February 1997
Summary of news for the entire month.
For recent and daily news, please go to: InterNetwork
03 Feb 97: The NEWS reports that Vietnam will take a next step and open a consulate in San Francisco as the U.S. opens one in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon). This will build on the diplomatic relations of embassies which were established in 1995. The final step would be senate confirmation of a U.S. ambassador to Vietnam. Douglas "Pete" Peterson, a former Vietnam POW, is expected to be confirmed as ambassador.
05 Feb 97: AP reports that the U.S. and Cambodia began their 16th joint search for American servicemen MIA from the Vietnam War. A total of 2,134 Americans are still missing in Southeast Asia, 455 in Laos and 76 in Cambodia. Joint operations in Cambodia began in 1991. Laotian and U.S. officials also announced the 32nd joint search operation in Laos which began in 1991.
06 Feb 97: AP reports that the Senate has set 13 Feb as the date to begin confirmation hearings on Pres. Clinton's nominee to be the first U.S. ambassador to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam since ambassador Graham Martin fled Saigon on 30 Apr 75. In a letter requesting postponement, Reps Gilman, Johnson, Solomon and Burton, noted: it is "imperative for Congress and the American people to know whether or not U.S. foreign policy toward Vietnam is wholly, or in part, the result of illegal foreign financial contributions." In a related interview, Craig Thomas, chair - subcommittee East Asia and the Pacific, said that the Clinton administration claims notwithstanding, Vietnam "is not fully cooperating with us on the POW/MIA issue."
12 Feb 96: Accusing the U.S. of airwave imperialism, AP reports that Vietnam was blocking U.S.-based Radio Free Asia (RFA) broadcasts. RFA is aimed at promoting democracy in Asia's remaining authoritarian countries (VN, CH, NK). A forerunner of RFA, Radio Of Free Asia (ROFA) was instrumental in publicizing the inhumane treatment of American POWs during the VN War. ROFA also sought and obtained early release for some American POWs.
13 FEB 97: In his opening statement, Sen. Craig Thomas, Chairman, Subcommittee on East Asian And Pacific Affairs, on the nomination of Pete Peterson to be ambassador to Vietnam said this: ". . . I want to draw a clear distinction between the two issues the committee will examine today. One is the personal fitness of Congressman Peterson for the position of Ambassador to Vietnam. The second, by necessity, is this Administration's policies towards that country, which I do not endorse." Continuing Thomas remarks: "I wish I could be as optimistic about our country's Vietnam policy... In addition, it makes little sense to me to establish a diplomatic -- and then economic -- relationship with a communist dictatorship that regularly maltreats and imprisons its political and religious detractors. We don't maintain diplomatic relations with North Korea, or Cuba -- why Vietnam?
Pete Peterson in his opening statement to the Cmte. remarked: "Once the POW/MIA program truly enjoyed the Nation's highest priority, was properly organized and properly funded, we were in a strong position to encourage greater and sustained cooperation from the Vietnamese. Much progress has been made since these initiatives were put in place in 1981. . . In my view, the level of cooperation between the United States and Vietnamese governments on POW/MIA matters has never been better."
15 FEB 97: Tapes of two May 27, 1964 telephone conversations released today by the Presidential library in Austin, TX, showed that almost a year before Lyndon B. Johnson began the large-scale buildup in Vietnam, he called the war the biggest damn mess I ever saw" and lamented, "I don't think it's worth fighting for, and I don't think we can get out." Replying, Senator Russell, the then chairman of the Armed Services Cmte. said: "It does me, too. We're in the quicksand up to our neck, and I just don't know what the hell to do about it." BUT, IT DIDN'T STOP THEM FROM WRECKING THE LIVES OF AN ENTIRE GENERATION OF AMERICANS.
16 FEB 97: Reuters reports that Senate Foreign Relations Cmte. Chair Jesse Helms will vote against Anthony Lake's nomination to head the CIA. Lake has long received the ira of the POW/MIA community because of his refusal, among other things, to follow up on the satellite imagery turned over to him in Nov. 94. Sen. Richard Shelby, Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee announced on 11 Feb. that he has postponed the confirmation hearing on Lake pending the completion of two Justice Dept. investigations on Lake.
19 FEB 97: In an Associate Press interview, Pete Peterson remarked that "we have to start using the term Vietnam without adding the suffix war."
Reuters reports that Vietnam has sent its first official military delegation to the U.S. Previous military visits dealt almost exclusively with the MIA issue. The current visit's agenda, while still featuring the MIA issue, was broadened. Lt. Cmdr. Karen Jeffries of the Navy described the delegation as a "working group" aimed at developing personal ties and fostering an understanding of how each military establishment operates.
22 FEB 97: A POW from the Civil War who succumbed to disease after leaving the Point Lookout POW Camp, will be disinterred and returned to his home state of Florida. Pvt. Benjamin F. DeVane was twice captured during the Civil War, the first at Sharpsburg and then at the fall of Richmond. Pvt. DeVane will be re-interred with full military honors.
23 FEB 97: Douglas "Pete" Peterson, a Vietnam War veteran and former POW who is Pres. Clinton's nominee as the first ambassador to Vietnam, sailed easily through a Senate confirmation hearing this past Thursday. Peterson said that his top priority would be to press Hanoi for the fullest possible accounting for the approximately 1,600 serviceman listed as missing in Vietnam. Peterson also stated that the subject (POW/MIA issue) cannot be settled within Clinton's second term and that cooperation "has never been better."
Former Congressman Bob Dornan has filed a request for 50 subpoenas in his challenge of the election results. Dornan claims that Sanchez supporters illegally registered non-citizens for the election. AP reports that Dornan has asked the House of Rep. to overturn the election on grounds of voter fraud. The House Cmte. On Oversight will conduct an investigation.
24 FEB 97: The Asian World Street Journal reports that the ambassador-designate to VN is kept waiting because of the furor about Asian political donations. The Senate Foreign Relations Cmte won't bring the nomination out for a floor vote until the State Dept. delivers written responses to questions about the possible role of John Huang, a former Commerce Dept. Official, in normalizing U.S. relations with Vietnam. At the Senate hearing, Peterson disclaimed any knowledge of Mr. Huang's activities.
AP reports that the U.S. and British government's were desperate to help prisoners of war held by Japan. They funneled aid through a secret Swiss bank account set up by the Japanese during the war, according to Red Cross records and long-classified War Dept. documents. The question is did Japan keep the unspent millions while thousands were dying across East Asia?
25 FEB 97: UPI reports that the Pentagon has identified two of the five U.S. servicemen whose remains were recently recovered in Vietnam. They are Capt. William C. Clay, III, a Marine from Henderson, N.C. and Navy Lt. Cmdr. Roger G. Emrich of Miami, FL. With the identification of these servicemen, 2,128 Americans remain unaccounted for.
The San Jose Mercury News reports that an agreement would allow the U.S. to open a consulate in Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam to open one in San Francisco. The VN consulate would serve as a liaison to Bay Area businesses interested in investing in Vietnam. The agreement is not without critics.
Hanoi. A newly published survey has revealed that 100,000 more combatants are missing from the war with the U.S. than previously believed. The new findings brings the total to 400,000. According to official VN records, VN lost 1 million soldiers and 2 million civilians as a result of the war from 1954 to 1975. 600,000 soldiers were injured and 2 million other civilians were left invalids.
27 FEB 97: In a AP report, U.S. Charge d'Affaires Desaix Anderson said the U.S. and Vietnam will exchange ambassadors by early April in the final step toward normal relations. Vietnam's state-run radio said Vietnam is expected to name Le Van Bang as its full ambassador. All that remains after the appointment of ambassadors would be a formal trade agreement.
The next scheduled DPMO Family Update will be 22 MARCH 1997, in Phoenix, Arizona.
POW-MIA Issue Update March 1997