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The Office of Global Communications, the new White House office widely decried as its propaganda wing, has today released its first major report, entitled "Apparatus of lies", about Iraq. Perhaps of most interest to this list will be the section entitled "Exploiting Suffering", which has a subsection "Blaming Sanctions for Regime Failure". The pertinent question is whether the content of the report conforms to its title. The report can be viewed via: http://www.whitehouse.gov/ogc/apparatus/index.html The section on sanctions includes: "In 1990, under UN Security Council Resolution 661, the UN permitted food and medicine imports." - this is a direct falsehood, as foodstuffs were only allowed in from 1991. "Infant formula sold to Iraq under the Oil-for-Food Program has been found in markets throughout the Gulf, presumably exported by the regime to circumvent the sanctions." - has there ever been any independent confirmation of this? I had thought that the claim had been discredited. There are argumentative flaws throughout, eg by pointing to Saddam Hussein's own personal wealth. The report seems to acknowledge that sanctions have not caused inconvenience to the regime, thus removing the rationale for sanctions. Further, more considered opinions on the report would be helpful. Glen. _______________________________________________ Sent via the discussion list of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq. To unsubscribe, visit http://lists.casi.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/casi-discuss To contact the list manager, email casi-discuss-admin@lists.casi.org.uk All postings are archived on CASI's website: http://www.casi.org.uk