Some comments on the lifting of Iraq sanctions
Institute for Public Accuracy
915 National Press Building, Washington, D.C. 20045
(202) 347-0020 * http://www.accuracy.org * ipa@accuracy.org
___________________________________________________
Thursday, May 22, 2003
Interviews Available: Ending Iraq Sanctions
JAMES PAUL, james.paul@globalpolicy.org,
http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/irqindx.htm,
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0520-01.htm
Executive director of the Global Policy Forum, which monitors policy-making
at the United Nations, Paul is author of the report "Oil in Iraq: The Heart
of the Crisis." Paul said today: "The United States has bullied support
from an unhappy and reluctant Security Council. The resolution ... gives
legitimacy to the occupation authorities, accedes to a weak role for the
U.N., fails to provide for a return of the U.N. inspectors, and turns over
control of Iraq's oil resources to the occupiers. The Chilean ambassador
has been recalled for failing to show sufficient support and enthusiasm for
the U.S. positions. Many threats -- and perhaps promises of a few oil
fields -- have brought the Council membership into line. The next step: the
U.S. will effectively name the new U.N. representative to Baghdad."
JOY GORDON, jgordon@fair1.fairfield.edu,
http://www.harpers.org/online/cool_war
Gordon, a professor at Fairfield University, wrote "Cool War: Economic
Sanctions as Weapons of Mass Destruction" in the November 2002 issue of
Harper's Magazine. She said today: "The U.N. resolution is a defeat for all
those who wanted to see a free, independent Iraq, with the level of health,
education, and social development that was present before the sanctions
devastated the economy and the well-being of the Iraqi population. We have
already seen how the U.S. sets its priorities as an occupying power: the
oil fields are protected and put into operation immediately. At the same
time, the U.S. has done little to stop the looting -- or restart the
production -- of water purification facilities and electrical generators.
The U.S. has shown a terrible disregard for Iraq's humanitarian situation
over the last decade, as we have seen the U.S. veto essential goods ranging
from child vaccines to water purification equipment."
TOM NAGY, nagy@gwu.edu, http://www.progressive.org/0801issue/nagy0901.html
A professor of expert systems at George Washington University, Nagy
wrote
the article "The Secret Behind the Sanctions: How the U.S. Intentionally
Destroyed Iraq's Water Supply" in The Progressive magazine of September
2001. He said today: "According to my conversations with relief officials,
Basra is within a week of running out of chlorine needed for water facilities."
FRANCIS BOYLE, fboyle@law.uiuc.edu
Professor of international law at the University of Illinois and author of
"Foundations of World Order," Boyle said today: "Bush is basically getting
the Security Council to reverse the long-standing Stimson Doctrine: That
the world will not recognize the fruits of an aggressive war. But that is
exactly what the Security Council has just done."
SAM HUSSEINI, sam@accuracy.org, http://www.accuracy.org/iraq
Communications director of the Institute for Public Accuracy, Husseini
wrote the report "Autopsy of a Disaster: The U.S. Sanctions Policy on
Iraq." He said today: "John Negroponte claimed today that Saddam Hussein
was responsible for the continuation of the sanctions, but that claim
ignores long-standing U.S. policy of maintaining the sanctions regardless
of Iraq's compliance with its disarmament obligations. Just as the
sanctions were maintained regardless of law, they are being lifted in
similar fashion. Similarly, the devastating humanitarian effect of
sanctions is recognized the moment it is convenient to do so.... The
absence of the Syrian ambassador says a great deal about the Arab regimes:
pathetically caught between their people and a U.S. government claiming a
desire for democracy."
For more information, contact at the Institute for Public Accuracy: Sam Husseini, (202) 347-0020; or David Zupan, (541) 484-9167
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