Socialist Republic of Vietnam

A new U.S. poll of likely American voters found overwhelming support for compensation to U.S. servicemen in the Vietnam War who were affected by the defoliant Agent Orange.
Seventy-nine percent of voters agreed that manufacturers of Agent Orange should compensate servicemen affected by the chemical during the war. Only eleven percent of voters opposed the idea.

The poll commissioned by Associated Television News (ATN) and the O'Leary Report was conducted by Zogby International of 987 likely voters from November 12th through November 13th. The poll's margin of error was + 3.2 percentage points.

Despite bitter memories of the Vietnam war surfacing during the 2004 U.S. presidential election, fifty-one percent of Americans also agreed that manufacturers of Agent Orange should also compensate Vietnamese citizens who were also affected by the chemical defoliant while just thirty-four percent of voters felt they should not be compensated.

Sixty-four percent of Americans agreed, however, that the U.S. government has a moral responsibility to compensate U.S. servicemen and Vietnamese citizens affected by Agent Orange compared to just eighteen percent of voters who disagreed with the idea.

Poll Questions:
"During the Vietnam War, the American military had chemical companies develop a biological weapon called Agent Orange. The U.S. courts ruled that these chemical companies had to pay compensation to American servicemen whose lives were fatally or seriously affected by diseases from this chemical weapon. Do you agree or disagree with this decision?" Agree 79% Disagree 11%

"Vietnamese citizens who have been fatally or seriously affected by Agent Orange during the Vietnam War are now suing these same chemicals companies for compensation. Do you agree or disagree they should receive compensation?" Agree 51% Disagree 34%

"The American government used Agent Orange in Vietnam 40 years ago. Do you agree or disagree the government has a moral responsibility to compensate U.S. servicemen and Vietnamese civilians who were affected by Agent Orange?" Agree 64% Disagree 18%.

Compiled by Ha Nguyen.
Story from Thanh Nien News
Published: 19 November, 2004, 00:20:15 (GMT+7)
Copyright Thanh Nien News