America bears a moral obligation to help treat the Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange. However, a moral obligation is not a legal requirement. Neither does it trump America's obligation to the Soldiers and Airmen who were ordered to deliver the deadly toxin.

America needs three things to be able to begin to address the problems of victims on both sides of the battleground: the Will, the Means and the Ability. No progress will ever be made without all three.

Agent Orange entered the fray in 1965 as the solution to a military problem. The Viet Cong were adept at using the jungle to approach close to American and Allied forces in Vietnam. They could lay in ambush, set up booby traps, and use it to evade pursuit.

Americans at first tried to physically remove vegetation with heavy equipment like bulldozers. However, jungle vigorously defends clearing. It closes gaps so rapidly that even burning has little effect on the living Green Colossus.

Herbicides provided a technological solution by killing the plants in a treated area. They worked better because they were quick and had lingering effect that prevented the rapid return of foliage. They seeped into the soil and prevented seeds from germinating.

Unfortunately, the chemicals meant to kill plants had damaging effects on humans as well. The US Military took note of health complaints among soldiers tasked with handling Agent Orange. It was withdrawn from the inventory in 1970. However, the effects on the population, ecology and psyche of Vietnam linger to this day.

America has a history of great compassion and generosity towards defeated enemies. It spent billions in rebuilding Europe and Asia following World War II. However, Vietnam had the poor judgment to win its war against the United States. What compassion remained after the end of the war hardly covered the needs of our own servicemen.

America's attitude has softened over time. Victory in Desert Storm helped focus attention on the suffering of aging and neglected Vietnam veterans. The time had come to reflect on the entire Southeast Asian war experience.

It became clear to many people that for the war to truly end would involve reaching out to our former adversaries. While resentment remains in some quarters of the population, America increasingly softened its stance towards Vietnam.

This change in attitude could bring about the necessary will to provide help, but what of the means? Removing all of the dioxin laden soil in Vietnam

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