The Missing Man. Politics and the MIA,
Abstract
The thesis of this study is that the development of the MIA issue has been, and continues to be, inimical to the best interests of the United States, the missing men, and their families. It is clear that the Government has a responsibility to both the men and their families. Combat personnel should be assured that their families will not be placed in a limbo status for years should their death be undocumented. In the Vietnam war, the U.S. Government prolonged the grief of the MIA family, while substantially increasing the benefits paid to the MIA wife compared to the widow. These inequities do not cancel each other out, nor is either one justified. The matter of the missing men is an issue over which this government has little control, and as such, reduces American flexibility in dealing with Vietnam. Also, by creating expectations and demands that could never be met, the United States has caused a bitterness toward the government by a small but significant number of American citizens. Finally, in the course of attempting to resolve this issue, a U.S. President promised an economic commitment that he knew could not be met. This action unnecessarily complicated future American-Vietnamese relationships, while reducing the stature of the Presidency and the credibility of American promises.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1979
- Accession Number
- ADA072495
Entities
People
- Douglas L. Clarke
Organizations
- National Defense University