Re: change of mind NJC

[sl . m]

Azeem, we haven't just tolerated the suffering of the Iraqi people, we've caused much of it by (a) propping up Saddam Hussein and supporting his wretched war with Iran and then (b) with the economic sanctions after the invasion of Kuwait. I'm opposed to using economic sanctions as a political tool, because it's always the ordinary people who suffer and the leaders who find ways round them. There's a horrible article in today's Times about an Iraqi gravedigger who's keeping track of the children he's had to bury since sanctions began.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-581867,00.html

The situation has to be sorted out and I agree that it's incumbent upon the West to do it. But if not with an invasion, then what?

Sarah


At 5:57 AM -0500 02/18/2003, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

What doesn't seem to be mentioned enough is the flip side of the pro-war argument that it is incumbent on the West to relieve the suffering of the Iraqi people (which we have blithely tolerated for many years, as has been widely observed) by *bombing them*. I would ask those who are in favour of waging war to consider the effect of war on a people who are already frightened and politically subjugated.