Vietnamese victims of wartime “agent orange” were disappointed by a U.S. court’s dismissal of a lawsuit

February 23, 2008 by Reuters | US “Agent Orange” Ruling Disappoints Vietnamese; Pleases Monsanto, Dow Chemical | by Grant McCool and Nguyen Nhat Lam

HANOI — Vietnamese victims of wartime “agent orange” were disappointed by a U.S. court’s dismissal of a lawsuit against chemical companies but believe they have gathered more support for their cause, an official said on Saturday.

“We anticipated this because it is not easy suing big and powerful U.S. companies on U.S. soil and under the U.S. court system,” said Nguyen Trong Nhan, vice chairman of the Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin.
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The lawsuit contended agent orange caused ailments, including birth defects and cancer.

Studies have shown the compound of dioxin, a component of “agent orange” herbicides sprayed during the war, is still present in so-called “hot spots” at levels hundreds of times higher than would be accepted elsewhere.

The United States has maintained there is no scientifically proved link between the wartime spraying and the claims of dioxin poisoning by more than 3 million people in Vietnam. ...