Since the Vietnam War ended and the effects of Agent Orange have become more apparent, many are beginning to look back at the effect it had on the people of Vietnam.
“I was born without legs and missing one hand,” said Tran Thi Hoan.
It is because of America’s chemical war against her people in the jungles of Vietnam that Tran is in this condition. She is a victim of Agent Orange, second generation.
“Lots of people are worse than me.”
Tran is one of many. Her story represents millions living in the shadows of a lasting legacy.
These children will never live a normal life; their deformities are physical signs of human decay. Although their parents were not even born until after the Vietnam War, 18 million gallons of the toxic herbicide, sprayed through the jungles of South Vietnam, is still penetrating the DNA of those born today.
“There are millions and millions of victims still alive and are suffering from illnesses and from cancers,” said Dr. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong, the Director General of Ngoc Tam Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Dr. Nguyen is Tran’s doctor and accompanied Tran to testify on Capitol Hill.
The US government has acknowledged a connection between Agent Orange and the health defects and ailments that continue to plague the lives of Vietnam War veterans for generations. But the US has refused to make the same link for the millions of Vietnamese War victims whose lives have been devastated as a result of Agent Orange.
This is why delegations are here in Washington following a report issued by lawmakers, scientists and doctors calling on the US government to own up to its Agent Orange legacy in Vietnam today.
RT is a Russian news organization.
Found by Andy.
# 17 bobbo, “Gee Dr Mengele,” Wow! That’s low. I didn’t say anything even faintly reminiscent of Mengele promoted. I simply feel we’re already paying for our mistakes. I recently returned from Viet Nam and trust me, the $14 billion we’ve given them in the last four years is helping their politicians more than it’s helping the people.
As for landmines: I’m willing to bet I’ve seen more landmines and treated more victims than you. I had a good friend in Luanda who died working for HALO (a demining agency) and I knew several people who lost their lives and/or limbs doing the same work. Yet, I understand some of the reasons they are used. I also understand the technology exists for them to be deactivated at a distance or to deactivate spontaneously after a time. I think one or both of those technologies should be installed or we should stop using them.
# 18 sargasso_c said, “The use by military combatants of chemical weapons on civilian populations in war is a crime, according to the Geneva Convention.” Very true. However, Agent Orange was never used as an antipersonnel weapon. It was a defoliant. Keep your arguments on track.
[Comment deleted - Violation of Posting Guidelines. - ed.]
Animby–I apologize. I had a half thought I over applied my idea that was not fully realized until I read it.
“Still” ((ha, ha)), it is jarring for me whenever I see you come out all macho and neo-con==or in any way that is not “patient oriented.” Its your REAL LIFE exposure to the REAL VICTIMS of war’s atrocities that would I think make you focus on the humans cost here rather than the monetary one?
So, Mengele to “cause” this human suffering?===No.
Mengele to “not recognize” this human suffering==yes you did stray from the straight and narrow good path that should guide your way.
In a world where I am 50% wrong, I will recognize my error and do better next time.
Bobbo: Thank you.
I’m sorry to come across as neo-con. I assure you I’m not. True, my political beliefs are all over the map but I try to avoid the extremes on either side.
At this point I think I’m just saturated with everyone from the Prez to the North Koreans lambasting the US as such a miserable bunch of bastards spreading hate and disease all over the world.
Doing the work I do, I have seen the absolute worst of human prejudice and intolerance. I’ve been threatened and shot at for simply trying to take care of people. In Kosovo I helped the War Crimes Tribunal investigators piece together body parts into whole corpses. I’ve hiked into recently bombed villages where women had their breasts removed with machetes. My point being that in war, soldiers and even civilians do some pretty horrible things. The US is no better or worse in my opinion. But, the US is well known for sticking around after and trying to help clean up the mess. We get lots of credit for screwing up and little credit for helping out. I’m no flag waver but it gets me down.
“In a world where I am 50% wrong…” As a doc I can tell you, I may not always be right but I am almost never wrong!
Animby==well I’m half tanked right now so I won’t accuse you of waffling when the time came for you to make an introspective realization – one over statement per day is enough. I completely accept the frustration and warping that being on the end of a constant political message can bring. So, indeed sometimes your better reality gets swamped/sidestepped? More than most you reference your “personal experience” as informing your positions/postings. We all have personal experience, but I concede yours are more rarefied and impactful. I’d think Snowden’s Secret being lived, rather than just read about, would be more central to your episodic outlook on life? Therefor, I’ll keep you on a short leash, just as I do myself.
I do wish you had not, and will not soon again, mention a Philly Cheesesteak.
# 25 bobbo, “I do wish you had not, and will not soon again, mention a Philly Cheesesteak.”
How do you think I feel, half a world away from being able to have one?
I’m more Yossarian than Snowden, thank heaven. When I spill my guts it tends to be verbally.
One member of Congress was assuring us that North and South Vietnam exist today side by side.
I admire the Vietnamese, who recovered so well from so many decades of horror. It seems that the poison affected combatants on both sides (including USA’s South Vietnamese allies, their families and now their descendants) in great measure.
I hope that Iraq will be able to do likewise, but doubt it.
I thought that conservatives were all in favour of taking care of their responsibilities, paying for damages caused. No? What I thought conservatives were against was excessive regulation and legislation. Time has moved along. On this issue, we will be able to count who is conservative, and who is just, er, inglorious.
“It is because of America’s chemical war against her people ”
no comment
“Lots of people are worse than me.”
After it was born like this, it cares about others. What a strong man.