16 June 2010, 7:51 am
$300m for Agent Orange damage in Vietnam AP, Jun 16, 2010, 07.34pm IST HANOI: Thirty-five years after the Vietnam War, a $300 million price tag has been placed on the most contentious legacy still tainting US-Vietnam relations: Agent Orange. The war is over but the wounds from the war still remain in many areas of Vietnam,'' Nguyen Van Son, a member of Vietnam's National Assembly, said during the report's launch in Hanoi. ``Many Agent Orange victims have died, but many other victims, including children with disabilities, have been fighting diseases under extreme hardship and they are in dire need of treatment and support.'' The US military dumped some 20 million gallons (75 million liters) of Agent Orange and other herbicides on about a quarter of former South Vietnam between 1962 and 1971. Dioxin has been linked to cancers, birth defects and other ailments. A study released last year by the Canadian environmental firm Hatfield Consultants showed that dioxin levels in some blood and breast milk samples taken from people who had lived near the Danang air base site were 100 times above safe levels. Dioxin is slow to degrade. It works its way from the soil into the sediment of rivers, lakes and ponds via rainwater then attaches to the fat of fish and ducks, which can be eaten by humans and passed on to future generations. The Vietnam Red Cross estimates up to 3 million Vietnamese children and adults have suffered health problems related to Agent Orange exposure. But the US says the number is much lower, with many Vietnamese birth defects instead likely resulting from other health and environmental reasons, including malnutrition. •Mr. RWLake, you replied my question with preset mind. I never said that Taliban are good. I simply asked who is more dangerous. Do you know the meaning of dangerous? •Try to analyze the issues with open mind. Do you know these American created Taliban, just to fulfil their mission against U.S.S.R. If they are responsible for the creation of criminals like Taliban, they are equally responsible and partner in the sin. •As you mentioned “If I recall correctly” ( …used by the Vietcong to hide from our troops) has no meaning, as your statement is not based on authentic source. The Vietnam Red Cross says that 3 million Vietnamese children and adults have suffered health problems related to “Agent Orange” exposure. Do you have better knowledge than them? Even if I accept your views that “Agent Orange” was not harmful, how can you justify the American’s invasion in Vietnam? •The figure of 3 million is not enough for you to understand the gravity of situation? •I never support and appreciate the act of Taliban but simultaneously, I can never support America and the people of your mentality who are not capable to analyze the issues judiciously. •You are absolutely right, I never got a chance to visit Vietnam but I got this article from “The Times of India” Delhi dated June 16, 2010, but my dear friend please tell me, were you present in NY, where Taliban killed 3000 people? I am sure; you would reply that you got the information through media, so, if you can quote from media why I can’t? •From your reply, it appears that you have soft corner for American policies and since a Muslim raised this question, you could not digest and just wrote a few irrelevant lines. No doubt, I feel proud to be a Muslim by birth and by practice and a true Muslim can never appreciate the act of Taliban either in Afghanistan, Pakistan or in Bombay but simultaneously I an never appreciate the act of Americans what they did so far and what they are doing now. These Taliban are defaming the name of Islam as Islam never supports the killing of innocents. •Americans, by force entered in the territory of Iraq on the ground that Saddam has weapons of mass destruction while they could not recover so far. I know Saddam was not a good man but this was the right of people of Iraq to throw him out and not of “Uncle Bush”. •Mr. RWLake, according to recent media report, Americans have recovered huge mineral reserves in Afghanistan, worth 1 trillion US $. Please tell me, are they in Afghanistan to fight with terrorism or to explore the minerals? Taliban are nothing but the agents of America and they themselves fabricated the whole drama in NY, to ensure and to justify their entry in Afghanistan to control natural reserves and for that, loss of 3000 lives is nothing for America. •Finally I would pray to the Almighty to give you a clear vision and a judicious mind to analyze the issues. Thanks Mr, Patriot, at least you are aware about the activited of American and according to you they learnet too but I dont think so. The age of Taliban is much less than America, so the time will also force then to learn in due course.... Read More »
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