Sanctions Against Iraq

Nowhere in “U.S. Faces Battle Over Sanctions Against Iraq” (Dec. 23) is there even one hint of the nightmare of death, disease, deprivation or despair that Iraqis have suffered from the most complete embargo of any nation in history. There is not a single quote from Denis Halliday, former U.N. assistant secretary-general and humanitarian coordinator for Iraq, who quit in disgust (after 34 years of U.N. service) because he finds the sanctions an immoral, illegal, genocidal war against innocent civilians. The sanctions only strengthen Saddam Hussein because they’ve decimated the middle class, his potential opposition. Moreover, Saddam’s family grows fabulously wealthy from lucrative smuggling rings as long as sanctions hold.

Americans should be outraged that Undersecretary of State Thomas Pickering warns of “sanctions in perpetuity” and our leaders speak of coercing other nations to stay with us in imposing sanctions on Iraq. This is despicable foreign policy. Wake up, America, to the blood on our hands.

TIMOTHY CONWAY

Santa Barbara

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It’s a shame that the president had to show the same irrationality and mean-spiritedness as his detractors in Congress when he bombed Iraq on the weekend he was impeached. Saddam knew he would become a moral hero when he decided to allow his country to be threatened, i.e., massive force of arms versus weak country.

Clinton might have gained the sympathy of three-quarters of the country because of the ill will of the far right, but he lost the favor of a greater percentage of the world because of his efforts to please the saber rattlers.

JOSEPH PETULLA

Berkeley