Capitol Journal - Soviet persecution of Nicholas Daniloff
Capitol Journal - Soviet persecution of Nicholas Daniloff
Capitol Journal - Soviet persecution of Nicholas Daniloff
Capitol Journal - Soviet persecution of Nicholas Daniloff
Back in studio Carter segues to Congressional issue of terrorism and the USSR seizure of Nicholas Daniloff as an alleged spy. Senators speak about the need to pass legislation to condemn the Soviet persecution of NICHOLAS DANILOFF - a journalist charged by the Soviet Union as being a spy.
Capitol Journal - Soviet persecution of Nicholas Daniloff
Senator Bob Dole (R - Kansas) Let me first welcome all my colleagues back after the recess, members of the staff - Senate staff and our own staff. We do have a rather large number of items, but it s not unprecedented. The announcement yesterday afternoon that Nick Daniloff had been indicted for espionage, in my view, raises this matter now to a new and much more ominous level, both for Daniloff personally and for US - Soviet relations. Its high time the Kremlin understands that this cruel game it is playing with an innocent man s life, has outraged the people and the American Congress and is endangering constructive relations between our governments whether its trade or whether its the upcoming summit. Its high time that Soviet leader Gorbachev wakes up to the stakes now on the table and puts a little sanity into the Russians handling of this matter. Nick Daniloff is innocent. There is not a shred of credible evidence to the contrary. Nick Daniloff s case has absolutely no connection to the case of the Soviet spy recently caught at the UN (Gennadi Zakharov). To equate them is so unjustified as to be ludicrous. This present Senate cannot ignore this important issue. We are now circulating a resolution, myself and the distinguished Minority Leader, expressing, what I think, will be the unanimous feeling of this body, that Nick Daniloff should be released, immediately and unconditionally. As a matter of justice and in the interest of workable relations between our country and the USSR. I would certainly urge to join in co-sponsoring this resolution so the Kremlin gets this message loud and clear.
Capitol Journal - Soviet persecution of Nicholas Daniloff
Senator ROBERT BYRD (D - West Virginia) If Daniloff was indeed framed by the KGB and if he is being detained only to affect the treatment by the US of a suspected Soviet spy (Gennadi Zakharov) being detained here, as clearly seems to be the case, then he is nothing more or less than a hostage. We re all too familiar with the recently much employed game of hostage taking. It is one of the favorite techniques of terrorists. The United States should not be any more willing to negotiate with the Soviets n a hostage crisis than with terrorists in Lebanon. Announced the Resolution 486, relating to the arrest of Nicholas Daniloff.
Capitol Journal - Soviet persecution of Nicholas Daniloff
Senator PATRICK MOYNIHAN (D - New York) The Soviet Union stands, at a minimum, guilty of a profound misunderstanding of the free world and reckless disregard for the biases of accommodation and peaceful co-existence. If anything can reach them now, Mr Dubinin is this man. He must surly know that when Senate unanimously acts, as it will do in 20 minutes time, the leaders of the Soviet Union are deeply advised to pay attention and, at what now can only be some cost to themselves, even so, reverse their action lest it lead to greater and graver costs by far.
Capitol Journal - Soviet persecution of Nicholas Daniloff
Senator PAUL SIMON ( D - Illinois) This small incident, and it is a small incident, is the kind of a thing that could massively do harm to relations between our two countries. Never in all of history has it been so important that two nations understand each other and get along. And for the Soviets to let this happen and stand between our nations just is as short-sighted as it could possibly be.
Capitol Journal - Soviet persecution of Nicholas Daniloff
Senator ROBERT BYRD (D - West Virginia) This is the time, and Mr President, I m ready to go further if need be and support sanctions. It seems a little bit awkward at this time to be subsidizing grain sales to the Soviet Union at the time of the incarceration of Nick Daniloff. We can do some other things and I would hope that the Senate would unanimously, on both sides of the aisle today support this resolution.
Capitol Journal - Soviet persecution of Nicholas Daniloff
The House meets about the need to condemn the Soviet Union for arresting Nicholas Daniloff. Representative DANTE FACCELL (D - Florida) Mr Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to discharge the Committee on Foreign Affairs from further consideration of HRS-542 in the arrest imprisonment and indictment of Nicholas Daniloff by the Soviet Union and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.
Capitol Journal - Soviet persecution of Nicholas Daniloff
Representative MEL LEVINE (D - California) Mr Speaker, it is very important that the Soviet s unmistakably understand that on a strong bi-partisan basis, the Congress of the United States of America, speaking for the people of the United States of America, join with the administration of this country in demanding the immediate release of Mr Daniloff and in condemning this outrageous action.
Capitol Journal - Soviet persecution of Nicholas Daniloff
Representative GEORGE GEKAS (R - Pennsylvania) One other thing has to be said, and that is implicit in this resolution, is the willingness of the Congress of the United States to support the President of the United States in whatever efforts he may undertake to free our American citizen held hostage by the Soviet Union. Vote is announced in Congress on the Daniloff issue.
Capitol Journal - Soviet persecution of Nicholas Daniloff
Back in studio Hodding Carter and Mark Shields discuss the week's Congressional activities concerning legislation on drugs and terrorism and the Nicholas Daniloff issues. They discuss the ideas of party political advantage on the issues.