Senate confirms secretaries of state, defense (02/02/97)

Senate confirms secretaries of state, defense

by Volodymyr Chornodolsky
Ukrainian National Information Service

WASHINGTON - For both the United States Senate and the Clinton administration, Wednesday, January 22, was a monumental day. The Senate's Republican majority officially confirmed the appointment of Madeleine Albright as secretary of state - the first woman to hold this high level federal position. Also that day, a former Republican senator from Maine, William Cohen, was confirmed by the Senate as the nation's secretary of defense.

These confirmations are an indication that the 105th Congress and the newly re-elected president are moving toward a closer bipartisan relationship. Both secretaries were confirmed by a vote of 99-0 (one senator from Virginia was not present for the vote).

When asked, during his short Senate confirmation hearing prior to the full Senate vote, about the likelihood of U.S. troop deployment throughout the world, Mr. Cohen responded; "Action would be taken to protect vital U.S. interests ... where they are important ... and occasionally when American troops are needed in humanitarian operations."

Focusing on NATO, the future secretary of defense hinted that he wants to expand NATO over the next several years to include countries of the former Warsaw Pact, but not without first fully consulting with Russia. This is an issue that has been heavily debated by the U.S. Congress, Washington policy analysts and administration advisors.

Mr. Cohen further reassured the Senate that he will work to ensure that U.S. troops are out of Bosnia by the end of the next 18-month commitment. He stated that he will travel to Europe in the next few weeks to try and convince U.S. allies to assume the full burden of the Bosnia peacekeeping operation by the middle of next year.

Acknowledging his role in the new Clinton Cabinet as the only Republican, the nominee from Maine stated, "If I am confirmed, I am certain that, on occasion, there will be differences of views among us ... Uniformity of opinion within an administration is not an imperative, nor even an ideal to be sought."

The renowned author and expert on Soviet politics - in particular the former KGB - and vice-president of the American Foreign Policy Council, J. Michael Waller noted that he believes, "Cohen has a more realistic view of Central and Eastern European affairs and is definitely not as Moscow-centric [as previous administration appointees] ... While in the Senate, he pressed for the release of documents on the Russian military doctrine and Russian troop activity in other countries."

Mr. Waller previously had expressed strong doubts about the Russo-centric position assumed by top level State Department officials and their desire to appease Russia. In his opinion, Secretary Albright will present a favorable approach that reflects increased concern toward the security of countries in Central and East Europe.

John Hillen, a defense policy analyst at the Heritage Foundation, said he believes Secretaries Cohen and Albright are good choices for their respective positions.

"Secretary Albright is a strong candidate for Eastern Europe," said Mr. Hillen, "especially with the expansion of NATO moving from theory to reality." Mr. Hillen estimated that Ms. Albright will "stand the ground on NATO when others might back down."

On a more cautious note, Mr. Hillen referred to Secretary Cohen as "an open book, because of the fact that he criticized the administration's waning position toward Russia's military doctrine and aggression, and now he is a part of that administration."

On Friday, January 24, Secretary Albright held her first major press briefing. In response to a question about the future expansion of NATO and Russian opposition to its enlargement, Secretary Albright reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to maintain peaceful relations: "We believe that it is essential to enlarge NATO. We understand that the Russians have some problems with that. But what is clear is that both countries are committed to working the situation out and develop a mutual understanding based on our national interests."

Secretary Albright also confirmed that the Gore-Chernomyrdin summit will take place on February 6 in Washington.

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