DATE=10/13/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=SENATE-TEST BAN VOTE (L)
NUMBER=2-254992
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  The U-S Senate has voted down a worldwide ban 
on nuclear weapons tests, handing President Clinton a 
major foreign policy defeat.  V-O-A's David Swan 
reports on the debate over the Comprehensive Test Ban 
Treaty. 

TEXT:  The action follows days of partisan squabbling 
on both the merits of the test ban and the timing of 
the vote.  Some Republicans, who hold a majority in 
the Senate, were willing to grant the president's 
request to put off the vote and lay the treaty aside.

But when the showdown came, just four Republicans 
broke ranks to actually support the treaty.  Senator 
Kay Bailey Hutchison is one of those who opposed 
ratification, despite doubts.

            // Hutchison act //

      I don't like the fact that we are taking up this 
      treaty now.  I don't want to send a bad signal.  
      But most of all I don't want to leave ourselves 
      and our allies unprotected from some rogue 
      nation that has nuclear capabilities and we know 
      there are many.

            // end act //

Besides the threat from rogue states, opponents say 
the test ban can not be effectively verified.  They 
also charge it would compromise America's nuclear 
deterrent by making the nation's stockpile less safe 
and reliable.

Treaty supporters acknowledge the pact is not 
foolproof, but say it is still a major step toward 
curbing the spread of nuclear arms worldwide.  The 
treaty would outlaw all nuclear weapons tests, once it 
is ratified by a list of 44 nuclear-capable states. 

Like many of his colleagues, Democratic Senator Tom 
Harkin used the military coup in Pakistan to 
strengthen his case.

            // Harkin act //

      If nothing else, this ought to tell us to ratify 
      this treaty or we're going to have more nuclear 
      explosions in South Asia.  It's a powderkeg 
      waiting to happen.  We ought to ratify this 
      treaty.

            // end act //

Despite statements like that one, Democrats knew from 
the start of this debate that ratification was 
unlikely.  They focused on trying to avoid a vote and 
offered to not bring up the treaty again in this 
administration.  But a small group of conservative 
senators wanted tougher assurances.  The powerful 
Foreign Relations Comittee Chairman, Jesse Helms, is 
among those who fought to kill the accord outright.

            // Helms act //

      This treaty will not, could not, can not 
      accomplish its highly exaggerated stated goal of 
      halting the spread of nuclear weapons.

            // end act //

Before the last few weeks the Clinton administration 
and some Democrats had repeatedly pushed for a vote.  
But now they bitterly complain Republicans rushed the 
accord to the Senate floor without time for proper 
debate.  Senator Joseph Biden accused the opposition 
lawmakers of using national security for political 
gains - and he acknowledged he could not look at the 
issue without passion.

      // Biden act //

      Well, I'm not cool about this.  My grandkids 
      aren't going to be cool about this.  You're not 
      going to be cool about this when this gets red 
      hot.

            // end act //

Mr. Biden and others vow they will not let the matter 
die.  The treaty can be sent to the Senate again - and 
if nothing else, Democrats can use the issue in next 
year's election campaign.  Still, the vote is clearly 
a defeat for the president, who will have few more 
chances to leave a legacy in foreign affairs.(Signed)



NEB/DS/PT



13-Oct-1999 19:52 PM EDT (13-Oct-1999 2352 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.