Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Title:  "Editorial: Iraq Feels Effects of UN Sanctions." Commentary on effects of the UN embargo against Iraq. Corrected by ND-402. (901025)

Translated Title:  "Irak: les Effets des Sanctions se Font Sentir." (901025)
Date:  19901025

Text:
*TXT402

10/25/90 1Me Op EDITORIAL: IRAQ FEELS EFFECTS OF U.N. SANCTIONS (420)

(Following is an editorial, broadcast by the Voice of America October 25, reflecting the views of the U.S. government.)

Within days of Iraq's unprovoked invasion of Kuwait in August, the world community took action. The U.N. Security Council, without dissent, condemned the illegal Iraqi aggression and approved the most sweeping U.N. sanctions in history. In subsequent U.N. resolutions, the economic sanctions against Iraq have been strengthened. With the exception of medical supplies or food in unauthorized humanitarian circumstances, no trade is allowed with Iraq. The message to Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein is clear: withdraw from Kuwait peacefully and unconditionally -- or accept economic strangulation.

The effect of the economic sanctions is already being felt. This past week, the Iraqi regime began to ration gasoline and motor oil. Even though Iraq is one of the world's largest oil producers, it has always depended on imported chemicals and equipment to make refined oil products. The Iraqi regime said the rationing is necessary to ensure adequate supplies of gasoline and motor oil for the country's military forces. Meanwhile, Iraqi citizens have been told to drive more slowly and efficiently.

Before the U.N. sanctions, Iraq earned large amounts of hard currency from its oil exports and was able to import virtually anything it did not produce itself. But instead of using the earnings from Iraq's oil riches to benefit the Iraqi people and develop the country's industrial infrastructure, Saddam Hussein invested in the weapons of war. The result is that Iraq has a wealth of weapons -- including such barbarous weapons as poison gas -- but an economy that is highly dependent on imports of foreign supplies, services and replacement parts. With foreign supplies now unobtainable, inventories will eventually be exhausted, and Iraq will become increasingly vulnerable to massive economic dislocation.

In a message to the Iraqi people last month, President George Bush pointed out that "the occupation of Kuwait is helping no one and is now hurting you, the Iraqi people." The United Nations has put binding sanctions in place, not to punish the Iraqi people, but as a peaceful means of convincing the leadership of Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait.

GE 2 TXT402 As President Bush said: "When Iraq returns to the path of peace, when Iraqi troops withdraw from Kuwait, when that country's rightful government is restored, when all foreigners held against their will are released, then, and then alone, will the world end the sanctions." NNNN

File Identification:  10/25/90, TX-402; 10/25/90, ND-402; 10/25/90, AE-410; 10/25/90, AF-407; 10/25/90, AR-425; 10/25/90, PX-401; 10/25/90, EU-408; 10/25/90, NE-405; 10/26/90, NA-507
Product Name:  Wireless File; VOA Editorials
Product Code:  WF; VO
Languages:  French; Arabic
Keywords:  PERSIAN GULF CRISIS; EMBARGOES; UNITED NATIONS; IRAQ/Economic & Social; PETROLEUM PRICES; PETROLEUM EXPORTATION
Document Type:  EDI
Thematic Codes:  1NE; 1UN
Target Areas:  AF; AR; EA; EU; NE
PDQ Text Link:  159621; 159629; 159736