Spring Break
Saddam: poison to the Iraqis
Nate Anderson
Issue date: 2/23/05 Section: Commentary
Shortly after the illegal Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990, the United Nations Security Council, with strong support from the United States, imposed strict sanctions on Saddam Hussein's regime in order to weaken the country's economic ability to wage further wars and to threaten the region.
During the course of the sanctions, which ended with the onset of the 2003 Coalition invasion of Iraq, most sources estimate that over 1 million Iraqi civilians were killed.
Many humanitarian organizations have claimed that the deadly effects of the Iraqi sanctions constituted a murderous crime perpetrated by the United States. The argument they give is that the deaths of Iraqis during the sanctions period occurred due to the harshness of the measures imposed through U.S. influence. At critical times, the U.S. used its power to impede the flow of humanitarian aid and equipment, increasing the deadly effects of the measures. Recently, University of Colorado professor Ward Churchill, Osama bin Laden and many of their supporters proposed that the U.S. role in Iraqi sanctions warranted the Sept. 11 attacks. After all, they allege, one cannot play a role in the mass murder of 1 million people and expect to get away with it without consequence.
The sanctions on Iraq undoubtedly led to a massive loss of civilian life and were a failed policy on this account, despite succeeding in securing the region from Iraqi dominance. The United States, at times, did increase the suffering of civilians by withholding critical humanitarian supplies from Iraq. I am of the opinion that many U.S. positions on sanctions were mistaken and detrimental. This aside, I must also add that I am absolutely appalled by Churchill and his ilk, which consistently ignores both Hussein's aggressive strength during his bid for regional dominance and his willingness to sacrifice his own people for his personal power. I find it similar to blaming the allies for civilian casualties during the Berlin bombing raids, while completely failing to mention that Hitler started the war.
During the course of the sanctions, which ended with the onset of the 2003 Coalition invasion of Iraq, most sources estimate that over 1 million Iraqi civilians were killed.
Many humanitarian organizations have claimed that the deadly effects of the Iraqi sanctions constituted a murderous crime perpetrated by the United States. The argument they give is that the deaths of Iraqis during the sanctions period occurred due to the harshness of the measures imposed through U.S. influence. At critical times, the U.S. used its power to impede the flow of humanitarian aid and equipment, increasing the deadly effects of the measures. Recently, University of Colorado professor Ward Churchill, Osama bin Laden and many of their supporters proposed that the U.S. role in Iraqi sanctions warranted the Sept. 11 attacks. After all, they allege, one cannot play a role in the mass murder of 1 million people and expect to get away with it without consequence.
The sanctions on Iraq undoubtedly led to a massive loss of civilian life and were a failed policy on this account, despite succeeding in securing the region from Iraqi dominance. The United States, at times, did increase the suffering of civilians by withholding critical humanitarian supplies from Iraq. I am of the opinion that many U.S. positions on sanctions were mistaken and detrimental. This aside, I must also add that I am absolutely appalled by Churchill and his ilk, which consistently ignores both Hussein's aggressive strength during his bid for regional dominance and his willingness to sacrifice his own people for his personal power. I find it similar to blaming the allies for civilian casualties during the Berlin bombing raids, while completely failing to mention that Hitler started the war.