To the editor;

The ruling by Judge Jack Weinstein to dismiss the lawsuit filed by Vietnamese plaintiffs affected by Agent Orange and other chemicals used during the Vietnam-US War is deeply disturbing. ("Civil Lawsuit On Defoliant in Vietnam is Dismissed"3/11/05))

Judge Weinstein has made it easier for our country to continue to evade its moral responsibility.  Chemical companies and the US government should not hide behind legal and scientific technicalities to avoid facing their obligation to address an unintended human tragedy traceable to their actions.

We urge that Congress not wait for the final court decision to fund the remediation of heavily contaminated environmental hot spots.  Nor should the years of research required for absolutely definitive scientific and epidemiological proof stand in the way of assistance to people in Vietnam who were impacted even more than American veterans who have received help.

A Zogby poll in November showed 64% of Americans believe "the government has a moral responsibility to compensate US servicemen and Vietnamese civilians who were affected by Agent Orange".

While pressing for official response, we can privately provide tax deductible support through non-governmental organizations to impoverished families suffering from birth defects and cancers attributable to US herbicide use.

John McAuliff
Executive Director
Fund for Reconciliation and Development