THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Saturday, January 25, 1997            TAG: 9701250331
SECTION: FRONT                   PAGE: A9   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS 
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                        LENGTH:   25 lines

DEFENSE SECRETARY COHEN WARY OF TOO MUCH HUMANITARIAN WORK

Former Republican Sen. William Cohen took office as secretary of defense Friday, promising a bipartisan spirit in President Clinton's Cabinet.

In his new position, he warned that U.S. military forces must not ``engage too much in humanitarian operations.''

Cohen, a moderate Republican who occasionally has criticized Clinton's military policies, told the president after he was sworn in, ``Your decision to reach across party lines for this appointment respects the desires of the American people for an approach to public policy that is free of political rancor.''

Likewise, Clinton said the Senate's 99-0 vote to confirm Cohen ``sent a strong signal of its intention to work . . . in a bipartisan spirit to preserve and enhance our national security.''

In an interview with Armed Forces Radio and Television that was released later in the day, Cohen underscored a cautious approach to sending U.S. forces in harm's way.