New MIA-Vietnam Documentary "Unclaimed" Has The Wrong Man

Johns Hartley Robertson. Movie Unclaimed

The Man Who Claims To Be Lost US Vietnam Vet John Hartley Robertson 'Is A Fraud' -- Business Insider

The subject of the new documentary "Unclaimed" purports to be U.S. soldier John Hartley Robertson, who was lost over Vietnam more than 44 years ago. But damning evidence suggests the man, actually a Vietnamese citizen named Dang Than Ngoc, has been lying about his identity for years.

That evidence includes FBI fingerprint analysis, a recorded admission several years ago by Ngoc, and DNA testing.

In "Unclaimed," Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Michael Jorgensen follows Vietnam veteran Tom Faunce into the depths of Vietnam to meet the man Faunce claims to be Sergeant First Class (SFC) John Hartley Robertson. A U.S. Army Special Forces soldier lost in 1968 when his helicopter came under heavy fire and crashed in the tropical southeast Asian jungle.

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Previous Post: U.S. Army Veteran 'Is Found Living In Vietnam Village 44 YEARS After Being Declared MIA

WNU Editor: Hat Tip to XBradTC for notifying me of this fraud. My sympathies are with the Robertson family and the false hope that this story gave them.

Change Is In The Air In Vietnam

Vietnam's meeting of the 11th Central Committee in Hanoi on Jan. 18, 2011. Reuters

Shift In Vietnam’s Leadership As Party Boss Apologizes -- New York Times

HANOI, Vietnam — The ruling Communist Party ended a major congress Wednesday with the announcement of several changes in the country’s hierarchy, and what amounted to an apology by the party’s chief for the performance of the nation’s leaders over the past five years.

“I myself, to some extent, haven’t met the expectations of the people and the Communist members,” said the outgoing general secretary, Nong Duc Manh, in closing remarks to the assembled congress.

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More News On Vietnam

Vietnam wraps up Party Congress -- Yahoo News/AP
Vietnam Leader Reappointed Amid Inflation Woe -- Wall Street Journal
Vietnam Communists Back Dung’s Return, Aim to Stabilize Economy -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Vietnam wraps up Party Congress -- AP
Vietnam's Ruling Party Backs Dung for Second Term as Inflation Risk Rises -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Vietnam’s Communist Party Picks New Leaders -- Voice of America
Third of Vietnam Politburo steps down in reshuffle -- Reuters
Vietnam Congress confirms new leadership trio -- BBC

The Changing Face Of Vietnam

As Vietnam Booms, Communist Party Struggles to Keep Up -- New York Times

HANOI (Reuters) - Vietnam's ruling Communists are replenishing their ageing ranks with younger, better-educated policymakers and entrepreneurs as the 81-year-old party founded by Marxist revolutionary Ho Chi Minh struggles to stay relevant.

The party will select a new policy-making Central Committee on Monday that is likely to be stacked with younger faces, and they vote this week on a test scheme to admit entrepreneurs into the country's stodgy socialist bureaucracy.

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More News On The Changing face Of Vietnam

Vietnam's hopes for growth as new leader chosen -- BBC
In Vietnam, Politics Lag While Growth Jumps -- New York Times
Vietnam's communists vote on new leaders -- AFP
As Vietnam booms, Communist Party struggles to keep up -- Reuters
Vietnam braces for new leader -- Channel News Asia

In A "Tweak" To China, Vietnam Will Permit Foreign Navies Access To The Navy Base At Cam Ranh Bay

Cam Ranh Bay, 180 miles north west of Ho Chi Minh city, would stand ready to service ships and submarines 'from all countries' Photo: MIKE LOUGHRAN

Vietnam Offers Navy Base To Foil China -- The Telegraph

Foreign navies are to be given access to Vietnam's Cam Ranh Bay, a naval stronghold that was a key Cold War outpost that is now emerging as a vital base to counter Chinese dominance of the South China Sea.

Nyugen Tan Dung, the Vietnamese prime minister, said Cam Ranh Bay, 180 miles north west of Ho Chi Minh city, would stand ready to service ships and submarines "from all countries".

Russia is to help rebuild the port as part of an £1.3 billion defence deal signed earlier this year.

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More News On Vietnam Opening It's Major Naval Base To Foreign Navies

Vietnam's Cam Ranh base to welcome foreign navies -- Washington Post/AP
Vietnam seeks Russian help to modernize naval base -- RIA Novosti
PM says Cam Ranh Port to be solely managed by Vietnam -- Thanh Nien News
Why Is China Isolating Itself? -- Jason Miks, The Diplomat

My Comment: China - Vietnam differences on full display. Expect the Chinese to respond by expanding their naval fleet in the South China Seas.

Remembering The Fall Of Saigon

Vietnam Re-Enacts Fall Of Saigon To Mark 35th Anniversary Of War's End -- USA Today

Vietnam today marked the 35th anniversary of the Communist victory in the Vietnam War with a grand military parade through the former Saigon and a re-enactment of North Vietnamese tanks crashing through the gates of the presidential palace.

While official speeches touted the liberation of the country, the Associated Press reports, the government basked more in their economic achievements that in the historic military defeat of the United States.

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More News On The 35th Anniversary Of The Fall Of Saigon

Vietnam celebrates 35th anniversary of war's end -- AP
Vietnam re-enacts fall of Saigon to mark war milestone -- BBC
Vietnam, 35 years on -- New York Post
Vietnam 35th Anniversary -- ABD News (Photos)
Six More Names Added to Vietnam Wall -- US News & World Report
Saigon’s Fall, 35 Years Later -- Ling Dinh, New York Times opinion
Fall of Saigon revisited -- Washington Times editorial