From Enemies to Partners

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

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

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

More than four decades after the end of 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

“There are no two people more qualified to speak on this subject than Charles Bailey and Dr. Le Ke Son. Their work has changed lives for the better.”

-- Christine Todd Whitman, former governor of New Jersey and administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

“To address this legacy and to truly put the war behind us... is the right thing to do for Vietnam... and for a full-fledged and mature relationship between our two countries.”

-- Ambassador Ton Nu Thi Ninh, former vice chair, Foreign Affairs Committee, National Assembly of Vietnam

“This is a powerful book about all the problems [Son and Bailey] encountered focusing governments on the task and all that is left to do.”

-- Pat Schroeder, former member of Congress from Colorado

“A must-read for anyone interested in understanding Agent Orange’s complicated legacy and the way these two nations continue to navigate it.”

-- Darren Walker, president, Ford Foundation

“This is exactly the book that is needed to advance the conversations surrounding Agent Orange, dioxin and the legacies of the American War in Vietnam.... This book should be read by leaders, policy makers and all students of wars and their legacies.”

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