(15 Sep 1998) English/Nat
U-S President Bill Clinton was back to business as usual on Tuesday as the Congress contemplates the future of his presidency.
Clinton met with his secretary of defence and other top military officials to discuss military readiness and other security issues.
He said the U-S needs to strengthen its military readiness to protect the country's interests both at home and abroad while working to improve the quality of life for the nation's soldiers.
He also called on Congress to continue support of American peacekeeping efforts like those in Bosnia.
At Fort McNair in Washington, U-S President Bill Clinton was talking defence and national security with his top military advisors.
The president met with Defence Secretary William Cohen, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the senior operational commanders CINCs) to review U-S military readiness and personnel issues.
The president, who meets formally with his military leadership at least once a year on readiness issues, said military preparedness remains a top priority for the present and future security of the nation.
SOUNDBITE: English)
"I'm pleased to have the second opportunity this year to meet with Secretary Cohen, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the senior operations commanders of our armed forces. Today we're going to focus on the steps necessary to preserve and provide for the readiness of our armed forces to defend our interests and security. Readiness must be our number one priority. It is being monitored and addressed every day at every level of command. Our forward deployed and first-to-fight units are highly ready, and our overall force is fully capable of carrying out our national military strategy. But I am determined that we don't relax our vigilance to keep our forces ready to protect our security today and well into the 21st century."
SUPER CAPTION: Bill Clinton, U-S President
Many military leaders are growing increasingly concerned about battlefield readiness, amid reports of equipment shortages and poor maintenance standards.
Morale has been also been a problem in recent months as deployments for the 1.4-million m) member force have lengthened in such places as Bosnia and the Persian Gulf.
But Clinton said steps were being taken to improve the quality of life for the nation's armed forces, particularly those deployed overseas.
He also called on Congress to continue support of American peacekeeping efforts like those in Bosnia.
SOUNDBITE: English)
"The services have established standards to reduce the burden on our troops of the high tempo of operations and deployment. We've reduced the number and duration of some deployments overseas, putting units on standby status in the United States instead. Again, I want to call on Congress to support our ongoing engagement for peace in Bosnia in a way that does not force us to take money away from readiness and training. We will continue to monitor readiness to deal quickly and effectively with any problems that do arise."
SUPER CAPTION: Bill Clinton, U-S President
Clinton met with his military leadership in the shadow of the U-S Capitol building, where Congress is in the process of deciding his political fate.
As the president tries to get on with his daily agenda, the House of Representatives is reviewing the damaging report on his sex scandal to determine whether impeachment proceedings against him are warranted.
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