HELMS-CLINTON FLAP . . . GOP PLAYS IT COOL

Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.), the incoming Foreign Relations Committee chairman, emerged from the weekend with little support for his Friday barb charging that President Clinton isn't up to being commander-in-chief. Senate Majority Leader-to-be Robert Dole, on ABC's "This Week With David Brinkley" Sunday, countered Helms' assessment: "I must say, I had reservations early on (but) I think he's up to the job now." More vociferous Clinton defenders included Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. John Shalikashvili and -- in particularly passionate comments -- Defense Secretary William Perry today. But the future Senate Judiciary Committee chairman, Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), pontificated yesterday: "I think that Senator Helms is probably upset about the concessions that have been made to North Korea, the mess that Haiti is becoming and of course the buyoff of the Haiti leaders, Gen. Cedras and others . . . and of course the long time that it took to lift the sanctions with regard to Bosnia." But Hatch also said "we have to back whoever is president."Post your opinion on theWashingtonbulletin board.