[106] in peace2
IRAQI Sanctions
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (F. AuYeung)
Mon Feb 28 22:37:24 2000
Message-Id: <200002290337.WAA954268@m10-250-1.mit.edu>
To: peace-list@MIT.EDU
Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2000 22:37:11 -0500
From: "F. AuYeung" <auyeung@MIT.EDU>
some democrats are putting together a letter to the President to urge him
to continue comprehensive sanctions against Iraq, despite the clear
evidence of civilian suffereing and pleas from UN officials and the
international community. also, if anyone is interested in organizing a
talk or some awareness raising around the issue, please contact us at
<peace-keepers>! this is an important issue that has lasted around 10
years and killed over 1 million people!
------- Forwarded Message
Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2000 19:42:40 -0800
From: "Kate Reuer, FOR" <bsp@forusa.org>
Subject: ACTION ALERT: Stop the "Keep the Sanctions on Iraq" letter
To: auyeung@MIT.EDU
> Time to light up the Congressional switchboard. Call (202) 224-3121 this
> week, ESPECIALLY TUEDAY! Urge your Representative to NOT sign Rep. Crowley's
> "Keep the Sanctions on Iraq" letter to the President!
>
> epic ACTION ALERT
>
> A "Dear President" letter is circulating in Congress calling for the
> continuation of comprehensive sanctions against Iraq. Initiated by Rep.s
> Crowley (D-NY), Sweeney (D-NY), and Lantos (D-CA), the letter is scheduled to
> be sent to the President tomorrow. We urge you to contact your
> representative AS SOON AS POSSIBLE and urge him/her to NOT sign a letter
> that will lead to the continued suffering of the Iraqi people.
>
> The letter demonstrates just how misinformed some members of Congress are
> about Iraq. The letter falsely states: "Under these sanctions, Iraq last
> year exported over $12 billion in oil. This year's revenues are expected to
> reach $19 billion- more than in any other year in Iraq's history." In
> actuality, Iraq was able to export $28.3 billion dollars in oil and other
> goods in 1980. Furthermore, the money made from the Oil-for-Food Program,
> does not go to the regime to build palaces and amusement parks. The money is
> kept in an escrow account strictly controlled by the UN Iraq Program. Nearly
> half of all the revenues are then taken to pay exorbitant war reparations to
> countries like Kuwait (which has one of the highest per capita incomes of any
> nation). So assuming that oil prices remain high and Iraq sells $19 billion
> this year [which is unlikely], only half of it can be used to purchase
> emergency humanitarian goods. This would still fall far short of what Iraq
> needs to repair $30 billion of Gulf War damage. It
> is also over one billion dollars less than what Iraq spent on civilian
> imports in 1989.
>
> It must be made clear to any representative that is planning to sign this
> letter (of already has) that there is a political price to pay for
> continuing to support such an inhumane policy. Make your voices heard and
> tell your congressional leaders NO to this new letter and NO to the
> continuation of economic sanctions.
>
> Congressional Switchboard (202) 224-3121 ask for your Representative
>
> =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
> Erik K. Gustafson, Education for Peace in Iraq Center (EPIC)
> 747 10th Street SE, Suite 2, Washington, DC 20003
> tel. 202-543-6176; fax 202-543-0725; EPICenter@igc.org
> =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
> Check out our WEBSITE, now updated weekly...
> www.saveageneration.org
------- End of Forwarded Message
