We can debate how best that can be done. The point remainsand the American people ought to understand itthat at a time when the military war is being escalated. all kinds of help and assistance for the people in Vietnam is being cut out. and this administration has been a part of thatcutting back on the resources to aid the humanitarian problems in Southeast Asia. There is not 1 cent for 2 million refugees in Cambodianot 1 pennyand not 1 cent recommended for next year for the 6 million refugees in South Vietnam. There was $2.3 million this year. $6 million the year before. and $16 million 2 years ago. We are all set to deescalate that aspect of the war. but we are not prepared to deescalate the other aspect of it. I think it is appropriate that we draw the attention of the American people to those who do not have the strong voices here to speak out about what is happening to the civilians. There are those who will speak out in terms of the military. and yet they say they are interested in the people of Southeast Asia. Look at what has happened and look at the record. and this is just as broad an indictment of the record of the previous administration as it is of this administration. on programs that vitally affect the children. the women. the old people. the civilian casualties. and the refugees. and you find that they are on the bottom of the priority list of this administration as well as of the previous administration. No one can take any kind of solace in the fact that the previous administration was putting out approximately $16 million for the refugees. That is the cost of approximately four of the jets that have been lostperhaps a days loss. or 10 days of sorties over Laos. Nobody is defending the violence that is perpetrated upon the civilian population by the North Vietnamese offensive.
Keywords matched
refugees