The story of Iraq is the most outrageous cover up in world history, where indeed it is the US State Department mandate against any Arab country that poses a potential threat to the Jewish state of Israel. In US perception, Iraq is the most direct threat to the national security and existence of Israel. The US, as defender of Israel’s interests, wants to make sure that Iraq is left with nothing that might threaten the security of the Jewish state. They want to destroy Iraq’s economic, military and more important, its human resources (brains) infrastructure.
As a consequence, the innocent people of Iraq have been paying a very high price for the unjustified US led, UN imposed, economic sanctions against Iraqis.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports have confirmed the fact that sanctions on Iraq have been responsible for the deaths of more than 670,000 children since they were imposed in 1990. (The most recent figures show even much higher numbers).
The impact of the sanctions has been documented and witnessed by non-Iraqi sources. After his eleventh trip to Iraq, in a letter to the UN Security Council, on February 28, 2001, entitled The Genocidal Effect of Sanctions on Iraq to January 20, 2001, former US Attorney General, Ramsey Clark, wrote: “Infant mortality from selected illnesses caused by the UN sanctions against Iraq has increased from a monthly average of slightly less than 600 deaths in 1989, to more than 6,700 in 2000, or eleven times. The percentage of total registered births under 2.5 kgs in 1990 was 4.5 per cent. In 2000 it was nearly 25 per cent, five times as much. For children under five years old the average number of reported cases of kwashiorkor, marasmus and other malnutrition illnesses caused by protein, calorie and/or vitamin deficiencies, rose from less than 8,550 in 1990 to 190,000 in 2000.
Based on these facts, the children of Iraq do not deserve the pain of such a massive punishment. They are sentenced to death and life terms for sanctions that the UN says are justified and prudent under `Just War’ ideals.
In reality the UN is in violation of its own “Universal Declaration of Human Rights”, Article 25, and is also in violation of UN Resolution 44/215(Dec. 22, 1989): This resolution states that developed countries should refrain from threatening or applying trade and financial restrictions, blockades, embargoes, and other economic sanctions, incompatible with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
Article 25 of the “Universal Declaration of Human Rights” states: (1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and his family, including food, clothing, housing, medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.
(2) Mothers and children are entitled to special care and assistance All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.
The UN has enforced these standards in many countries but feels that these rights do not apply to its own actions. In reality the UN is responsible for every one of those children who are born into suffering, hunger or disease. No human action, no matter how horrible, can justify the torture and inhumane treatment of so many children. There have been many appeals from other countries to the UN, but no compassion has been shown.
The UN thinks these sanctions will continue until President Saddam and his government are gone, but Saddam continues to build on his popularity and support, and strengthen his nationalistic views of the conflict among the people of Iraq and the Arab and Muslim world. He is becoming the most popular Arab/Muslim leader in the region.
And much like the failure the US has had in long term sanctions imposed against Fidel Castro and Cuba, it will most likely fail in its attempt to overthrow the government of Saddam Hussein. Meanwhile over 5,000 children will die every month.
We, as a people of a democratic nation, must use our power of freedom and free speech to end the suffering the US government is causing to the innocent people and children of Iraq. Enough is enough! Leave the people of Iraq alone!
Justice is the foundation and the only road to human stability, security and peace. There will be no peace and security, where human justice doesn’t exist.
The writer is a senior consultant on international affairs, national security, strategic studies and American Federal Government. He is the executive director of the Middle East Consultations and Research Analysis( MECRA ) as well as an adjunct professor of international affairs, Politics and International Law.
