News-Info-Alerts

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci
(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Re: Jackson-Vanik Again

Date: June 21, 1998

Some months ago, Clinton granted a Jackson-Vanik waiver in effect telling Vietnam to do whatever they wish, there would be no ramifications. In support of that action John Kerry, former boss to Francis Zwenig (now a power player on the Vietnam Trade Council who campaigned for the waiver), has told Congress that any action to overturn the waiver "will reduce our influence and threaten future progress" in the POW-MIA accounting process.

Sounds curiously like the language Kerry used to convince the country that lifting the embargo and normalizing would resolve the issue... which it didn't.

Long time MOCs Dana Rohrabacher and Chris Smith, both of whom have a very long issue history, have flatly stated that the waiver should be reveresed. And that the Communist country has failed to meet its responsibilities with respect to the POW-MIA issue, human rights abuses and free emigration. All of which should have improved had Jackson-Vanik been left in place.

In support of his stance, Rohrabacher stated that Vietnam was keeping POW records from US inspection teams... although the President certifies to the contrary, Vietnam is NOT being forthright and cooperative.

In support of the waiver, Kerry stated, those who "want to turn the clock back ... to a policy of denial in place for 20 years that was a failure."

The only failure from our vantage point is that of the US and Vietnam honestly, truthfully and aggressively accounting for the men we left behind.

But when you have dollar signs in your eyes, it's hard to see the forest for the trees.