The following is an archived copy of a message sent to a Discussion List run by the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
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"Stuff happens!", said Rummy, thumping his chest, when Iraq's museums, libraries, hospitals, banks, ministries, and private properties got looted. Art treasures that survived the invasion of the mongols, did not to survive the invasion and occupation of this lot. Still, Iraqis were free at last - free to loot: "... freedom's untidy. And free people are free to make mistakes and commit crimes and do bad things. They're also free to live their lives and do wonderful things. And that's what's going to happen here", said Rummy reassuringly. What wonderful things? Are free Iraqis free to bid on subcontracts for the reconstruction of their own country - on the crumbs, so to speak? Nope, free Iraqis are free enough to loot their own country but not free enough to work in it. Iraqi firms are barred from working as subcontractors for USAID "because they are not designated as countries of the free world", a USAID official said on April 29. So are countries from Iran, Syria, Cuba and North Korea. And what have these countries in common? All belong to Bush' 'axis of evil', I believe. But this is outrageous! Free Iraqis can't work in their own country? Free Iraqis that have been liberated in 'Operation Iraqi Freedom' by the freest invaders in world history. Are occupied by these same super-free invaders. Yet they can't work in their own country because it hasn't been designated a 'country of the free world'! A country occupied and controlled by the freest super power on earth, is not a a free country? Why is this? "'We're struggling on how to deal with Iraqi firms,' said an official at a USAID conference for companies interested in working on Iraqi reconstruction." The U.S. Treasury Department has granted waivers for humanitarian work in the country, which includes reconstruction efforts, but would not cover hiring local firms. The U.S. Treasury says it "enforces the U.N. sanctions." But how can the Treasury "enforce" the sanctions on labour while starting reconstruction work? There can be no reconstruction work until the sanctions are lifted. Million-dollar contracts are not "humanitarian work". Or are they? And the sanctions can only be lifted when Iraq is _disarmed_. These are the stipulations of the resolutions. The certification for that can only come from the UN Security Council. Even George Bush realizes that there are "catches" to lifting the sanctions. But first the alleged WMD's have to be found. If none are found, despite US insistence that they must be there, then the sanctions have been illegal all along. Just as the war was illegal - with or without WMDS. And what have the sanctions got to do with the designation 'country of the free world'? Iraqi firms are barred from bidding because they don't belong to the 'free world', according to USAID. Iran and Syria are barred too, and they don't even have sanctions. Perhaps this is just "untidy" reporting by the right-wing, Mooney-owned Washington Times? Comparing apples to oranges? "Iraqi firms excluded from reconstruction", April 30. http://www.washtimes.com/business/20030430-11854056.htm So why does unfree stuff happen to free Iraqis? Why are they being discriminated against by their liberators? --Elga _______________________________________________ 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