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Dear list members, While Security Council resolutions state that a favourable report from UMOVIC is the key issue in lifting sanctions, the US has repeatedly linked sanctions to other issues, notably a change of regime in Baghdad. This position seems to contain at least three components: 1. That the US _takes measures_ to see the Iraqi regime removed, most notably as spelt out in the Iraq Liberation Act. This commitment has also recently been reinforced by spokespersons for both the Gore and Bush presidential campaigns (see [1] below for examples). Given the US veto in the Security Council, this policy would seem to counteract whatever political incentive Baghdad might have to engage with UN demands, but it is possible to maintain that this is not explicitly linked to sanctions. 2. That the US _believes and acts on the assumption_ that unless there is a change of government, it is not likely that Iraq will fulfil the requirements for the lifting (or suspension) of sanctions (see [2]). While SC resolutions treat sanctions as a coercive instrument to compel Baghdad to fulfil certain requirements (as in SCR 687, para. 22 or SCR 1284 para. 33), this would be tantamount to an admission that there is no mechanism for sanctions to be lifted without a change of regime. The continuation of sanctions must then have different aims, presumably including the 'containment' Iraq; 3. That the US _explicitly makes a change of the Iraqi regime a precondition_ for not using its Security Council veto on lifting sanctions (see [3]). This, even more than '1' and '2', would seem to obstruct any co-operation between the UN and Iraq. As a contrast, in the last news clippings there was an article in which Richard Butler touched on this issue: [begin quote] Butler scolded critics who say Iraq is not cooperating with U.N. resolutions because the Clinton administration has said the sanctions will remain in place until Saddam is removed from power, regardless of Iraqi compliance. Butler acknowledged that Secretary of State Madeleine Albright staked out such a position in 1998 but soon backtracked. "Iraq has been told over and over again that that is not U.S. policy, and for Iraq to persist with this fallacy is wrong,'' Butler said. "They prefer to say that this is U.S. policy when it is not because they actually prefer to keep their weapons of mass destruction even if it means the sanctions would remain in place,'' he added. [end quote] Does anyone have more detailed information on this issue? In particular, does anyone know of statements (preferably from on-the-record briefings or speeches) amounting to the 'backtracking' Butler talks about, i.e. that it is no longer US policy to link removal of sanctions to a change of regime in Baghdad? Also, as Butler only talks on '3.' above, what is the official US policy with regard to '1.' and '2.'? I would be most grateful for help with this issue. Thanks, Per Klevnäs -- Research Coordinator, Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq http://www.casi.org.uk | fax 0870 063 5022 Girton College, Cambridge, CB3 0JG ---------------------------------------------------------- [1] Gore, Bush Seem Committed To Ousting Saddam Hussein, Wall Street Journal (Capital Journal), 28 June '00 Mr. Gore's office issued a statement declaring: "The vice president reaffirmed the administration's strong commitment to the objective of removing Saddam Hussein from power, and to bringing him and his inner circle to justice for their war crimes and crimes against humanity." Bush's lead foreign-policy adviser, Condoleezza Rice, is explicit: "Regime change is necessary," she declares. -- [2] C. David Welch, assistant secretary of State for International Organization Affairs, and Beth Jones, principal deputy assistant secretary for Near Eastern Affairs at the Department of State, testified March 23 at a House International Relations Committee hearing on U.S. policy toward Iraq. "Let me state, for the record, that we do not expect Iraq to meet that standard anytime soon. In fact, we doubt that Iraq will take the sensible steps necessary to obtain the lifting, or the suspension, of sanctions as long as Saddam Hussein remains in power," said Welch. -- [3] THE WHITE HOUSE, Office of the Press Secretary, November 14, 1997 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT IN BILATERAL MEETING WITH PRESIDENT ZEDILLO OF MEXICO: "What he [Saddam Hussein] has just done is to ensure that the sanctions will be there until the end of time or as long as he lasts." -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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://www.casi.org.uk