1998 and the week that Clinton bombed Iraq and got impeached

Twenty-two years ago this week, I was having lunch at a local grill and watching two scenes on the TV.  On one side, U.S. planes were bombing Iraq, and on the other, the U.S. House was voting to impeach President Clinton.  It was historic, as my lunch guest kept saying.

We remember another anniversary of the Clinton impeachment.  It comes at a time when "sexual misconduct" charges have brought down politicians and media personalities.  Who would have believed that in 1998?

As for Iraq, President Clinton warned us that it was necessary to "degrade" Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.

There were many back then who tried to connect the bombing with the impeachment, or sort of the real-world version of the movie Wag the Dog.

Frankly, I didn't, because I was one of those back in 1998 who favored confronting Saddam Hussein over the weapons.  I felt that a Saddam with so much military capability would eventually provoke a regional war involving Israel.

Back then, I did not think I would live to see another impeachment, but President Trump was a year ago.  As for Iraq, I had a feeling we would fight at some point, and we did five years later.

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Read more: https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2020/12/remembering_a_busy_week_for_president_bill_clinton_in_1998.html#ixzz6hA4MI0EZ
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1998: Remember when President Clinton bombed Iraq to destroy chemical weapons?

On this day in 1998, we watched President Clinton explain his decision to bomb Iraq:  

At the time of the air strikes, Iraq was continuing its attempts to build weapons of mass destruction including nuclear, chemical and biological agents. Fearful of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein’s belligerence, and his penchant for using those weapons against his own people, the U.N. sent in weapons inspectors in 1997. After repeatedly refusing the inspectors access to certain sites, Clinton resorted to air strikes to compel Hussein to cooperate.

Back then, I supported President Clinton's decision.   In fact, his mistake was to stop after 4 days.  Iraq was in violation of UN resolutions, the cease fire that ended the First Gulf War of 1991 and shooting at US and UK planes.  

President Clinton's decision was made around the time of the US House vote on impeachment.  Nevertheless, I did not see the connection between the vote and the bombing.  It was important to deliver a message to Saddam Hussein that the US patience was running out.

It's interesting to go back and watch the newsreels from that day.  

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1997: The Titanic movie released in the US

We remember another anniversary of "Titanic", the 1997 movie that filled theaters here and just about everywhere else.

To be clear, I saw the movie one time and bits and pieces here and there on TV.

My grade is a "C-plus" for the story and an "A" for the choreography.   The scene about the ship sinking is stunning.   The views of the ship sailing across the ocean were superb.

Will there be another "Titanic" movie?   My guess is "yes".

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September 5, 1997: Mother Teresa now St Theresa of Calcutta

We remember today a very special woman.  She was born Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu in Albania in 1910 and founded the Missionaries of Charity in 1950.   

I am talking about Mother Teresa, or now St.Teresa of Calcutta who died this week in 1997. 

Mother Theresa touched many, including non-Catholics and non-Christians.   She was a staunch pro life voice in a world where millions of babies are aborted in the name of a “woman’s choice” or “reproductive right”.  

St. Teresa of Calcutta’s will continue to influence people for centuries with her words and legacy of good deeds.  

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1996: Another anniversary of the shooting of the "Brothers to the rescue"

 

Shoot Americano, no problema - American Thinker https://t.co/Go53oFFArA

— Silvio Canto. Jr. (@silvio_canto) February 24, 2024

1995: Cal Ripken and the streak

Yes, it’s hard to believe that it was so many years ago.   I remember watching the nationally televised game and feeling good for Cal and the game of baseball.    Ripken was a great player and his streak healed some of the wounds from the 1994 strike.    

My first memory of Cal Ripken goes back to ’81.   The rest is history.  He was MVP in ’83 and the O’s won the World Series. He also started the “game streak” that went on until ’98.   He repeated as MVP in ’91.

Unfortunately, Ripken played in bad Oriole teams for most of the streak. Yet, he was out there every day playing and putting some good numbers:   431 Hrs, 1,695 RBI and 3,184 hits.

Congratulations to a great guy and thanks for the memories.

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We remember Michael Landon (1936-91)

We remember Michael Landon, who was born on this day in 1936 and died in 1991.    Landon was one of the most talented actors or producers of the 20th century, from "Bonanza" to "Little House" to other very successful projects.

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July 28, 1991: Dennis Martinez pitched a perfect game

Where did so many years go? Dennis Martinez was perfect on this day in 1991.   

Dennis was born in Nicaragua and came up in the Orioles’ farm system in 1976.   

Before Baltimore, Dennis caught the eyes of scouts with masterful pitching against Cuba and the US in 1974.  He beat the US, 1-0, pitching 10 innings. Then he beat Cuba, 4-3, by throwing 7 strong innings.  

Dennis won 108 games with Baltimore, including playing in the 1979 and 1983 World Series. In 1987, he was traded to Montreal and that was really the prime of his career, including an ERA title and the aforementioned perfect game.

Dennis finished with 245 wins and a 3.70 ERA in 3,999 innings! 

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A Christmas tree story from Communist Romania

(My new American Thinker post)

It was Christmas week 1989, and the old Soviet bloc was falling apart and undergoing a birth of freedom.  In Romania, a communist dictatorship collapsed this week:

The end of 42 years of communist rule came three days after Ceausescu’s security forces opened fire on demonstrators in Timisoara. After the army’s defection, Ceausescu and his wife fled from Bucharest in a helicoptern but were captured and convicted of mass murder in a hasty military trial. On December 25, they were executed by a firing squad.

Watching all of this was Dr. Ileana Johnson Paugh, who left in the late 1970s looking for freedom.  She left her family behind.

She wrote about her Romanian memories, her parents, and a Christmas tree.

Here is the beginning of the article:

As long as I can remember, my Dad came home every December with a scraggly blue spruce, fragrant with the scent of winter, tiny icicles hanging from the branches. The frozen miniature crystal daggers would melt quickly on Mom’s well-scrubbed parquet floor. I never knew nor asked where he had found it, or how he could afford it.

His modest salary of $70 a month barely covered the rent, utilities, and food.

Mom had to work as well to afford our clothes. Prices were subsidized by the government and salaries were very low for everybody regardless of education and skill. We had to make do with very little.

It is a great article and should be read in full.

Merry Christmas!  It is especially meaningful to those of us who understand communism and efforts to celebrate Christmas.

Merry Christmas, and remember those who are not as fortunate as Americans are.

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1990: Joe Morgan & Jim Palmer go into The Hall of Fame

Jim Palmer, who won 268 games with the Orioles, and Joe Morgan, who won back to back MVP's with the Reds, were selected for the Baseball Hall of Fame.  

The induction ceremony was on this day in 1990.

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