The Global View ... By Linton Weeks Washington Post Staff Writer Thursday, December 17, 1998

"The prospect of Mr Clinton being bogged down for a year or so in a legal wrangle must be viewed with considerable dismay by governments around the world," wrote the Hong Kong Standard earlier this week. "There are problems which cannot be put on hold for a whole year, from the resurgence of the Colombian drug cartels to Japanese intransigence over its economy, which American lawmakers will do well to keep in mind."

The editorial continued, "The rest of the world should also not forget that Mr Clinton, like many presidents before him, have sought to impress on other nations, especially in the Third World, that they should live by the rule of law. Mr Clinton, as the man who personifies this rule of law, and himself once a professor of law, has, unfortunately, not lived up to those principles which he and his nation want others to live up to."

In a polite and reserved editorial, the Statesman of Calcutta, India, fell just shy of suggesting that Clinton resign: "So Clinton may survive, it would be surprising if he didn't. The issue that should be at the centre of the President's concerns is not how to continue in office a little longer but the damage that a long trial in the Senate will do to the office he has undoubtedly disgraced. Sadly no one is looking at it this way."

By reading the works of reporters based in Washington, you could see the spectacle through fresh eyes. Louise Branson of the Scotsman wrote earlier this week, "There has, however, been a notable absence of protesters demonstrating in favour of the president – like, say the anti-Vietnam war protesters. The Rev Jesse Jackson, who has been a spiritual counsellor to the Clinton family through the crisis, says he wants to change that with a pro-Clinton demonstration in Washington this week. But so far, there seem to be few takers as the prevailing impulse behind the country's anti-impeachment mood is one less of outrage than indifference."

Many editorial writers around the world pointed out Clinton's diminished stature as he visited the Middle East. The Sydney Morning Herald in Australia, for instance, wrote, "It was supposed to be a celebration of the Wye peace accord, the most recent Clinton success in Middle East diplomacy. But it could not help looking like an attempt by the US President to escape Washington as pressure built for his impeachment."

But mostly from reading the international newspapers, with their countless front page stories, editorials and message-board discussions, do you get the feeling that folks the world over are saddened by the drama playing itself out in Washington.

Linton Weeks can be reached at weeksl@washpost.com

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Surfing Perturbations, pleasures and predicaments on the I-way

TEMP IS AS TEMP DOES ...
Temp24-7, a biweekly e-zine, helps temporary workers cope with eternal condemnation to the dusty cubicle, ancient computer and broken desk chair.

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WHAT'S GOING ON, YOU ASK ...
If you find yourself lonely while surfing the Web this holiday, one site can help you join others in holiday cheer; 4,000 instances of it. That's how many holiday events around the country Culturefinder says it lists. That would include 900 Nutcracker performances, 160 Messiah concerts, 138 Hanukah and 65 Kwanzaa events. The site is searchable by keyword, date or location, so you can find events in Washington, D.C., or Washington Crossing, Pa. The site permits time-pressed surfers to buy tickets online for some of the events.— ROBERT THOMASON