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Iraqi Daily Chides US-Proposed "Smart Sanctions"
An official Iraqi daily on Wednesday chided the recent proposals of "smart sanctions" by the United States against Iraq, saying that the new "gimmick" is designed to cover up the failure of U.S. policy on Iraq.
A commentary carried by Baghdad Observer said that Political observers have scoffed at the idea of "smart sanctions" "because it represents a stupid, worn-out attempt to mislead the world's public opinion by inferring that there is such a sanctions regime that can target the state, but not the people."
"If, in practical terms, a sanctions regime could undermine the state apparatus and functions, would not that jeopardize the welfare of the people?" it asked.
The commentary noted that what prompts the U.S. and Britain to search for a new sanctions regime is the mounting criticism "all over the world, even inside the U.S. and Britain, for their constant resorts to sanctions as punishments for countries that oppose their policies of hegemony and intimidation."
Sanctions, smart or not, will only lead to "hardship, agony and misery for the people," it said.
The U.S. proposed in February to modify the sanctions, or apply "smart sanctions" with a so-called aim of targeting the Iraqi leadership rather than the Iraqi people.
According to U.S. explanations, the "smart sanctions" will ease curbs on Iraq's imports of civilian goods but tighten control on materials that can be used for military purposes.
Iraq has categorically rejected the modified sanctions and demanded a total lifting of the decade-old sanctions.
Iraq has been under sweeping sanctions ever since its 1990 invasion of Kuwait.
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