POW/MIA Report

Does H.Res 111 Have a Chance?
There are those who truly want the answers, want out live POWs home, but somewhere there is a dark side with power enough to overcome them.

By Bill Kessling – VietNow National POW/MIA Chair

For the eighth time Representative Peter King of New York is introducing a resolution to form a Congressional Committee to investigate the POW/MIA issue. The content of the resolution is as follows:

H.Res 111: “To establish in the House of Representatives a Select Committee to be known as the Select Committee on POW and MIA Affairs.”

Function: The committee shall conduct a full investigation of all unresolved matters relating to any United States personnel unaccounted for from the Vietnam era, the Korean conflict, World War Two, Cold War missions, Persian Gulf War, Operation Iraqi Freedom, or Operation Enduring Freedom including MIAs and POWs.

During the past 110th Congress the resolution had a record-setting two hundred and eighty co-sponsors, which should have been more than enough to bring it to the floor for a vote.

But, unbelievably, it never got out of the Rules Committee. The official explanation was that there were not to be any new committees formed during the 110th Congress.

Was this the real reason, or were there other factors that caused its demise?

In my opinion, the following are other reasons that may or may not have prolonged this important legislation.

Opposition from the DPMO
(From the December 13th, 2008 National Alliance of Families newsletter.) During a July 10th, 2008, hearing before the SubCommittee on Military Personnel, Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter asked Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Charles Ray for the D.P.M.O. position on H.Res 111.

Shea-Porter: I’m sure you’re aware of a piece of legislation introduced in the House calling for a select committee on POW/MIA affairs. And you have made a career as members of the armed services. Now this part of your job requires you to bring the remains of service members and heroes home to us. In your professional and personal opinion, do you believe that creating a select committee in Congress would benefit your mission or detract from it?

Secretary Ray: Ma’am, I have to – there is recently a Department of Defense position provided to a member of Congress on that. We oppose the establishment of a select committee. From a professional standpoint, I fear that such a committee would be a distraction, could cause us to have to diminish our efforts to our core mission as we respond to the requirements.

And from my own, I have frequent contact, as do people from JAPAC, with this committee.

We feel that the current level of interchange and oversight serves the purpose of ensuring that we are doing – that we’re following the congres­sional intent and that we are doing what we can with available resources to serve the American people.

And so the bottom line is that, we oppose any such establishment.

Note: The National Alliance of Families reported that archival research, case investigations, remains recovery, and identifications were ongoing during the life of the Senate Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs in the early nineties.

Opposition from politicians, agencies and others who want to keep the truth covered
For reasons unknown there are those in government who do everything in their power to keep the truth buried deep within the bowels of government.

Is it possible that they have the power, with a threat here and there, to convince the decision makers to do their bidding? One would hope not, but it is worth considering.

When I got involved with the issue I had an open mind, and believed we could count on our government to do the right thing. I soon found out I had been viewing their commitment through rose-colored glasses.

Yes, there are those like Representative King who truly want the answers, want our live POWs home. But somewhere there is a dark side with power enough to overcome them.

When politicians or agencies gain this type of power it is time to let them know that “we the people” demand the truth, demand the return of those held against their will no matter from what war or conflict, no matter who may be shamed in the process.

So, as I stated, these are my opinions, and should be taken as such. Everyone has the right to come to their own conclusions and express them.

One thing we can do is once again work hard to make sure this investigation takes place. I realize that it gets frustrating to convince our Representatives to co-sponsor the resolution, and watch it sit gathering dust in some bureaucratic in-basket.

But getting this committee formed is the only way I believe we will get any satisfaction from the government.

And that will depend on the committee following up on the information they receive, and not ignoring it as was done in the last Senate Select Committee.

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