Facts about IRAQ
 

When asked on US television if she [Madeline Albright, US Secretary of State] thought that the death of half a million Iraqi children [from sanctions in Iraq] was a price worth paying, Albright replied: "This is a very hard choice, but we think the price is worth it. -- John Pilger, "Squeezed to Death" , Guardian, March 4, 2000


While the US/UK-led military campaigns of the Gulf War in 1991, and the bombing of 1998 have ended, that is not the end of the story for the people of Iraq:

-Iraq is bombed regularly by the US and Britain as part of a no fly zone enforcement.
-An estimated one million people have died since the sanctions enforced by the UN Security Council after the Gulf War ended.
-Most nations wish to lift the sanctions, but the US and UK continue to oppose any such calls.
-Saddam Hussain, whom the US helped to bring in to power in the 1980s, remains unaffected while the Iraqi people suffer.
-Iraq used to have one of the best measures in the world for standards of living. Now it is in the bottom twenty percent. In just 10 years of sanctions.
-Basic medicines are not available as children die from treatable diseases. (Even Chlorine has been blocked and that is needed for disinfection of water that has already been contaminated from the allied bombing.)
-Iraq was bombed in 1998 because it complained about who was on the weapons inspections teams. No-one bombed the USA when they resisted weapons inspection team members who were from Cuba or Iran link .
-The Bush and Blair governments have been trying to build a case for a new war on Iraq. In the wake of September 11, 2001 and the new war on terror, the two administrations are trying to highlight the threat that Iraq poses to the world. Much of the world seems to be skeptical, and there indeed seems to be propaganda from many sides.
-Depleted uranium and other new technology were used in the Gulf War. Together with the bombing of civilian infrastructure such as factories and chemical plants, the long term effects on the environment are bleak.
-Iraq attack could cost $200 BILLION (US citizens would have to pay for this war)

So, i guess that means that if you were the president of USA we would have never had a war against Iraq. Am i right?
But then, i'm thinking, you are not the president and it's not you or me that decides that. :helpme

It is people like you who decide it. Its people like you put Bush in his president chair.
A president has to do what his people wish. He represents his people.

Yep...I agree with you...Saddam is a real bastard isn't he. Everything listed is a result of Saddam's actions. Not only a bastard but a stupid bastard as well.

If Saddam didn't fuck around in the first place in Kuwait then none of that would have happened, now would it? Use common sense dude.

rrrrrrright. US sees an easy opportunity to seize Iraq oil so they go for it making up bullshit stories. I'd like to see US pull this shit with Russia or China.



"They like to push the weak around"

Do you people realize that the President of Iraq, Saddam, is worth over 2 BILLION dollars?

And the US and UK are making the Iraqi people suffer from starvation HOW? Oh wait, I got it... the sanctions don't allow Saddam to spend his 2 BILLION dollars on food and medicines, right?

What would happen if President Bush or President Clinton were worth 2 billion dollars? Oh wait, it wouldn't happen...

nuke em all

cool, thanks for the facts.

now i shall root harder for war.

All those Iraqi deaths could have been avoided if Saddam had just bought food and medicine with the money he did receive instead of hoarding it and buying more tanks and missiles. :)

Not for long. :)

lol

Stop flying there and you want have this problem. The reason those zones exist is because of Saddams hostility and invasion of his neighbors. The no-fly zones are intended as security measures.

More results of Saddam's refusal to comply with, well, anything. I don't think anybody wants to see non-combatants die, but it's a question of long-term benefits. Are 1,000,000 dead people in the past decade due to sanctions better than 5, 6 or 10,000,000 dead people due to a campaign of conquering?

So? Everyone thinks it is peachy that France and Germany and whoever else stands up for what they want and takes a stance opposing our desires. Why should it somehow be wrong when we excercise the same will?

Can't really argue with this one except to say that it is, again, his actions that cause this. The dictator is always the last to feel the effects. That is going to change with the current action being taken.


Again, those sanctions are not some random activity. They are in place for a reason. If you punish someone for misbehaving (let's face it, Saddam acts like a child so he is treated like one) you don't stop punishing them if they keep misbehaving. We sent him to his room and he didn't learn his lesson. The fact is, lifting the sanctions would benefit Saddam personally as much or more more than it would benefit his people. The wealth of Iraq is Saddam's fortune.

Again, this is unfortunate but it could have been avoided at any time in the last ten years by simple acts of cooperation.

This is baloney. Saddam was never bombed for opposing a given inspector. You must know better than to believe that. He has not been bombed for simple words, it is his actions that get him in trouble time and again. He has refused to let DOZENS of those teams do anything, regardless of who was on them. Also, come on... consider the source of the link you posted.


That's true enough. There is skepticism and there is propaganda. Nothing new there.

I don't know anything about this issue, so I can't really reply.

[/B][/QUOTE]
-Iraq attack could cost $200 BILLION (US citizens would have to pay for this war) [/B][/QUOTE]

War always costs money.

SpaceAce

hello ? buy where ?
there are sanctions that prohibid most of the medicine from reaching Iraq.
US doesnt even let red cross and other orgs to send free food and medicines there.

That's pretty funny. No offense, but do you consider any actual facts before you post these things? We're not seizing any oil. It isn't like we are going to occupy Iraq and just claim it as a US territory. Do you know what kind of infrastructure we would have to build just for shipping purposes? Isn't gonna happen.

That crap about the weak... please. It doesn't even rate a response.

SpaceAce

B-u-l-l-s-h-i-t.

Where does Saddam buy his medication? Case closed. He can get it for himself, he could get it for his people if he so desired.

SpaceAce

Riiiiiiiggghhttttt....

You are brainwashed.

Btw, why do you want this war so bad ? Its not like it will stop the terrorist attacks or anything.

HAHA

The old "You don't agree with me, you are brainwashed" line.

How cute.

Umm...NO! *YOU* are brainwashed. ah-hah! I got you!

Hahaha! Am I good or what?! I called it!

Question for you DarkJedi: if there are so many sanctions against Iraq, sanctions that you say will not allow Saddam to buy food and medicine for his people... how exactly is Mr. Saddam doing big business with both Russia and France, and numerous other countries I'm sure? So, you're telling me these sanctions allow Iraq to buy and trade weapons/oil, but not buy food and medicine for his people?

Damn, those sanctions ARE fucked up. I agree. Those sanctions need to be changed immediately.

Exactly. Or hell, instead of creating biological weapons, he could have created biological MEDICINES and maybe some FOOD for his citizens.

But instead, Sadam thinks it's better to torture and kill his 'citizens' if they disagree with him, and to threaten 'The West' with biological weapons. Propoganda can and will always make the US the bad guy... that's why it's called propganda.

Well Hell,
I hope we do seize some oil while we're over there, I am pretty tired of paying these gas prices. France & Russia are scared shitless that Sadam is gonna set fire to "their" oil again!

BTW Jedi, we have other sources for oil :1orglaugh

You didn't answer why you wanted this war so bad.

Dude, let's face it, we're obviously brainwashed sheep.

Every free thinker knows that the sanctions have been set up to prohibit Iraq from buying food and medicine for his people. The sanctions were purposely set up to allow Iraq to purchase weapons and other chemical agents to create a "threat" against the Western World. This threat would later allow the West to attack Iraq and seize its oil, all while killing millions of already starving and sick people.

Thank you DarkJedi. I finally see the light.

P.S. Does anyone have any information on the "oil for food/medicine" program? I remember reading something about that. Am interested in seeing some facts and statistics once again about Iraq being able to trade oil for arms, but not food/medicine. Thanks in advance!

I don't want this war so bad.

But I'm not a "peace at all costs" reject either.

He's had 12 years and 17 UN Resolutions to comply. He has not.

He agreed to the terms he has failed to abide by when he invaded a neighboring country and got his ass beat.

People who lose wars and sign terms of surrender then dick around for 12 years and avoid compliance with the terms they themselves are responsible for causing in the first place and they themselves explicitly agreed to in order to avoid being removed from power at the time of their ass beating get what they get.

The fact that he tortures his own citizens, and keeps them at miserable levels of poverty while he takes what money he is allowed and buys himself another tank battalion instead of feeding and providing medical care for his people just adds to my belief he needs to be removed.

There is only one person responsible for what is going to happen to Saddam, and that is Saddam.

p.s. You're brainwashed still.

And you didn't answer my questions. Get answering.

By the way, I don't want this war "so bad". Who said I did? Your local news agency? The propaganda that's being spoon fed to you? Oh wait, you got me again... only the American media uses propaganda.

I know, huh? I mean how could Sadam be wrong in this at all? Everyone knows that if the Big Bad US is bullying you around, that makes you the one in the right. lol

Nice try DarkJedi :1orglaugh :1orglaugh

Guys! CHECK THIS OUT!

I just found some information about the oil-for-food program. DarkJedi was right. The sanctions were created so that Iraq would not be able to buy food and medicine for its people, but only buy weapons and chemical agents!

"The first oil under the programme was exported in December 1996 and the first shipments of food arrived in March 1997. Today, the Programme covers 24 sectors of need.

To date, some $43 billion worth of contracts for humanitarian supplies and equipment have been approved. Supplies and equipment worth almost $26.8 billion have been delivered to Iraq, while another $10.1 billion worth of humanitarian supplies and equipment are in the production and delivery pipeline."

Read more here:
http://www.un.org/Depts/oip/

--

So, could someone please educate me as to why the suffering of Iraqi people is due to the sanctions that the United States and United Kingdom are solely responsible for?

The US stole all those supplies and hid them in my basement.

When your country finally catches up you will understand. In the meantime try and be a little more creative with your emptyness.

Your slice of the cake has been reserved.

Even more interesting reading!

All taken from: http://www.un.org/Depts/oip/background/index.html , the Official Site of the United Nations. Damn, even the UN is full of propaganda these days.

Hmmmm...no response about how the UN is controlled by CNN and a tool for Bush to get oil from Iraq?

i dont get why the fuck does america have to stick its nose in other contry's business ? so saddam is a dictator, why does america give a fuck ? why dont they mind their own business ?

USS COLE
Sept 11th

The first world trade center bombing...

Want more reasons?

They are jealous ... George is not as good a dictator as Sadaam....

:)

BTW, any idea who gets the bulk share of the oil in the "oil for food" program????

Xidn't know Iraq was responsible... I tought the Cole was Yemen ...

Anyway, no point to argue.

You're evading all of my questions and creating new ones because I proved you wrong.

Why should anyone continue discussing this with you? No matter what is presented before you, you'll never change your mind or open your eyes and look at things differently. I suppose the same things could be said about me, although my opinions and beliefs do sway when someone presents evidence before me.

Continuing in this thread would be nothing short of pointless.

I'll 2nd that.

I've seen on TV news and read it's more like 7 BILLON

and you have proof it was saddam hussein who did it ?
or you think that all the arabs are terrorists ?

QA
Facts on Who Benefits From Keeping Saddam Hussein In Power
by The Heritage Foundation WebMemo #217

France
* According to the CIA World Factbook, France controls over 22.5
percent of Iraq¹s imports.
[1] French total trade with Iraq under the
oil-for-food program is the third largest, totaling $3.1 billion since 1996, according to the United Nations.
[2] In 2001 France became Iraq¹s largest European trading partner. * Roughly 60 French companies do an estimated $1.5 billion in trade with Baghdad annually under the U.N. oil-for-food program.
[3]* France¹s largest oil company, Total Fina Elf, has negotiated deal to develop the Majnoon field in western Iraq. The Majnoon field purportedly contains up to 30 billion barrels of oil.
[4]* Total Fina Elf also negotiated a deal for future oil exploration in Iraq¹s Nahr Umar field. Both the Majnoon and Nahr Umar fields are estimated to contain as much as 25 percent of the country¹s reserves.
[5]* France¹s Alcatel company, a major telecom firm, is negotiating a $76 million contract to rehabilitate Iraq¹s telephone system.
[6]* From 1981 to 2001, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), France was responsible for over 13 percent of Iraq¹s arms imports.
[7] Germany
* Direct trade between Germany and Iraq amounts to about $350 million annually, and another $1 billion is reportedly sold through third parties.
[8]* It has recently been reported that Saddam Hussein has ordered Iraqi domestic businesses to show preference to German companies as a reward for Germany¹s ³firm positive stand in rejecting the launching of a military attack against Iraq.² It was also reported that over 101 German
companies were present at the Baghdad Annual exposition.
[9]* During the 35th Annual Baghdad International Fair in November 2002, a German company signed a contract for $80 million for 5,000 cars and spare parts.
[10]* In 2002, DaimlerChrysler was awarded over $13 million in contracts for German trucks and spare parts.
[11]* German officials are investigating a German corporation accused of illegally channeling weapons to Iraq via Jordan. The equipment in question is used for boring the barrels of large cannons and is allegedly intended for Saddam Hussein¹s Al Fao Supercannon project.
[12] Russia
* According to the CIA World Factbook, Russia controls roughly 5.8 percent of Iraq¹s annual imports.
[13] Under the U.N. oil-for-food program, Russia¹s total trade with Iraq was somewhere between $530 million and $1 billion for the six months ending in December of 2001.
[14]* According to the Russian Ambassador to Iraq, Vladimir Titorenko, new contracts worth another $200 million under the U.N. oil-for-food program are to be signed over the next three months.
[15]* Soviet-era debt of $7 billion through $8 billion was generated by arms sales to Iraq during the 1980*1988 Iran*Iraq war.
* Russia¹s LUKoil negotiated a $4 billion, 23-year contract in 1997 to rehabilitate the 15 billion-barrel West Qurna field in southern Iraq. Work on the oil field was expected to commence upon cancellation of U.N.
sanctions on Iraq. The deal is currently on hold.
[16]* In October 2001, Salvneft, a Russian*Belarus company, negotiated a $52 million service contract to drill at the Tuba field in Southern Iraq.
[17]* In April 2001, Russia¹s Zaruezhneft company received a service contract to drill in the Saddam, Kirkuk, and Bai Hassan fields to rehabilitate the fields and reduce water incursion.
* A future $40 billion Iraqi*Russian economic agreement, reportedly signed in 2002, would allow for extensive oil exploration opportunities throughout western Iraq.
[18] The proposal calls for 67 new projects,
over a 10-year time frame, to explore and further develop fields in southern Iraq and the Western Desert, including the Suba, Luhais, West Qurna, and Rumaila projects. Additional projects added to the deal include second-phase construction of a pipeline running from southern to northern Iraq, and extensive drilling and gas projects. Work on these projects would commence upon cancellation of sanctions.
[19]* Russia¹s Gazprom company over the past few years has signed contracts worth $18 million to repair gas stations in Iraq.
[20]* The former Soviet Union was the premier supplier of Iraqi arms. From 1981 to 2001, Russia supplied Iraq with 50 percent of its arms.
[21] China
* According to the CIA World Factbook, China controls roughly 5.8
percent of Iraq¹s annual imports.
[22]* China National Oil Company, partnered with China North Industries Corp., negotiated a 22-year-long deal for future oil exploration in the Al Ahdab field in southern Iraq.
[23]* In recent years, the Chinese Aero-Technology Import*Export Company (CATIC) has been contracted to sell ³meteorological satellite² and ³surface observation² equipment to Iraq. This contract was approved by the U.N.
oil-for-food program.
[24]* CATIC also won approval from the U.N. in July 2000 to sell $2 million worth of fiber optic cables. This and similar contracts approved were disguised as telecommunications gear. These cables can be used for secure data and communications links between national command and control centers and long-range search radar, targeting radar, and missile-launch units,
according to U.S. officials. In addition, China National Electric Wire & Cable and China National Technical Import Telecommunications Equipment Company are believed to have sold Iraq $6 million and $15.5 million worth of communications equipment and other unspecified supplies, respectively.
[25]* According to a report from SIPRI, from 1981 to 2001, China was the second largest supplier of weapons and arms to Iraq, supplying over 18 percent of Iraq¹s weapons imports.

A bunch more. above is enough.

Could we please change the title of this thread from "Facts about Iraq" to "Things I made up about Iraq"?

This is all I could find:
http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?action...047852766 745

Bottom line is.

If Saddam truely cares for his people.
He would have fully complied and been done with this years ago.
12 years and 17 resolutions is way too many.
He don't give a fuck about his own people.
While they starve and go without medicine.
He is very well taken care of.

Also, I enjoy the numerous reports when he was allowed a few years ago to sell a portion of his oil to feed his people. Its amazing the problems got worst over ther. He ain't feeding no one except himself.

Yeah..Saddam claims to not hold any weapons of mass destruction....right?

They found ONE warhead last week that can contain chemical or boilogical weapons.
If there in ONE...there is more.
Unless you honestly believe that Saddam would only make one ans just forget about it.
What about the shitload of Anthax and VX gas that he has at?
They have numerous of times ask him where it is at and why was it not claimed. Yet, the U.N. doesn't press him on that fact.

All Saddam has to do is SHOW PROOF that he doesn't have any WMD and all this would be done. Show proof that he doesn't have any chem or bio weapons and all this would have been over years ago.

This war is NOT about oil you fucknuts.
If it was all about the oil. It would cost BILLIONS less to just lift the embargo and get it dirt cheap. No lives lost and everyone is happy again.

Yeah, France doesn't want a war. Why?? they have lent BILLIONS of dollars to Iraq and if we go to war and Saddam is ousted from power..they may never see any of that money back.

Yeah..we are sticking our noses in there..
Our interest is with our allies and friends. Our interest is also for goods and services around the world.
Whats wrong with doing good business with other countries and protect their well being?

Just like Afganistan, we were the LARGEST contributor for food and medicine to their country. If I remember right. I think we gave them also billions and billions of dollars to help them and they harbored terrorist and agression towards us. Yet, their hands are out to us to help them.

Saddam is a fucking rat and the ONLY way we can get him out of office there is to force him out.

I don't like war either. But it will be good for the future of our people, allies and most of all...the Iraqi people.

The time has come to deal with Saddam and be done with him.
The sooner, the better.

"He's had 12 years and 17 UN Resolutions to comply. He has not. "

Interesting how people complain about France threatening to veto. When the US has veto'd about 30 resolutions on Israel who are in violation of numerous UN resolutions, shall we invade Israel?

242 vetos up to now in the UN. The US has used it the most....

No , Israel has no WMD... lol

making up bullshit stories? I don't think so Jedi.... have you ever been to Iraq? Trust me... the shit ain't made up.

this is just a flat out lie.

the Red Cross is the only one helping those people over there.... how do I know? I was there standing in a fucking Red Cross tent passing out cases of MRE's and bottled water to both the Red Cross workers and Iraqi kids running in the roads.....

you think Saddam give a fuck about his people? Wake up.