The Vietnamese also understand that the issue of missing Americans is the single greatest barrier to lifting the American-imposed trade embargo, establishing diplomatic relations with the US, and rejoining the world community. 34 Greenway deserves credit for this rare departure from the ranks, though we might take note of a few other problems that some might attribute to an agent who remains unnamed. The miserable Commies were berated with much scorn when they released maps of mines in Afghanistan so that civilians could be protected from the deadly legacy of their aggression. They know the problem. In 1991, the children's hospital was forced to close 50 of 250 beds and to ask patients to provide medicines.
Doctors perform surgical operations on a table donated by Poland, largely without equipment.
Though Vietnam undertook the structural adjustment programs required by the official lenders well before Eastern Europe, it cannot receive any of the low-cost World Bank funds designed to ease the severe impact, thanks to the stern US veto. Commercial banks and other donors and investors will not move until the US permits it, and foreign markets are largely closed, so there is no prospect for private sector jobs. 36 Go to the next segment . 32 Editorial, WP weekly, Dec. 2-8, 1991. 33 Barbara Crossette, NYT, March 31, 1992.