The following is an archived copy of a message sent to a Discussion List run by the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
Views expressed in this archived message are those of the author, not of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
[Main archive index/search] [List information] [Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq Homepage]
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Ali Abunimah <ahabunim@midway.uchicago.edu> To: president@whitehouse.gov, Cc: secretary@state.gov March 21, 2000 Dear President Clinton, Today in India you uttered the following words of wisdom and compassion: "I think that the targeting of innocent civilians is the worst thing about modern conflicts today. And the extent to which more and more people seem to believe it is legitimate to target innocent civilians to reach their larger political goals, I think that's something that has to be resisted at every turn." First let me express my total agreement with this sentiment. But forgive me sir, if I suggest that you do not have the right to speak such words when you have consistently supported and advanced the embargo on Iraq, which has devasted Iraq's civilian population, especially its children. This embargo was recently described by Democratic House Minority Whip David Bonior as "infanticide masquerading as policy." And yet despite all the evidence, your administration continues to deny that the embargo has had any negative consequences for Iraq's population and you attempt to convince the world that all the blame lies elsewhere. You also claim that the embargo is not having any effect on Iraq's leadership, who by your accounts continue to build palaces worthy of the tales from the Arabian nights. So even by this logic, it appears the embargo is completely useless. The United States attempts to villify Iraq to the point where we forget that the twenty two million people who live there are human beings. But people all over America and the world will not forget that Iraqis breathe the same air as we do, poisoned though theirs may be by depleted uranium; that they drink the water of the Tigris and Euphrates which gave birth to civilization, deadly though it may now be because of the destruction by the United States of water treatment and electricity plants, and the ban on importing disinfectants; and that they dream the same dreams, shattered though theirs may be by the sound of bombs, and the loss of so many. Mr. President, will you not reflect on the fact that thousands of Iraqi children continue to die each month, and millions to suffer from malnutrition, all in the name of making the world "safer." This was not the situation prior to the embargo, despite the fact that the government in Iraq was not different. You can no longer hide the facts with slick presentations at Foggy Bottom. If such a human catastrophe, which should weigh on all our consciences, is the result of policies allegedly designed to bring peace and security, I prefer to take my chances without them. Sincerely, Ali Abunimah Chicago -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- This is a discussion list run by the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq For removal from list, email soc-casi-discuss-request@lists.cam.ac.uk Full details of CASI's various lists can be found on the CASI website: http://welcome.to/casi