News-Info-Alerts

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Re: Tying Up Loose Ends

Date: November 14, 2000

AII POW-MIA Commentary:

It would appear that actions and comments coming out of Washington, DeCeit speak volumes.

A couple of years ago a distrubing trend surfaced and fears appear to have come to fruition. POW-MIA became, simply, MIA. Then MIA became Missing. Then Missing became War Dead. And now it's just, Unaccounted-For. The soft sell of Washington and the press in using 'unaccounted-for' likens it to a misplaced shopping list. There is no impact, the teeth have been dulled. People do not react to 'unaccounted-for'. Now, not only are the men missing, but the human aspect is missing as well. There is a man behind POW-MIA, even behind the simple MIA. There is nothing behind 'unaccounted-for' and that, apparently, is the way Washington likes it.

Slowly, methodlically, the issue has become an archival exercise, especially under this Administration. It began with World War II and its 78,000 POWs-MIAs... then Korea and another 8,100 joined the legion of the lost. And now, Southeast Asia is joining the ranks. Recent comments by those empowered and the media coverage of the Clinton entourage headed for Vietnam have shown evidence that this President and Badminisitration will do everything they can to insure that there is 'no' issue by the time January 20th, 2001, rolls around.

In order to firmly establish a legacy, history must be rewritten. The track record of lies, deception and arrogance over the past 8 years, with respect to the POW-MIA issue, must not be the last word. The massive, orchestrated photo-op at the edge of a rice paddy will be. Attendance at a repatriation ceremony will only add to the aura that is being created this week. What began with a promise to not normalize and vigorously pursue the POW-MIA issue as the "Highest National Priority" 8 years ago is ending as nothing more than a pleasant tea party and taking a walk while the cameras click and video tape spins.

And that's what it all boils down to, a spin for posterity.

A spin that this was a caring, committed Administration. Actions speak louder than words, it wasn't.

A spin that Vietnam was acting in good faith every time the President certified so, when members of the same Administration sat before Congress, swore to tell the truth, and then stated Vietnam wasn't.

A spin that as long as there are leads to pursue, the USG would pursue them. When, just today, Robert Jones said, `"The Vietnamese are seeking an end-date to our operations."

Mr. Clinton was not in a hurry to go to Vietnam 30 years ago. His race to Hanoi before his free pass on Air Force One ends is not only curious, but evidently the culmination of a plan that has taken 8 years to implement. This visit, it would appear, is nothing more than tying up the loose ends, with a photo-op tossed in for good measure.

The Highest National Priority for this Administration? The families know the answer.... it wasn't.