UK and USA bombard Iraq whilst impeached president Clinton hangs on
This week in 1998 and Britain and the United States were continuing their sustained bombardment of Iraqas B-52 bombers carrying Tomahawk cruise missiles again pounded Baghdad and other key targets around the country. The raids came after the Allies warned Saddam Hussein they would continue to strike if he tried to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons. US planes, joined by RAF Tornados, began a secon, more intensive wave pf airstrikes shortly after 7pm UK time. Baghdad again echoed to loud explosions shortly after 1am after a period of calm, and tracer fir lit up the sky.
Also this week and more than 40 organisations ranging from Save Britain’s Fish to the British Weights and Measures Association opened a new front in their battle to keep Britain out of the single European currency. Two weeks before 11 countries launch the Euro, the organisations are publishing a study setting out the economic and constitutional arguments why Britain should not sign up.
In other political news and the White House began a counter-offensive, aimed at saving Bill Clinton’s presidency, after the historic impeachment vote. Aides said they were preparing a vigorous defence for an anticipated trial in the senate and stressed that the president would not resign.
At the same time, key senators were being sounded out on the possibility of a deal or plea bargain, whereby Clinton would be punished without going through a full and possibly time-consuming trial.
And finally Richard Branson and his round the world balloon crew flew into the unknown as they defied an order not to cross into Chinese airspace. Just before 10pm the balloon, flying very close to its maximum altitude at 29,000 ft, crossed the border between Nepal and Chinese ruled Tibet. The balloon was flying in the darkness over some of the world’s highest peaks, with no prospect of the flight being ended because of the impossibility of landing in such hostile terrain.