Why it is wrong to call for an end to economic sanctions
by Bob Allen
Campaign to End the Sanctions

   * It implies to the listener that there are two types of sanctions on
   Iraq.
   Economic and military.
   This is not true. The delineation between military and economic sanctions
   is
   a fiction.

   * It implies the lifting of economic sanctions will alleviate the embargo

   that has crippled the Iraqi economy. Sanctions will then only effect
   military
   items and not the economy.
   This is not true. UN sanctions have a long history of denying vital needs
   of
   the Iraqi people through the criteria of "dual-use." There is extensive
   documentation of the prohibition of items that MAY HAVE a military
   application in Iraq. This UN sanctions practice has been led by the US
   and
   has caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis.

   Why is this demand popular in the US movement?

   The warmongering atmosphere promoted by both ruling parties has generally

   gone unchallenged. The recent election was a clear display of unanimity
   on
   most issues, but most especially foreign policy. There is a strong
   bipartisan
   consensus on Iraq that "He continues to pose a threat to the region." And

   "must be kept in his box." The rightward motion of these parties has an
   effect on public opinion such that the disarming of Iraq is quite popular

   even within the liberal pacifist circles. We in the anti-sanctions
   movement
   are not immune to these political pressures.

   The success of this propaganda can be measured by the recently proposed
   ad in
   the NY Times by the US pacifist group Pax Christi. Besides the call for
   lifting economic sanctions it goes on to call for the condemnation of
   Iraqi
   aggression in the region. But there is no Iraqi aggression in the region!

   We have to wake up folks. This is serious. Stating opposition to a
   humanitarian crisis paired with demands to disarm Iraq falls far short of

   what is required.

   The call to lift economic sanctions does not challenge the prevalent
   illusions and misrepresentations promoted by the US government. It is a
   political accommodation to these illusions. Our role, however unpopular,
   is
   to challenge these misconceptions and truly educate the public on the
   record
   of US aggression towards Iraq. What Senator Warbucks is willing to
   consider
   is not our concern.

   The US is at war with Iraq. Ten years after the complete military defeat
   of
   Iraq, accurately termed the slaughter, the US is still attacking the
   country.
   This includes extensive bombing campaigns, regular air attacks,
   confiscating
   shipping on the highseas, and successfully promoting an economic siege,
   the
   sanctions.

   In light of this aggression the movement in solidarity with the people of

   Iraq in the US calls for ... the disarmament of Iraq! Every imperialist
   nation should have (and has generally gotten) a "peace movement" that
   advocates the disarmament of its military opponent. Count me out.

   In Solidarity
   Bob Allen
   Campaign to End the Sanctions