Bitterness and applause greeted President Clinton's lifting of the trade embargo against Vietnam, in place since the war ended 19 years ago.
The decision, announced Thursday, was a sensitive one for Clinton, who fought charges during the 1992 campaign of avoiding serving in Vietnam.
"Everybody my age, whether they were in Vietnam or not, knew someone who died there, knew someone who was wounded there," Clinton said.
But he is "absolutely convinced" opening trade ties - pushed hard by U.S. business - is the best way to uncover the fates of 2,238 U.S. servicemen listed as missing in action.
POW/MIA and some veterans groups argued the embargo was the only leverage the USA had in forcing Vietnam to account for the MIAs.
The National Alliance of Families said lifting of the embargo was "tragic."
But the Vietnam Veterans of America said "a historic chapter has now closed" and promised to work with the administration on MIA questions.
Business groups, anxious to move into fast-growing Vietnamese markets, were happy.
"It's great news," said Virginia Foote, head of the U.S.-Vietnam Trade Council, whose 80 members include General Electric, United Airlines, Caterpillar and Boeing.
United said it will begin service to Vietnam as soon as it can get government approval.
The 72 million Vietnamese represent the "last frontier of the market in Southeast Asia," said a "happy" Le Van Bang, Vietnam's U.N. ambassador.
Clinton said he would establish a U.S. liaison office in Vietnam to handle MIA matters, human rights and trade issues.
Involved in the decision:
-- Vietnam's increased cooperation on MIA issues.
-- Mounting pressure from U.S. business, "which has been watching the Japanese getting ready to move into Vietnam in a big way," says Selig Harrison of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
-- Clinton's own foreign policy directives, which include promoting U.S. business to battle a $ 115 billion trade deficit.
The Senate paved the way by voting 62-38 recently to urge an end to the embargo.
Clinton made it clear the move does not mean establishment of full diplomatic relations - something he plans to hold as leverage for further progress on the MIA issue.
