Northwest Delegation Supportive

Northwest members of Congress voiced strong support Thursday for missile attacks against suspected terrorist locations.

But a few also hinted that President Clinton’s credibility problem casts some shadows over the surprise military operation.

“Decisive American retaliation for last week’s embassy bombings was absolutely imperative,” said Sen. Slade Gorton, R-Wash. “It is now vital that it continue until it is clearly disproportionate - that is, until the terrorists have paid a much higher price than they have exacted from both Americans and Africans.”

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., called the strikes part of a “legitimate and undeniable right” to defend U.S. interests.

Rep. George Nethercutt, R-Wash., said the briefing Republicans received from House Speaker Newt Gingrich late Thursday indicated the strikes were timely and part of an ongoing anti-terrorist campaign.

The nation could not sit idly by while terrorists attacked, he said through a spokesman.

“We must send a strong message to international terrorist groups that actions aimed at harming the United States and its citizens will not be tolerated,” said Rep. Doc Hastings, R-Wash.

Sen. Dirk Kempthorne, R-Idaho, said any strong, aggressive strike against terrorism is warranted, and that the nation should rally.

“There should be no question as to the motive,” Kempthorne said. “You hear from different people around the country, however, who are questioning the timing of this and whether it was done by the White House to take attention away from his domestic problem.

“That shows you that currently the presidency has been weakened because of the credibility problem that (Clinton) has created for himself.”

Rep. Helen Chenoweth, R-Idaho, said it “is not surprising questions are being asked” about any possible link between the attacks and Clinton’s problems.

“It is so sad that under these grave circumstances, we have to ask this question,” she said.

But the nation must be prepared to act swiftly to counter terrorism, Chenoweth said. Chenoweth said she had not yet been briefed on the details of the military action but assumed “the president acted in a manner concurrent with his information.”