Punishing Iraqis

Gerges, Fawaz A., The Nation

It is time to lift the U.N. embargo against Iraq. Far from strengthening or emboldening Iraq's people and undermining Saddam Hussein, the sanctions have led to the pauperization, criminalization and further polarization of Iraqi society without weakening Saddam. And the U.N. sanctions have devastated the economy. Iraq, whose economic survival depends overwhelmingly on the export of oil - formerly bringing in $15 billion annually - cannot sell its oil. The value of the currency has evaporated. The dinar, worth around $3 in 1990, is trading at NO against the dollar. Inflation, running at 6,000 percent, has inflicted suffering on the majority of the people. The government has exhausted its foreign cash reserves …

Questia, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning. www.questia.com
Publication information: Article title: Punishing Iraqis. Contributors: Gerges, Fawaz A. - Author. Magazine title: The Nation. Volume: 259. Issue: 22 Publication date: December 26, 1994. Page number: 784. © 1999 The Nation Company L.P. COPYRIGHT 1994 Gale Group.

This material is protected by copyright and, with the exception of fair use, may not be further copied, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means.