Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, October 15, 1993 TAG: 9310150218
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
Clinton had proposed a withdrawal deadline of March 31, while his chief Somalia critic in the Senate, Democrat Robert Byrd of West Virginia, had sought a compromise date of Feb. 1.
Late Thursday, the White House, Senate leaders and Byrd reached consensus on a resolution that would maintain the president's date and call for an end to funds at that time unless authorized by Congress.
And early today, the Senate rejected a move to force an immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Somalia by limiting the funds President Clinton could spend on the mission.
By a vote of 61-38 just past midnight, the Senate turned aside the measure sponsored by several Republicans - except Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole, R-Kan., who urged his colleagues to back the president.
The freeing of helicopter pilot Michael Durant added a new element to the debate.
"When a hostage is released, there is an opportunity for more rational thought," said Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del.
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said that the American people "didn't say we would feed those people forever" and that the release removed the last possible impediment to quick withdrawal.
Durant, battered but buoyant, returned to freedom Thursday on a stretcher after 11 days as a captive of Somali warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid.
The United States said no deal was made for the release of Durant, captured in an Oct. 3 battle between U.N. troops and Aidid's fighters, or of a Nigerian peacekeeper captured in a Sept. 5 gunfight.
Aidid came out of hiding to announce Durant's release at a news conference. He appeared confident and wore a crisply pressed blue-striped shirt and red tie.
As for Durant's captors, Clinton indicated he was open to a compromise that could halt efforts to arrest Aidid for any role he played in the earlier killing of 24 Pakistani soldiers - the stated reason for his being pursued.
Clinton said "we ought to pursue" a U.N. resolution calling for the arrest of the person responsible, but added that "there may be other ways to do it, and I am open to that."
Clinton spoke with Durant by telephone for about seven minutes, praising his "service and bravery" and expressing pleasure at his release, said Press Secretary Dee Dee Myers.
Hours after Durant's release, Clinton appeared in the White House briefing room and said he had talked to the pilot's wife and to U.S. special envoy Robert Oakley. Later in the day, Clinton spoke with Durant by telephone for about seven minutes, praising his "service and bravery" and expressing pleasure at his release, Myers said.
Clinton said it would be a United Nations decision whether to release 32 Aidid aides captured by U.N. forces. Aidid had demanded their release while Durant was being held.
In December, then-President Bush sent more than 25,000 troops to Somalia to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to hundreds of thousands of starving Somalis.
Under the auspices of the United Nations, the mission changed to an effort to restore law and order to the East African country, an operation marred by the deaths of 32 Americans, 90 peacekeepers from other countries and hundreds of Somalis.
In a report to Congress, the administration has stated that the mission in Somalia is to assist in ensuring a secure environment for the flow of humanitarian aid.
Clinton reiterated Thursday that the job of the United States, despite the United Nations' stated goal, is not "to rebuild Somalia as a society or its political structure. The Somalis have to do that for themselves."
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