Kerry op-ed on current, past and future relationship with Vietnam

[karynnj]

You really have to give him credit for still working on what really was a life time commitment.

This week marks the 15th anniversary of the normalization of U.S.-Vietnam diplomatic relations. Our relationship has changed so much that, today, it is easy to forget that normalization was a painstaking – and sometimes painful – process that required vision, hard work, and compromise on both sides.

Twenty years ago, I was proud to join with my fellow Vietnam War veterans in Congress to help lead a process that culminated in normalization. We were a diverse lot – Republican and Democrat, liberal and conservative – and we had our differences over the war. What we shared was a determination to bind up the nation's wounds and forge a new beginning with a former adversary. We imagined a day when Americans would hear the word "Vietnam" and think of a country – not just a war.

The past 15 years have confirmed the wisdom of normalization. Vietnam has emerged as one of Asia's success stories. Its economic reforms collectively known as doi moi ("change and newness") have ushered in a period of rapid growth. Politically, Vietnam has long ended its estrangement from the larger region. This year, it serves as the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) after completing a two-year stint on the United Nations (UN) Security Council.

Now is a time of great promise in U.S.-Vietnam relations. But to help realize our partnership's full potential, we need to build on our existing efforts in three areas: education, the environment, and security.

http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/vietnam-257729-years-war.html

Lots more information in the article and a very handsome 1992 photo of JK with McCain.

[karynnj]

1. Great video of Kerry/Clinton/McCain at a 15 year celebration of the reconciliation

Yes I know this is a RW link, but it has a wonderful 15 minute video. (Clinton is first, then Kerry, then McCain) They all are good - my only (very minor) gripe is I wish even ONCE Clinton would credit Kerry and McCain - rather than McCain and Kerry.

Kerry's comments are extremely good - placing emphasis on both the POW stuff (from their POV and ours) and the two cultures. Kerry spoke of him and McCain having made peace with each other after being on a plane together. Clinton's comments are good, but he sounded and looked older than he did even in 2008. McCain spoke of Kerry's patient leadership.

http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/McCain--Kerry--Vietnam--Normalization/2010/07/16/id/364858

(CSPAN appears to have not covered it.)

[ProSense]

2. Great find.

Excellent clip. I'm surprised there's no snark at the link.

Thanks for the links.

[YvonneCa]

3. You saw that there are three...

...pictures there, right? :7 They are all quite handsome. ;)

[karynnj]

4. Thanks - I only saw the one

You are right that they are all great. Interesting as that was the same year he went to Rio.

[YvonneCa]

5. That's right. I'm wondering if the reason...

...for the sparse news coverage could be that McCain is in a re-election bid. I would probably be politically damaging for him to be seen complimenting Clinton and Kerry.

It does give me a lot of hope to see these three working together. It's the perfect example of what can be accomplished when the partisanship is set aside. The war in VietNam has divided friends, families and our country for so long...yet here you have Clinton (who was in college instead of enlisting, common at that time), Kerry (who enlisted and came back to protest the war), and McCain ( who served and was a POW) who have been able to get over the hurdles to common ground and seek a higher goal.

They stand as representatives of the different factions that have debated the war and kept us divided for years over it. But through communication and a common goal, they accomplished a lot.

THAT's the best of this country...but the story is not on the news. :(

[karynnj]

6. Really good points

The compliments between them were nice to hear. (Clinton actually pulled every string he could to avoid the draft after he graduated.)

You might be right that this would be a negative story for McCain - partly because the far right actually has conspiracy theories about that effort - as well as the negative of being with Kerry and Clinton. That actually MIGHT be why Newsmax has it - which is sad - but otherwise, we wouldn't have seen the video.

[karynnj]

7. One more article that puts the entire event in context

Senator John Kerry- an enthusiastic supporter of the normalization- reviewed efforts made by the two governments during the past two decades towards normalising ties.

He described Vietnam’s cooperation in the search for US servicemen missing in action during the Vietnam War, as an important factor in bilateral relations.

The senator said he had a profound impression of looking back through the entire history of US-Vietnam ties and congratulated Vietnam on successes it has recorded in the renewal process.

He noted that for the American people, Vietnam is presently not a war, but a country and a friend.

http://english.vovnews.vn/Home/VietnamUS-diplomatic-ties-marked-in-US/20107/117512.vov

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One thought - in 2005, the 1oth anniversary, there were far more articles, but they spoke only of McCain and Clinton. Though Kerry was at the event then, he was hardly mention. It is hard to say much when only three - all not mainstream sources covered it, but it does seem as though Kerry, as a foreign policy person has gained in stature.