ACCESSION
NUMBER:325424
FILE ID:EPF405
1ATE:02/03/94
TITLE:PERRY SAYS LIFT VIETNAM EMBARGO IF IT HELPS POW-MIA SEARCH (02/03/94)
TEXT:*94020305.EPF
*EPF405 02/03/94 *
PERRY SAYS LIFT VIETNAM EMBARGO IF IT HELPS POW-MIA SEARCH
(Excerpts: SecDef-designate confirmation hearing 02/02/94) (480)
Washington -- William Perry told the Senate Armed Services Committee
February 2 during his confirmation hearing to be Secretary of Defense, "My
views on that (Vietnam trade) embargo are that if we can improve our
prospects of advancing a determination of the fate of the POW-MIAs which we
still have from the Vietnam War, if we can improve our prospects by lifting
the embargo, we should do it."
Following is an unofficial transcript of an excerpt concerning Vietnam
missing from yesterday's Legi-Slate database:
(begin excerpts of unofficial transcript from Legi-Slate)
HEARING OF THE SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE
SUBJECT: CONFIRMATION HEARING OF WILLIAM PERRY TO BE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
CHAIRED BY: SENATOR SAM NUNN (D-GA)
ROOM 216, SENATE HART OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON, DC
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1994
SEN. ROBERT C. SMITH (R-NH): Do you share the view of many in the current
administration and in the Congress that the Vietnamese embargo should be
lifted?
PERRY: My views on that embargo are that if we can improve our prospects of
advancing a determination of the fate of the POW-MIAs which we still have
from that Vietnam War, if we can improve our prospects by lifting the
embargo, we should do it.
And if we would not improve those prospects, we should not. I have talked
to the commanders in the field who are overseeing that operation, have
gotten their judgment that we are having -- we've had substantial
improvements in the last year in this area and further -- the judgment that
we could have further improvement by continuing working cooperatively with
the Vietnamese government on this. That's a very difficult call, and I
know that's an area, Senator Smith, where you have worked very closely. So
that would be my basis for a decision there, Senator Smith.
SEN. SMITH: Well, this was played out pretty well on the Senate floor and I
don't wish to debate it again. But I know -- I do appreciate the
opportunities that I've had to talk with many in your administration on
this issue. I feel that I -- even though I may lose, I've had adequate
input -- maybe not adequate enough, but I've had input.
I just would -- just a final point on that. I would just caution you that
there have been two sides to this; one saying all information has been
provided, therefore, lift the embargo. The other side says the information
has not been fully provided, but if we lift the embargo we'll get it. I'll
tell you that all information has not been provided and I think your
intelligence community knows that. So it's a risk --
PERRY: I agree with that, Senator.
SEN. SMITH: It's lift and hope --
(end excerpts of unofficial transcript from Legi-Slate)
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