AFF/ROGUE STATES/IRAQ

SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ HAVE FAILED

SANCTIONS AND INSPECTIONS HAVE FAILED IN IRAQ

JANE PERLEZ, The New York Times, October 15, 1999, SECTION: Section A; Page 12; HEADLINE: DEFEAT OF A TREATY: THE ARMS EXPERTS; A Nuclear Safety Valve Is Shut Off, but U.S. Maintains Other Safeguards // ln-10-29-99-acs

For Iraq, the medicine was largely economic sanctions and United Nations inspections of suspected nuclear sites. But Saddam Hussein has refused to allow the inspectors back since last November's air strikes, and the sanctions appear to be crumbling.

SANCTIONS ACTUALLY HELPED KEEP SADDAM HUSSEIN IN POWER

Richard Butler, led the UN Special Commission to disarm Iraq in 1997-99. January 23, 2001, THE DAILY TELEGRAPH(LONDON) SECTION: Pg. 22 HEADLINE: Bush should start where his father left off//VT2002acsln

Sanctions are no longer effective. Worse, they helped Saddam stay in power as they enabled him to appear as the elemental battler for Iraq against the rest of the world. He has built a huge black market in oil: his regime is awash with money, no small portion of which is spent on the military.

THERE IS NO WAY TO POLICE THE IRAQI SANCTIONS

Richard C. Hottelet, long-time correspondent for CBS. March 14, 2001, The Christian Science Monitor SECTION: OPINION; Pg. 11 HEADLINE: Why the UN must hold firm on Iraq //VT2002acsln

And who would police the access routes? Russia and China thirst for military markets and hard currency. Turkey shares the Kurdish problem with Iraq, and sees no profit in removing or emasculating Hussein. Jordan, which gets its oil only from Iraq, is, willy-nilly, a major entrepot for contraband. Iran may hate Hussein but it collects black market fees for letting almost anything pass through.

They all have long been parties to smuggling Iraq's oil, which gives Hussein more than $ 1 billion a year to build palaces for himself and his cronies and to ensure the loyalty of an enormous security apparatus. The smuggling also doesn't displease those Western nations that see it as increasing the oil supply and helping hold down the price.

SADDAM HUSSEIN IS NO LONGER BEING CONTAINED BY USA POLICY

Amos Perlmutter January 31, 2001, The Jerusalem Post SECTION: OPINION; Pg. 8 HEADLINE: A think-tank recommendation to Bush //VT2002acsln

Saddam is out of the box, contrary to the false assumptions of former secretary of state Madeleine Albright. The Clinton administration failed to either successfully end Saddam's regime or to prevail upon allies France and Russia to end their accommodation of the tyrant.

SANCTIONS HAVE MADE MANY IN IRAQ RICH

Jason Burke January 21, 2001 The Observer SECTION: Observer News Pages, Pg. 21 HEADLINE: Baghdad booms as Saddam turns sanctions into gold //VT2002acsln

The harsh truth is that the sanctions, in addition to inflicting suffering on millions, made many very rich. Uday, Saddam's psychotic eldest son, has run the bulk of the regime's oil-smuggling operation and made his father one of the richest men in the world. Sources estimate the dictator's wealth at more than pounds 3 billion.

Through contracts and franchises handed out to associates, a wider circle of loyalists has made a fortune. Thousands of young Iraqi entrepreneurs have taken advantage of the distortions in demand and distribution caused by the sanctions - almost always with a nudge and a wink and a pay-off to the regime. The rationing system maintained under the 'Food for Oil' programme has allowed big farmers to make huge sums selling grain and other commodities. And the huge reconstruction projects - such as the motorways - have made many more rich.

MANY NATIONS ARE NOW ESTABLISHING NORMAL RELATIONS WITH IRAQ

KESAVA MENON. February 4, 2001 THE HINDU HEADLINE: The Hindu-Editorial: No more storms in the desert? //VT2002acsln

Turkey has announced that it is to re-establish diplomatic relations after they were broken off following the war. Norway is following suit though for the moment disingenuously claiming that it is doing so in order to find out how regime-specific sanctions can be fine-tuned. Egypt has just signed a major trade agreement with Iraq and the Arab media believes that Cairo will make a major push for Iraq's rehabilitation in the Arab world when a summit is held in Jordan in March.

Turkey, Syria and Jordan are all believed to be heavily involved in the clandestine export of Iraqi oil beyond the rigours of the U.N.- sanctioned oil for food programme.