Word: congress
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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...possibility of a surprise attack from either side. He was hardly placated when Moscow admitted that the invasion of Afghanistan had been a mistake; he criticized the government for a colonialist attitude toward Armenia and the Baltic states. Though a supporter of Gorbachev's basic reforms, he used the Congress of People's Deputies as a tribune to attack him for accumulating too much personal power. "There are no guarantees that a Stalinist will not succeed Gorbachev," he warned. The release of political prisoners motivated him to call ever more insistently for the liberation of those still in the Gulag...
Administration sources say Scowcroft was blunter with the Chinese in private, telling them that since the U.S. had made the initial move to repair relations, Beijing had better reciprocate, and soon. He gave that demand a sharp twist, blaming the U.S. Congress for the frostiness in Sino-American relations. Says a U.S. official: "Scowcroft made very clear to the Chinese that our Congress is the main problem in the U.S.-China relationship, and that if the relationship is as important to them as it is to President Bush, they need to give a positive response, or a series of them...
...China still appears unresponsive when Congress reconvenes on Jan. 23, the lawmakers might do two things: override Bush's veto of legislation extending the visas of Chinese students who fear persecution if they return home, and enact economic sanctions stricter than those the Administration reluctantly imposed in June. The disclosure last week that the Administration is preparing to loosen the sanctions by allowing export of three communications satellites to be launched by Chinese rockets did nothing to improve the congressional mood...
...expertise to act. Explains White House spokesman Marlin Fitzwater: "The President knew he would be criticized for this, but he feels strongly that it's in our national interest to improve relations with China. He feels he knows China as well as anybody -- and better than his critics in Congress." The next few weeks will tell whether that faith is well founded...
...visitors at the Victor Verster Prison Farm, where he is serving his 26th year of a life sentence for plotting to overthrow white rule. Most of his powwows have been with leaders of rival antigovernment groups. But last week Mandela, 71, a leader of the banned African National Congress (A.N.C.), traveled under escort 30 miles to Cape Town for his first meeting with Botha's successor, President F.W. de Klerk. By granting his request for a meeting, De Klerk signaled that Mandela will play a crucial role in proposed negotiations aimed at giving black South Africans the right to vote...