Elizabeth Dole: “Let me say to my colleagues, lifting the embargo--if Vietnam is holding back information and remains--is not about…”

“Let me say to my colleagues, lifting the embargo--if Vietnam is holding back information and remains--is not about healing the wounds of the past. Lifting the embargo will help heal those wounds--only if we can all be assured that Vietnam is no longer withholding information and remains for political purposes. Vote for the Kerry-McCain amendment if you believe the embargo should be lifted. But also vote for the Smith-Dole amendment if you believe the families of those who served for this country deserve answers before the embargo is lifted. Adoption of the Smith-Dole amendment will help achieve the end we all seek. So it seems to me that you have an opportunity here to, reinforce the President's constitutional right to make policy--all we ask is a simple determination. If he makes that determination, then we probably would accept it. Madam President, again I thank my colleagues on both sides of this issue. They were there. We were not there. They understand it probably better than any of us who were in earlier conflicts. But the question is the same: When do we tell the families that it is over? Maybe it is very important. I know there are a lot of economic opportunities in Vietnam. A lot of businesses are very interested in this amendment, and sooner or later the embargo is probably going to be lifted, but it seems to me we are not asking much in the Smith-Dole amendment. We hope it might have the support of my colleagues.”