The resolution also removes the $5.2 billion limit on oil sales, allowing Iraq to sell as much oil as it wants, as long as the money is still funnelled through a U.N. bank account in New York and all transactions are approved by what is known as the 661 Committee. This Committee, in particular the U.S. and British representatives on it, have held up billions of dollars in contracts, mostly because they claim items such as ambulances, bicycle tires and linen have potential "dual use" for civilian and military purposes.
While the U.S. paints the new resolution as helpful, it means first the Iraqis must "cooperate" with the inspectors to the satisfaction of the U.N., and then sanctions will only be "suspended" for four month periods. The original resolution called for the lifting of sanctions after inspectors had verified the destruction of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. Under the new proposal, Iraq could be kept under sanctions indefinitely, with thousands more dying each year.
It is important to note that stated U.S. policy, which is to change the regime in Baghdad, is not part of any U.N. resolution, nor are the "no-fly" zones, which the U.S. and British imposed unilaterally.
Whether or not you have not done anything before to help the people of Iraq, now is the time to speak out. Stop the bombings! End the sanctions now!
Year 2000 Presidential Elections and Iraq
Vice President Al Gore told Arab-American leaders that the United States had "deep sympathy" for
the suffering of Iraq's civilians but would not end sanctions on the country until there was a
change of government (Reuters, November 6, 1999).
Bill Bradley, in a debate with Al Gore, said that he thinks we should tighten sanctions on Iraq
("Meet the Press," Sunday, Dec. 19, 1999).
Although we disagree with most of his opinions, and his motivation does not seem to be for global
solidarity, Reform Party Candidate Pat Buchanan has come out against unilateral economic
sanctions, including those on Iraq (Speech at Center for Strategic and International Studies,
December 16, 1999).
Clearly, one cannot make choices for candidates based on one issue alone. We are not advocating
for or against any one. What 's important is to raise the issue and be clear that all candidates must
take a position that is humane and peaceful.
Iraq and Yugoslavia
From March to June, 1999, the U.S. and NATO led a 78-day bombing campaign over Yugoslavia, destroying much of both Serbia and Kosovo's infrastruc- ture as they did Iraq's in 1991. While that "war" consisted almost entirely of air strikes, the total number of "sorties" flown was 34,300; the number of "sorties" over Iraq from 1991 to mid-1999 was over 250,000 (LA Times, July 8, 1999).
Yugoslavia will likely suffer the same consequences as Iraq, given that the U.S. policy is the same: to keep economic sanctions on to force a change in leadership. To work against further deterioration of the situation there, contact the President and your Congressional representatives. For more info or to get involved, contact Peace and Justice Works (info below) or Coalition Against the War in Yugoslavia c/o NW Veterans for Peace, 503-251-4865.
