Robert Allen
Campaign to End the Sanctions
5 Awbury Rd.
Philadelphia Pa 19138
215 438 4181
8/31/00

An August 21, 2000, letter from Representative Chaka Fattah (Democrat, 2nd
District, PA) announces a change of heart regarding US policy toward Iraq.
Referring to his support for the Clinton administration war on Iraq, he
states, "Previously, my position on economic sanctions for Iraq mirrored
that
of the Administration." He now asserts he has been influenced by
"...constituents in my district who have seen firsthand the devastating
effects of the humanitarian sanctions." The letter repeatedly makes the
point
of acknowledging the efforts of the "human rights community in the US."

The new position states "...I sincerely believe easing sanctions will
alleviate the extraordinary hardships the Iraqi people are experiencing."
Note that this sincere attempt by the Congressman to alleviate
extraordinary
hardships warrants only an easing of the sanctions. We can only speculate
if
the Congressman sincerely wanted to address the extraordinary hardships of
for example, slavery, would he advocate its easing or its abolition? Calls
for "easing sanctions" concedes a moral legitimacy to the US and UN
intervention in Iraq. The gruesome record of this intervention speaks
definitively to the contrary.

While in the same paragraph he continues "...we must continue to keep
pressure on Saddam Hussein's repressive government until internal reforms
are
enacted." Doesn't this sound familiar? Now we have come full circle. This
is
the all too familiar refrain given by successive administrations to justify

continuing the war against Iraq. Years in Congress have developed Mr.
Fattah's art of speaking out of both sides of his mouth.

He voices support for "H.R. 3825, the Humanitarian Exports Leading to Peace

Act which would provide the Iraqi people with access to food, agricultural
products and medicines." And, "as a cosponsor of H.R. 3825, I support
easing
humanitarian sanctions against Iraq." The arrogance of this proposal is
astounding. Iraq and its people have no need for the US Congress to
"provide
the Iraqi people with access to food, agricultural products and medicines."

This phony humanitarian proposal is designed to deepen US commercial
control
over a potentially lucrative Iraqi market.

For the last ten years the US has conducted military and economic war on
Iraq. With United Nations support hundreds of thousands have perished under

the perverted guise of "disarmament," and preventing "weapons of mass
destruction." A principled stand for the Iraqi people begins with the
demand
to end the ongoing military attacks by the US, Britain and Turkey on Iraq.
Supporters of human rights in the US demand an end to this war and an
unconditional end to the sanctions on Iraq.