SENATOR PHIL GRAMM'S UNFORTUNATE EFFORT TO BLAME SGT. DUGAN'S DEATH ON GOP FRONTRUNNER [LEADER] BOB DOLE, THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER."

TEXT: FINALLY, IN TEXAS, "THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS," REACTS TO THE NEWS THIS WAY:

VOICE: "... ALTHOUGH THE OFFICIAL CAUSE OF SGT. FIRST CLASS DONALD DUGAN'S DEATH IS UNDER INVESTRIGATION, HIS, LIKE ... OTHER ... NATO CASUALTIES, FROM ALL INDICATIONS WAS AN UNFORTUNATE ACCIDENT. DANGERS STILL LURK -- THOUSANDS OF LAND MINES ARE HIDDEN NEAR DEPLOYMENTS, AND RESENTMENTS STILL SIMMER IN SOME CAMPS. BUT FOR NOW, THE MILITARY PART OF THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORD IS WORKING -- PERHAPS FAR BETTER THAN ANYONE ANTICIPATED. THAT IS DUE IN LARGE PART TO THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT ESTABLISHED FOR NATO TROOPS... CLEARLY, THE TASK NOW IS TO GET THE CIVILIAN SIDE OF THE ACCORD ON TRACK..."

TEXT: THAT CONCLUDES THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENT ON THE FIRST DEATH OF AN AMERICAN SERVICEMAN IN BOSNIA AND OF THE EFFORTS BY SOME PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES TO MAKE IT A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN ISSUE.

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06-Feb-96 1:32 PM EST (1832 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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[06] U-S / BOSNIA MINES (S-O) BY DAVID GOLLUST (PENTAGON)

INTRO: THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT IS SENDING MORE EQUIPMENT TO BOSNIA TO HELP PROTECT U-S TROOPS FROM MINE EXPLOSIONS, WHICH HAVE EMERGED AS THE BIGGEST THREAT TO NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCES. THE FOUR-YEAR-LONG CONFLICT IN BOSNIA LEFT THE COUNTRY STREWN WITH THOUSANDS OF MINEFIELDS. A REPORT FROM V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST AT THE PENTAGON.

TEXT: THE PENTAGON IS SENDING U-S TROOPS A MASSIVE SHIPMENT OF NEW EQUIPMENT INCLUDING ADDITIONAL TANK-MOUNTED ROLLERS TO SWEEP THROUGH MINEFIELDS, AND ROBOT VEHICLES TO LOCATE AND DETONATE MINES ON ROADWAYS.

SEVERAL NATO PEACEKEEPERS HAVE BEEN KILLED AND WOUNDED IN MINE INCIDENTS IN BOSNIA THOUGH IT REMAINS UNCLEAR WHETHER THE FIRST AMERICAN FATALITY IN BOSNIA -- A U-S ARMY SERGEANT KILLED BY AN EXPLOSION SATURDAY -- WAS A MINE VICTIM.

AIR FORCE LIEUTENANT-GENERAL HOWELL ESTES, OPERATIONS DIRECTOR OF THE U-S MILITARY JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF, SAYS THE MINE PROBLEM IS AS SERIOUS AS PLANNERS HAD FEARED:

WE HAVE SEEN NOW THAT THE MINES ARE AS BIG A PROBLEM AS WE THOUGHT THEY'D BE. AND SO WE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT -- SINCE WE'RE FINDING THAT EVEN IN AREAS WE'VE BEEN OVER BEFORE, WE'RE HAVING OCCASIONAL MINE INCIDENTS -- WE NEED TO PROVIDE PROTECTION FOR AS ANY MANY OF THE VEHICLES AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE.

GENERAL ESTES SAYS THREE-THOUSAND BLANKETS, MADE OF BULLET- STOPPING KEVLAR FABRIC, ARE ALSO BEING SENT TO HELP PROTECT SOLDIERS IN JEEPS AND OTHER U-N-ARMORED VEHICLES. (SIGNED)

NEB / DAG / BD / SKH
06-Feb-96 6:30 PM EST (2330 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America