Clinton hits back at Republicans for criticising him

Clinton hits back at Republicans for criticising him
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

WASHINGTON, MARCH 31: US President Bill Clinton has hit back at Republicans for accusing him of failing to make India and Pakistan agree to sign CTBT, saying the refusal by the Senate to ratify the treaty has resulted in loss of his "leverage".

Charging the Republicans, who dominated the Senate, with having "no guilt and shame", Clinton told the Democratic National Committee here on Thursday, "I cannot imagine a reason for the United States not to sign the CTBT unless you believe that we will be more secure because you think we can always win any arms race..."

"So it is okay if everybody else starts to get in the nuclear business as well," he added.

Referring to the Republican criticism, Clinton said, "I noticed a member of the other party in the Senate was criticising me for going to India and Pakistan because `I did not get anything for it', that is, they did not agree to sign the CTBT or to the other efforts that I am making to try to stop them from building up nuclear weapons.

"Well, they didn't. What he (the member) did not point out is that I lost all the leverage I had when the Republican Senate defeated the ratification of the CTBT."

Lashing out at the criticism, he said, "You know, one of their (Republicans') great strengths is, by the way, they have no guilt and no shame. I mean they will say anything. You know, you will never see them blink about it."

"So there are big differences (between the Republicans and Democrats), and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty is the most stunning one," Clinton said.