Agent Orange, a defoliant so-named because of an orange stripe on the chemical's containers, was used to eliminate forest leaf and foliage cover and to destroy crops during the Vietnam war. However, one of the byproducts of this herbicide is Dioxin, an incredibly toxic chemical which can cause any number of maladies, from cancer to birth defects. The U.S. government spent over $200 Million developing AO, but has yet to publish a thorough study of the effects on both veterans and future generations born in Vietnam.

Judge Jack Weinstein ruled in favor of the defendants this past March, claiming that the chemical companies as defense contractors could not be held responsible for the decisions of the government. Meanwhile the chemical companies maintain that there is no link between Agent Orange and health problems. According to Scott Wheeler, a spokesman for Dow Chemical: "We believe the defoliant saved lives by protecting allied forces from enemy ambush, and also that it did not create adverse health effects."

Though VA benefits cover many of the conditions believed to result from prolonged Agent Orange exposure, the government maintains that there is no cause-and-effect relationship being acknowledged. Meanwhile, children continue to be born in Vietnam with debilitating handicaps that are closely linked with Agent Orange. Prime Minister Phan Van Khai of Vietnam will be visiting the United States in June, and the issue remains a controvercial issue that may arise.

-The Free-Lance Star: A War's Festering Wounds
-news.Telegraph: Agent Orange victims furious as court denies them compensation
-San Diego Union Tribune: Vietnamese premier says he'll be first to visit U.S. since war ended 30 years ago
-Guerrilla News Network: Vietnam: The Unpunished Crimes of Agent Orange
-Wikipedia: Agent Orange
-Columbia U./Stellman Agent Orange Research: LINK