[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 105 (Monday, June 26, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1325]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E1325]]

 OPPOSITION TO CLINTON ADMINISTRATION MOVES TO RECOGNIZE THE COMMUNIST 
                         GOVERNMENT OF VIETNAM

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL P. FORBES

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 26, 1995

  Mr. FORBES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize our responsibility 
as a nation to account for all of those who have bravely served our 
country, especially in time of war. But to date, there are still over 
2,200 unaccounted for POW's and MIA's in Indochina. And that is why I 
am so dismayed at the Clinton administration's rash drive to recognize 
Vietnam. Our country should not hastily recognize and normalize 
relations with the Communist Government of Vietnam without the fullest 
possible accounting of those who selflessly put their lives on the line 
for our great Nation. We should not let their efforts be forgotten. The 
families and friends of lost service members deserve to know the true 
fates of their loved ones.
  The cooperation of the Vietnamese Government on the investigation of 
the fate of POW's and MIA's has been insufficient to warrant rewarding 
them with their cherished recognition. In addition, let us remember who 
we are dealing with here. This is an unelected illegitimate, Communist 
dictatorship with a consistent record of duplicity and brutality. Year 
in and year out, the Government of Vietnam ranks right near the top of 
the list of human rights violators in the world.
  This is the same regime that lied to us about how many men they were 
holding at the time of the Paris Peace accords in 1973. The same regime 
that began violating those accords immediately and then launched a 
massive, conventional invasion of South Vietnam in 1975, armed with 
Soviet tanks and a vote of confidence from the United States Congress. 
The same regime that gave us the boat people and reeducation camps. And 
it is important to remember that, despite their subsequent split, North 
Vietnamese soldiers fought side-by-side with the genocidal Khmer Rouge 
in Cambodia before 1975 and helped immensely to bring those murderers 
to power.
  Mr. Speaker, I categorically oppose the moves by President Clinton to 
normalize relations with and recognize the Communist Government of 
Vietnam. America should not bestow this honor on such a heinous and 
brutal government that has done so much harm to so many people and 
which may still be doing harm to Americans. The American Government has 
a responsibility to use all of its diplomatic might to further 
investigate the fate of our missing sons and daughters. We have not yet 
exhausted that might and recognizing Vietnam now will take away our 
last bit of leverage with that government.
  We absolutely must get the fullest possible accounting of POW's and 
MIA's in Indochina so that their families and friends can finally be 
put at ease with the knowledge of the fate of their loved ones, and to 
ensure that no one was, God forbid, left behind.
  I doubt we will ever get that if we recognize Vietnam and I implore 
the administration to step back from this unwise course.

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