Berman Bill Would Impose Trade Sanctions on Iraq

Rep. Howard L. Berman (D-Panorama City) has introduced legislation to impose trade sanctions against Iraq, a proposal that sets the stage for a debate between Congress and the administration over U.S. relations with the Persian Gulf nation.

Berman said the purpose of the bill, introduced at a time when the Bush Administration is trying to ease tensions with Iraq, is to prevent Iraq’s belligerent President Saddam Hussein from obtaining the means to manufacture nuclear and chemical weapons.

“Iraq is directly undertaking a major undercover operation to acquire banned military technology,” Berman said at a news conference Tuesday. “Sanctions are the only feasible way to deal with this dangerous and unpredictable dictator.”

Berman, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, cited disclosure last month of an alleged conspiracy to smuggle nuclear warhead detonation capacitors into Iraq from the United States and British customs officials’ seizure last week of components for a massive gun barrel, capable of firing nuclear and chemical shells, that had been bound for an Iraqi-chartered ship.

He also referred to Iraq’s use of chemical weapons against Kurdish rebels, which killed up to 5,000 guerrillas and civilians, in violation of international law. In addition, Hussein on April 2 threatened to “let our fire eat half of Israel” if Israel attacked Iraq.

The administration has expressed concern about Hussein’s human rights abuses and efforts to obtain nuclear weapons components, but has determined that isolating Hussein could increase instability in the Middle East.

The United States held high-level talks with the Iraqis last fall on expanding ties and Bush helped craft a conciliatory message to Hussein delivered recently by Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole (R-Kan.).

“We would like Iraq to take action to allay our concerns,” Edward W. Gnehm, deputy assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern Affairs, said last week. Referring to Berman’s bill, he said, “Our objective will be to see that it doesn’t pass.”

The bill would ban the sale of any U.S. equipment with potential military use, such as computers and aircraft, and cut off commodity credits with which Iraq imports up to $1 billion in U.S. grain and other agricultural goods. The sanctions would be in effect for four years.