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]
Dear Hassan & List, You make comparisons with present military actions in Iraq and the First Gulf war, and state that compensations were paid then, and should be now, by the United States & Britain. Whilst agreeing, partly with your views, especially that the two present invading/occupying countries are responsible for protecting the civilian population - stipulated in the Geneva Conventions - there are major differences in those two wars. Iraq had been the aggressor against Kuwait. This time, the so-called Coalition, i.e. US/UK are the aggressors. Then the war was fought under the UN flag. This time, the UN has been marginalised, even out of the picture. The US, with the UK in tow, has now taken the lead, some would say totally disregarding international law, including the Geneva Conventions. After The First Gulf War, which was the second UN war after Korea, a UN Compensaton Commission, based in Geneva, awarded, in total, over 700 million dollars to some 961 successful claimants, the money taken from Iraqi oil revenue. One can see why the US government didn't want the UN to have any say, this time. Greetings, Bert Gedin. >From: Hassan Zeini <hasseini@yahoo.com> >To: CASI <casi-discuss@lists.casi.org.uk> >Subject: [casi] Compensations! >Date: Sun, 13 Apr 2003 04:57:21 -0700 (PDT) > > >Friends, > >During the 1990 Iraqi occupation of Kuwait, and >especially on the first days, chaos prevailed with a >complete collapse of law and order. Very much like >what happens now in Iraq. >At that time, offices, shops and houses were looted. >Quite a lot of the looting was done by Kuwaitis, Arabs >working in Kuwait, Asian workers and Iraqi soldiers. >Borders were open without supervisions, and stolen >goods (including cars) passed through Iraq, the >Jordanian border and to the world... Baghdad was >filled with parked cars, with people knocking on doors >selling VCRs, TVs and house appliances.. > >After the end of Iraq's destruction, Iraq was ordered >to pay compenastions for losses, including those done >by looters. The legal stand was that Iraq was >obligated, under the Geneva Conventions as the >occupying power to keep law and order and prevent >looting. > >The US/Uk armies, the forces of occupation in Iraq >now, have the same responsibilities. Regardless of >whether or not the US was behind the looting or >encouraged it or stood watching it happen, the >occupation forces are legally responsible for >compensations to be paid to people and enterprises >suffering losses because of those actions. > >How can the US/UK be held responsible for those acts >of pillaging, and how can they be forced to pay >compensations (from their money, not from Iraq's oil >money)?? > >Hassan > >__________________________________________________ >Do you Yahoo!? >Yahoo! Tax Center - File online, calculators, forms, and more >http://tax.yahoo.com > >_______________________________________________ >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 _________________________________________________________________ It's fast, it's easy and it's free. Get MSN Messenger today! http://www.msn.co.uk/messenger _______________________________________________ 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