4-Star Gen. Barry McCaffrey Issues Report Urging U.S.-Vietnam Reconciliation at National Press Club 'Newsmakers' News Conference

News provided by

Robert Weiner Associates and BR McCaffrey Associates LLC

Feb 26, 2010, 05:44 ET

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Four-Star General Barry McCaffrey (USA, Ret) and Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund President Jan Scruggs reported on a week-long trip of a delegation of Vietnam veterans and their families to Vietnam, at a National Press Club "Newsmakers" News Conference this morning. General McCaffrey issued a written report on the group's mission to support reconciliation, demining activities, dedicate a school, and meet with top Vietnamese government and economic leaders. Vietnam veterans and their families who participated on the delegation trip also participated in the news conference.

General McCaffrey said in his statement:

Our 26-person delegation of Vietnam veterans and families completed a week-long trip last month with to Vietnam.
I am honored to be joined by trip co-leader Jan Scruggs, President of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. Peter Holt, Owner of the San Antonio Spurs, was also an inspiring co-leader of the delegation.
We are proud of the other Vietnam veterans and their families who participated on the delegation trip – many are here today at the news conference and are available to the media. In a way, today's event is our "first reunion."
We all served in Vietnam.
We all believe it is time to heal the scars of war. It is time for reconciliation.
During our group's successful mission, we supported demining activities, dedicated a school in Quang Tri Province, met with top Vietnamese government and economic leaders, and addressed academic leaders and students.
The delegation had an emotional meeting with former Vietnam veterans who had been opposing combatants. We can report a spirit of reconciliation and mutual respect. Both sides understand that they were caught up in the U.S. global confrontation at the time with aggressive communism.
We found that the mine situation is a continuing disaster. We observed and supported demining operations.
As part of VVMF's Project Renew, the delegation received and announced a one million dollar U.S. government grant to conduct demining activities.
More than 1000 Vietnamese a year are killed or injured by unexploded military munitions (UXO). 350,000 metric tons remain—40% Vietnamese, 60% U.S.
While Vietnam has modernized dramatically and increased its economy with entrepreneurial activity and external investment, serious problems remain. Vietnam is still an authoritarian, totalitarian state. Only recently are they entering the world's economic and business model.
However given the potential and improvements, it is haunting to imagine the world that might have existed if the U.S. had immediately recognized the new government in 1945 when Ho Chi Minh proclaimed the independence of Vietnam.
We hope the VVMF's mission of demining, education, and economic cooperation will gain increased U.S. Congressional support.