NEGATIVE/ROGUES/IRAQ

HUMANITARIAN CONCERNS IGNORE THE THREAT TO INNOCENT PEOPLE FROM IRAQI WMD

HUMANITARIAN CONCERNS FOR IRAQIS MUST NOT ALLOW US TO CHANGE POLICIES AND THUS COMMIT VIOLENCE ON OTHER VICTIMS

Gerald M. Steinberg, Dir. Program on Conflict Management and Negotiation, Political Studies, Bar-Ilan University March 2, 2001, The Jerusalem Post SECTION: OPINION; Pg. 1A HEADLINE: Not-so-smart sanctions for Iraq //VT2002acsln

However genuine, humanitarian gestures based on sympathy for the Iraqi people, are likely to lead to more inhuman attacks against Israelis, Kuwaitis and many others around the world. A strategy that claims to reduce the suffering of one group of people at the expense of many others is not at all humanitarian.

MORAL EQUATION OF SANCTIONS MUST BALANCE WITH THE OBLIGATION TO SAVE MILLIONS OF VICTIMS FROM WMD

David Siltman February 22, 2001, USA TODAY SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 11A HEADLINE: Iraqi raids needed to deal with weapons of mass destruction //VT2002acsln

One could, with some justification, feel our actions are evil because of the suffering they cause. Unfortunately, it is often necessary to choose the lesser of two evils. If we allow Saddam to amass weapons of mass destruction and he uses them against millions of innocent people, are we not culpable in this greater evil we could have prevented?

SANCTIONS ARE NOT THE CAUSE OF SUFFERING FOR IRAQI PEOPLE, AND LIFTING THEM ONLY REWARDS THE REAL VILLAIN

EDITORIAL; The Dominion (Wellington) January 18, 2001 SECTION: FEATURES; Pg. 10 HEADLINE: Keep pressure on Saddam //VT2002acsln

A CONCERTED international campaign to be nice to Iraq and lift sanctions says much for the proponents' hearts but nothing for their heads.

No one can be indifferent to the suffering of so many civilians, especially children. But as an article by British Minister of State Peter Hain spelt out yesterday, to blame the West and United Nations sanctions for their plight is completely wrong-headed. The villain of the piece is and always has been Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

Mr Hain set out clearly why lifting sanctions would not only do nothing to promote the welfare or human rights of the Iraqi population, but play into Saddam's hands and consolidate him even more firmly in power. That would intensify the threat he and his regime pose both to their own people and to neighbours.