Deciding Clinton's destiny

Americans would like to punish Bill Clinton for his lies, but don't want to give up his leadership, which has brought them six years of peace and prosperity.

Whatever Clinton's next moves will be, and whatever strategy the Republicans will use, all the future scenarios might be changed by the Nov. 3 election.

Clinton has transformed the election into a sort of personal referendum. If the Democrats lose ground, they will blame Clinton and eventually ask for his resignation. But if that doesn't happen, the Republicans won't be able to impeach the President.

Either way, Clinton's destiny will be decided by that election, and therefore by American people, even if not directly.

This scandal has not only hit Clinton, or Kenneth Starr, or the Republicans. It has hit the United States. And the United States cannot wait too long for this to be over. Neither can the international community and global financial markets.

-- Corriere della Sera, Milan