THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 23, 1997 TAG: 9701230321
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF AND WIRE REPORT
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: 102 lines
The Senate ratified President Clinton's national security team with lightning speed Wednesday, confirming former Republican Sen. William Cohen as defense secretary and Madeleine Albright as the nation's first female secretary of state.
Both won 99-0 approval with no word of doubt or dissent.
``She's a strong lady. She's a courageous lady,'' Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jesse Helms, R-N.C., said of Albright, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations during Clinton's first four years in office.
The Cohen debate was equally laudatory.
``It's a pleasure to participate in your coronation - I mean, your confirmation,'' said Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., welcoming back his former colleague.
Clinton was quick to turn the praise back on the Senate, saying it ``sent a strong signal to the world of its determination to work in a constructive and bipartisan spirit with the administration on our nation's foreign policy and national defense.''
The Pentagon scrambled Wednesday to make plans for Cohen to take the oath of office. Albright's swearing-in was expected as early as today.
``I think the vote truly does signal a new era of bipartisan foreign policy,'' Albright said at the United Nations. ``And now I can't wait to get started.''
Both Virginia senators, Republican John W. Warner and Democrat Charles S. Robb, joined in the effusive praise for Cohen.
Warner called Clinton's selection of Warner's former Senate colleague ``an act of political courage,'' while Robb praised the new defense secretary's ``expertise, thoughtfulness and ability to put the national interests above partisan politics.''
Despite the warm words, Warner sparred briefly with Cohen during the confirmation hearing over the ticklish question of when American troops should be dispatched into hostile areas abroad. The Virginian said he wants such deployments limited to cases in which America has ``vital interests.''
Cohen had a slightly more expansive view, suggesting that the current deployment of U.S. troops in Bosnia does not involve such ``vital interests'' but is nevertheless proper. He reasoned that without U.S. involvement now, the conflict in Bosnia could expand throughout Europe to the point where vital American interests would be jeopardized.
``We are not and cannot become the world's policeman. Neither can we become a prisoner of world events, isolated and safely tucked away in some continental cocoon,'' Cohen said.
But he staked out a firm position on limiting the presence of U.S. forces in Bosnia, insisting that they will stay only for the next 18 months and that European forces will have to take over then if needed.
``We are not going to make an unlimited commitment to that region,'' he said.
Cohen also assured the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that he would maintain his independence as defense secretary. ``Uniformity of opinion within an administration is not an imperative or an ideal even to be sought,'' he said. ``If I am confirmed, I am certain that, on occasion, there will be differences of views amongst us.''
The lone Republican tapped by Clinton as a Cabinet member said the president wants ``strong-minded advisers'' to guide him on national security matters.
``I believe my record is one of bridging differences, not papering them over,'' Cohen said. ``I have no reservations about my ability to work effectively within the administration.''
Cohen sharply criticized Clinton on the Bosnia deployment last year, alleging the president had political motives when he delayed discussing an extended Bosnia troop deployment until after the election.
Cohen hinted Wednesday that he will not shirk from contesting efforts by members of the Clinton administration who may want to cut Pentagon funds to help balance the budget.
Cohen said he worries the Pentagon has chosen to pay for troop readiness and to maintain force structure by putting off investments in modern weaponry. The problem is ``near the breaking point,'' he said.
In two hours of formal debate on Albright's nomination, no senator spoke against her, although several attacked Clinton's foreign policy.
``My support for the nomination should in no way be misconstrued as an endorsement of the Clinton foreign policy,'' Helms said. He criticized U.S. actions regarding Haiti, Somalia, Bosnia, China, Iraq and other countries, as well as the administration's support for U.N. funding.
Helms said he expects Albright to work with the Republican-controlled Congress to limit sending U.S. troops abroad, to reform the United Nations and to modernize the State Department.
Albright didn't hesitate to make clear that she disagreed with the chairman on some points.
``I think the important thing to keep in mind is we created the U.N., and the U.N. is important and good for the United States,'' she said.
Enforcing her reputation as someone who speaks her mind, Albright told the committee members, ``I'm going to tell it like it is here, and I'm going to tell it like it is when I go abroad.'' MEMO: This story was compiled from reports by The Associated Press, The
New York Times and staff writer Dale Eisman. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
William Cohen
Madeleine Albright
KEYWORDS: U.S. CABINET VOTES SECRETARY OF STATE
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE