http://chicagotribune.com/news/editorial/printedition/article/0,2669,SAV-0001250106,FF.html
A Shameful Policy on Iraq
January 25, 2000, Chicago Tribune Editorial
The latest tragedy tormenting the Iraqi people is a dispute
at the United Nations over who should lead a newly
constituted agency of arms inspectors to assure that Iraq is
free of weapons of mass destruction.
Like Nero fiddling as Rome burned, the UN Security
Council has fiddled away its time arguing over just how to
reconstitute an arms monitoring organization that may
never be allowed back into Iraq.
Meanwhile, nine years after the Persian Gulf War, the only
certainty in Iraq is the suffering of its people under Saddam
Hussein's jackboot. By UN estimates, more than 1 million
Iraqis have died, directly or indirectly, because of economic
sanctions imposed by the international community a decade
ago -- and Saddam's cruel indifference to their impact.
After acquiescing to the UN's call for new inspectors,
France, Russia and China have joined to effectively block
the implementation of that decision. They did so by
rejecting Secretary General Kofi Annan's choice of
Swedish arms control expert Rolf Ekeus to head the new
arms inspection commission.
Each of these Security Council members has its own
self-interest -- but clearly not that of the Iraqi people -- at
heart. France, for example, seems to be positioning itself for
oil deals in a post-sanctions Iraq, while Russia is hoping
Iraq can pay it back for Soviet-era arms sales. Tragically,
saving Iraqi lives -- or, for that matter, the lives of others
who might be endangered by weapons of mass destruction
in Saddam's hands -- does not appear to be their concern.
The three countries objected to Ekeus because he headed
an earlier inspections panel and because Iraq objected to
him. Since when should the UN, whose mission is to disarm
Iraq, be giving Saddam a veto over their policy? He's the
problem -- not the answer.
The incident demonstrates yet again the need for the U.S. to
find a new policy that will contain Saddam and build
opposition to his rule while not nurturing anti-Western
animosities. The sanctions, it should be clear by now, are
hurting the Iraqi people while leaving Saddam firmly in
power.
One wise measure would be to break the link between
economic sanctions and the military embargo, easing
pressure on Iraq's people while keeping tight control of any
arms going into Iraq. A letter being circulated by Reps. Tom
Campbell (R-Calif.) and John Conyers (D-Mich.) wisely
recommends that Clinton do just that. Additionally, the U.S.
should serve notice that it will respond with overwhelming
force if Hussein threatens or attacks his neighbors.
These two measures might do what current policy does
not: give the initiative back to the good guys.
