THE HARRIS POLL #10, February 24, 1998LARGE MAJORITY (71%-23%) FAVORS BOMBING IRAQ IF SADAM HUSSEIN REFUSES TO ALLOW U.N. WEAPONS INSPECTORS COMPLETE ACCESS TO ALL POSSIBLE WEAPONS SITES
As we await the details of the agreement reached between Sadam Hussein and U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, the American people strongly endorse the bombing of Iraqi weapons sites, if Sadam Hussein has not backed down completely. By 71%-23%, or more than 3-to-1, a big majority of adult Americans believe it would be right to bomb possible Iraqi weapons sites "if Sadam Hussein refuses to allow U.N. weapons inspectors, including some Americans, to check all possible weapons sites, at any time."
Bill Clinton had other things on his mind in 1998 for the intervening months --- his involvement with White House intern Monica Lewinsky was THE story in all the media. About a month before this letter was sent, September 11, 1998 to be exact, Kenneth Starr's report was released by Congress.
Just four days before this letter was sent, October 5, 1998, the Judiciary Committee voted to commence with a formal impeachment inquiry into the Lewinsky matter.
Slightly more than 2 months after this letter was sent, on Saturday 19 December 1998, President William Jefferson Clinton was impeached by the United States House of Representatives, becoming only the second President in U.S. History, and the only man popularly elected as President to have been so charged. December 19, 1998 was coincidentally the date that Operation Desert Fox concluded and considered a "Mission Accomplished."
