Civilians Suffer

United Nations Hurts Civilians

When the UN imposes sanctions on Iraq, it is not a matter of some national governments imposing sanctions on another national government. Oh no. It is those governments penalizing the civilians. See for yourself in this article.

by Elias Davidsson

Here are some of the products which the Security Council of the United Nations considers that the Iraqi civilian population are not entitled to. Your country, by special regulations that are not widely known, endorses and enforces this collective punishment of the Iraqi population.

I urge readers of this list to imagine themselves being denied all the following products for a period of more than 7 years. This should give a small idea of what we are doing to the Iraqi civilians.

Accumulators; Adhesive paper; Aluminium foil; AM-FM receivers; Ambulances; Amplifiers; Answering machines; Armored cable; Ashtrays; Auto polish; Axes; Bags; Baking soda; Balls (for children, for sports); Baskets; Bath brushes; Batteries; Battery chargers; Beads; Bearings; Bed lamps; Belts; Benches; Bicycles; Books (all categories included); Bottles; Bowls; Boxes; Brass; Broilers; Busses; Calculators; Cameras; Candles; Candlesticks; Canvas; Carpets; Cars; Carts; Carving knives; Cellophane; Chairs; Chalk; Chess boards; Chiffon; Children's wear; Chisels; Clocks; Cloth; Clutches; Coats; Coaxial cable; Cogs; Coils; Colors for painting; Combs; Compressors (for air conditioning equipment); Computers and computer supplies; Copper; Cupboards; Cups, Desk lamps; Desks; Detergents; Dictaphones; Dishware; Dishwashers; Dolls; Doorknobs; Doormats; Drawing knives; Dresses; Drills; Dryers; Dustcloths; Dyes; Dynamos; Easels; Electric cookers; Electric cords; Envelopes; Eyeglasses; Fabrics; Fans; Fax machines; Fibers; Files; Filing cabinets; Filing cards; Films; Filters; Flashlights; Flowerpots; Forks; Fountain pens; Furniture polish; Fuses; Gas burners; Gauges; Generators; Girdles; Glass; Glue; Gowns; Grills; Grindstone; Hairpins; Hammers; Handkerchiefs; Hats; Headlights; Headphones; Hearing aids; Hedge trimmers; Helmets; Hoes; Hooks; Hookup wires; Hoses; Hydraulic jacks; Ink; Ink cartridges; Insulator strips; Interruptors; Jackets; Jacks; Joints; Jumpers; Kettles; Knives; Lamp shades; Lathes; Lawn mowers; Leather; Levers; Light bulbs; Light meters; Lime; Magazines (including scientific and medical journals); Magnesium; Magnets; Masonite; Mastic; Matches; Measurings equipment; Mica; Microfiche; Microphones; Microscopes; Mirrors; Mops; Motorbikes; Motors; Mufflers; Mugs; Music cassettes; Music CDs; Musical instruments; Nail brushes; Nail files; Napkins; Notebooks; Oil cans; Oil gauges; Oil lamps; Oscillators; Packaging materials; Pails; Painters' brushes; Paints; Pans; Paper clips; Paper for printing; Paper for wrapping; Paper for writing; Pens; Percolators; Pesticides; Photocopiers; Photometers; Pincers; Pincettes; Pins; Plastics; Plates; Plexiglas; Pliers; Plugs; Plywood; Porcelain; Pots; Potties; Press drills; Pressure cookers; Printing equipment; Pulleys; Putty; Radiators for cars; Razor blades; Razors; Reels; Relays; Riveters; Roasters; Rubber; Rugs; Rulers; Sandals; Sandpaper; Saucers; Saws; Scales; Scoreboards; Screws; Seals; Seats; Shampoo; Sheers; Shelves; Shirts; Shock absorbers; Shoe polish; Shoes; Shoppint carts; Shovels; Silicon; Silver polish; Skirts; Soap; Soap pads; Sockets; Socks; Solder; Soldering irons; Spark plugs; Spatulas; Sponges; Spoons; Stamps; Staplers; Starters; Stoves; Straps; Suits; Sun hats; Swimming suits; Switches; Tables; Tacks; Tags; Telephone cables; Telephones; Tents; Thermomethers; Threads; Timber; Timers; Tin; Tire pumps; Tissue paper; Toasters; Toilet paper (not considered medicines); Tongs; Toothbrushes; Toothpicks; Towels; Toys (read: UN punishment of children); Tractors; Transformers; Trash cans; Tripods; Troughs; Trousers; Trowels; Trucks; Trunks; TV sets; Typewriters; Vacuum cleaners; Valves; Vans; Vaseline; Vases; Venetian blinds; Ventilators; Videotapes; Voltage regulators; Waffle irons; Wagons; Wallets; Wallpaper; Washing machines; Wastepaper baskets; Watches; Water pumps; Wax; Welders; Wheelbarrows; Wheels; Window shades; Wood; Wool; Wrenches; Zoom lenses.

The United Nations Sanctions Committee has the sole discretion in determining what is essential for every Iraqi. Decisions by the Committee are made behind closed doors. Any one Committee member may veto a permission.

It must be added that the quantity of food and medicines "allowed" to Iraq is not more than about a third of what was imported to Iraq before the onset of the sanctions. In other words, the United Nations expect Iraqis to live with less than half the food and medicine intake they had at the time before UN intervention.

Want more information? Try Elias Davidsson, Email: edavid@itn.is