From Enemies to Partners: Vietnam, the U.S. and Agent Orange

by Le Ke Son, Charles R Bailey

The impact and tragedy of war do not end when the guns fall silent...

Ten to fifteen percent of all Vietnamese with disabilities are probably Agent Orange victims...

Agent Orange is a humanitarian concern we are doing something about.

More than four decades after the Vietnam War, the United States and Vietnam are just beginning to address the negative consequences of Agent Orange, the dioxin-contaminated herbicide used during the war. In this groundbreaking book, two leading experts on Agent Orange and its aftermath explore current scientific understandings of the chemical and consider the promising solutions to addressing the consequences of its use.

Authors Dr. Le Ke Son and Dr. Charles R. Bailey outline the moral reasoning for a fuller American response and present further steps the United States and Vietnam can each take in a joint humanitarian initiative to resolve the legacy of Agent Orange/dioxin in Vietnam. They address the critical issues of whether dioxin pollution still exists in Vietnam, what needs to be done to finish the job of cleanup, how many victims of Agent Orange carry out their lives today, and the impact of Agent Orange on relations between the United States and Vietnam.

...From Enemies to Partners offers a way forward that acknowledges the past while looking to the future.

-- Dr. Edwin A. Martini, author of Agent Orange: History, Science, and the Politics of Uncertainty

242 pages, Paperback

Published February 28, 2018

Reviews

[Vivian Craig]

Being a child of the sixties, my familiarity with the Vietnam War came through the experiences of many friends who fought there, and lived to tell about it, and the tears we shed over those friends who did not return alive. The TV evening news never told the true story during or after the war. Of course, we all heard about the horrors of the jungle warfare, the bombings, and the spraying of Agent Orange/dioxin. Now, so many decades later, the Vietnam people and their descendants, and our veterans and their descendants, are still suffering from the effects of that deadly toxin.

This book, From Enemies to Partners, opened my eyes to what is being done and what must still be done to help remedy the remaining toxins in the soil and water in Vietnam, as well as, and most importantly, offer aid to the victims of Agent Orange/dioxin.

This is not an easy read, but it is a book you SHOULD read.

[Cale]

comprehensive, engaging, and provocative, “From Enemies to Partners: Vietnam, the U.S. and Agent Orange” by Le Ke Son and Charles Bailey is by far one of the better books I’ve read on this subject, either in academic settings or for leisure. This book was written in a way that anyone with a basic grasp of science, history and policy awareness can understand the fundamental need for action and change – for the US to step up and “finish the job” and exactly what needs to be done. The “big picture” painted is one that leaves the reader with a much deeper knowledge and understanding of the importance of this situation… Plus, the fact that the authors definitely address ways to combat these problems (instead of just complaining) left me on a positive note. Definitely recommend.

[Douglas Russell]

Probably the best and most up to date survey on the subject of Agent Orange. Covers the history of the chemical, use in Vietnam, Operation Ranch Hand, court cases, toxicology and the ongoing efforts of the two countries to reconcile and deal with the remaining contaminated hot spots. Charles R. Bailey is among the most, if not "the most," knowledgeable people on Agent Orange. A prime resource for students as well as the general public interested in the Vietnam War. Highly Recommend.

[Anna]

Obviously more of an academic paper, but extremely readable. It’s baffling that there aren’t more books, documentaries, or resources on this subject.