EDITORIAL : INFLAMED PASSIONS; HATRED AND MISTRUST ARE DRIVING FORCES IN WASHINGTON POLITICS.

THE zeal some congressional Republicans displayed for ousting President Clinton from office seemed to get the better of them in those first surreal moments after the U.S. began a bombing campaign against Saddam Hussein in Iraq.

Sen. Trent Lott, the majority leader, challenged Clinton's ``timing and policy'' and suggested the attacks were intended only to stay the impending impeachment vote in the House of Representatives.

``I cannot support this military action in the Persian Gulf at this time,'' Lott declared.

Others, apparently blinded by a passion to destroy Clinton, joined him in seeing a sinister plot in the president's decision, which had been foreshadowed a month ago when he gave the Iraqi dictator ``one last chance'' to allow full and complete inspections.

Lott retreated sharply Thursday, declaring, ``I am satisfied with the military decision.''

House Republicans, meanwhile, marched on, refusing to delay for another minute their historic vote to impeach the president and have him face a Senate trial.

But what is the hurry?

How unfortunate that it has come to this - the passions, the hatred, the mistrust running so high in the nation's Capitol. They have blinded leaders to what their first duties in office should be.

Their zeal and hatred bring them no honor and serve to undermine the country as Lott did when he broke an unwritten rule for congressional leaders to support the president in military actions.

House Republicans have Clinton where they have long wanted him: in a box without escape, ready to stigmatize him with the scarlet letter ``I'' for impeachment for the rest of his life and throughout history.

The votes apparently are there for impeachment, so why rush to a final judgment in the House on the second or third day of Operation Desert Fox? The investigation took 11 months; why not wait a few days for the smoke to clear from the bombs?

This is no small matter for it suggests that the hatred of Republicans has turned into a feeding frenzy in an effort to destroy Clinton, not to conduct a fair trial in the Senate that would lead to a vote on whether to oust him from office.

It is a great American tragedy that the passions of Clinton and the Republicans - two bitter enemies who can't see past their own questionable behavior and perceived self-interests - are punishing the nation.

Most Americans are disgusted with Clinton's misconduct and deceit yet a majority, according to the polls, say he should remain in office.

As self-destructive as Clinton's behavior has been, so, too, is the behavior of House Republicans. And their credibility was undercut even more late Thursday when incoming House speaker Bob Livingston, R-La., had to acknowledge that he, too, has been unfaithful to his wife.

What dirt will surface next in this surreal political melodrama?

Republicans face the risk of creating a backlash if the public perceives impeachment as a partisan witch hunt rather than a measured response to high crimes in office. With each action, Republicans seem to be fueling that perception.

Their refusal to wait a few days to impeach a president for only the second time in American history raises questions. And because Democrats refuse to go along with the rush to start impeachment debate today, House rules allow only one hour for debate - though we trust a way will be found to at least allow a full and fair hearing of the issues.

What is needed are leaders who in fact and in appearance elevate our nation, not leaders who fall victim to their own passions as Clinton fell victim to his. Republicans also risk being stigmatized by this tragic affair both now and throughout history.

The impeachment of Bill Clinton appears to be a certainty. Whether the process inflames years of bitter anger and resentment or brings us together depends on the fairness and dispassion of the process.