Rep. McKinney letter to PM Chretien
The Honourable Jean Chretien
Prime Minister of Canada
E-mail: pm@pm.gc.ca
November 2, 1999
Re: M-223: Motion to Lift Economic Sanctions Against Iraq
Dear Prime Minister Chretien,
Recently I sent a member of my staff to Iraq to learn first hand how the
sanctions are impacting the civilian population and to obtain additional
data on the effects of depleted uranium ammunition used in the Gulf war.
My aide confirmed that the economic sanctions imposed upon Iraq since 1991
serve primarily to inflict severe suffering on civilians, especially the
most vulnerable members of the Iraqi population, namely the elderly, the
sick and children, I urge you to take immediate steps to help pass Motion
M-223.
The sanctions are repugnant because they violate the mandate of the
United Nations, which is to save lives, not to facilitate the death and
suffering of civilians. Continued support of these inhuman sanctions is
unconscionable and a blot against the good name of Canada which has
taken a strong stand against violations of human rights.
The U.S. led sanctions regime is morally unsustainable. With the death
toll of civilians in excess of one million, I am convinced the policy is
now in violation of the letter and intent of the Geneva Convention's
prohibition against weapons if the "incidental loss of civilian
life...would be excessive in relation to the concrete and direct
military advantage" gained.
I have no illusions about the government of Saddam Hussein. Yet the
fact remains, in light of the sanction regime's failure to produce any
discernible result other than widespread suffering and death among the
civilian population, I have concluded that it is a policy that has moved
beyond failure, to that of a gross violation of human rights.
It is time for the world community to craft a new policy for Iraq that
contains Iraqi aggression, but does not inflict suffering indiscriminately
upon the Iraqi people. Again, I urge you to pass Motion M-223.
Yours sincerely,
Cynthia A. McKinney
Member, United States Congress
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