The US sprayed over 20 million of gallons of defoliant to clear jungles during the Vietnam War.
Agent Orange contains high levels of dioxin, linked to a number of illnesses, particularly cancers. Background levels of dioxin remain high in ‘hotspots’ where large quantities of Agent Orange were used.
On March 1, the US Supreme Court refused to hear a final appeal by Vietnamese victims against Dow and Monsanto for their supply of Agent Orange.
Vietnam’s lawyers replied that millions of people still suffer from physical and mental pain night and day. “The claim of Vietnamese Agent Orange victims is completely legitimate. We believe that the international community, including the US legal community, will continue to stand by Vietnamese Agent Orange victims in the struggle for justice.”
Brief History of Agent Orange:
In the early years of WWII, a grant was provided by the National Research Council to develop a chemical to destroy rice crops in Japan (the major food source of the Japanese). 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T (Agent Orange) was the result.
A discussion between President Roosevelt and White House Chief of Staff Admiral William D. Leahy determined that this heinous chemical should not be used. Agent Orange was not used during WWII.
Vietnam combat veterans outnumber all combat veterans of all other wars combined and they are flocking to the Veterans Affairs medial centers all over the country with all kinds of ailments and conditions.
I don’t look forward to going to the VA. I go often, oh, for prostate surgery, or hernia surgery and a four month long prostate related bacterial urinary tract infection, and for a while PTSD. I think about having prostate cancer, or some other cancer picked up from all the Agent Orange we sprayed from planes to defoliate South Vietnam.