Effect of "Agent Orange" Today

All of the hotspots for testing dioxin levels are all around former U.S. bases in Vietnam.

400,000 deaths, 4.8 million with health effects.
30 billion for 10 year health costs is the Vietnamese estimate. May be a high estimate.

Economic Treaties may play an adverse political role in pushing Vietnam to put the issue on the back burner to avoid upsetting the U.S. who has its hands on the purse strings.

Also intra-deparmental turf disputes may also contribute to demphasizing the issue. Concerns such as the export of bottom feeding fish (carp, catfish, etc.) may also play such a role.

Michael Martin
Congressional Research Service, Asian Trade and Finance Analyst

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Clay Risen
Democracy Managing Editor

There is little international precedents or laws or restrictions concerning the legacy of military activity (such as landmines, etc.)

All war fighting is inherently bad for the environment, so most country's tend to oppose any such notion that may pose limitations on war activity.

Notable exceptions are examples of "Victor's Justice", where some of Iraq's payment after the first Gulf War was paid to cleaning oil spills.

Environmental concerns over the effects of war activity was never much of a concept in earlier decades. It's a fairly recent concern.

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Phillip Longman
"Best Care Anywhere"

We should expand VA care, using it as a model for health care reform throughout the country.



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