S8 Ep1093: George Black, guest author, explains that the mid-1990s marked a turning point as Bill Clinton moved toward diplomatic normalizat

George Black, guest author, explains that the mid-1990s marked a turning point as Bill Clinton moved toward diplomatic normalization with Vietnam in 1995, supported by key veteran senators like John McCain and John Kerry. This political cover was essential to overcome fierce opposition in Congress. During this time, Chuck Searcy returned to Vietnam and co-founded Project RENEW to address the persistent threat of unexploded ordnance (UXO), which continued to maim civilians. Searcy's approach was collaborative, working closely with Vietnamese officials like Hoang Nam to find local solutions rather than imposing American ones. While UXO removal was relatively straightforward, addressing the Agent Orange legacy remained controversial, and many American officials were initially reluctant to engage with it. Charles Bailey of the Ford Foundation became a key figure in this effort after witnessing barren, defoliated landscapes in the central highlands and asking the Vietnamese what they needed. He shifted focus toward aid for the disabled and landscape restoration. The work of early Vietnamese scientists, such as Dr. Ton That Tung, was also critical, though they had long been unfairly dismissed as propagandists. The Long Reckoning (6)