Justice denied to Vietnamese Agent Orange victims

If the United States Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes disability claims of 10,000 U.S. Vietnam veterans made ill from Agent Orange, then why was a lawsuit by 4 million Vietnamese plaintiffs thrown out of court?

The primary ingredient in Agent Orange is dioxin, a chemical linked to cancer, diabetes, and birth defects among Vietnamese soldiers and civilians, and American veterans. The United States sprayed over 21 million gallons of the chemical on Vietnam between 1962 and 1971.

In denying the lawsuit, U.S. District Court Judge Jack Weinstein said he didn't think Agent Orange should be considered a poison banned by international rules of war like other herbicides. He argued that research which proves the linkages between Agent Orange and illness was inadequate.

This guy has been living in a cave for the last 30 years. Even the VA recognizes the well-established harmful affects of Agent Orange.


Associated Press, "Judge Dimisses Agent Orange Lawsuit," New York Times, 10 March 2005.

Official U.S. government information on Agent Orange: http://www1.va.gov/agentorange