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Sanctions destruction "Cool War: Economic Sanctions as Weapons of Mass Destruction," by Joy Gordon, Harper's Magazine, November 2002 Confidential Security Council documents show that over the last decade the US consistently blocked Iraq from importing billions of dollars of legal, urgent humanitarian goods. They also show that US claims about "weapons of mass destruction" were often highly speculative, and were created or withdrawn for political reasons rather than security concerns. According to these documents-including the minutes of closed meetings of the Security Council committee charged with overseeing the Iraq sanctions regime (the 661 Committee): --The US claimed that critical humanitarian goods (such as water tankers during a period of drought) could be used as weapons of mass destruction-and blocked them-even though no other member of the Security Council agreed, and even though the weapons experts at UNMOVIC had no objection --The US claimed that Iraqi imports ranging from child vaccines to yogurt-making equipment were "weapons of mass destruction," and blocked or delayed their importation --The US unilaterally blocked or impeded goods including ventilators for intensive care units, dental equipment, dialysis equipment, and printing equipment for school textbooks, claiming "security concerns." The US unilaterally blocked or impeded billions of dollars of equipment for water purification and sewage treatment, despite skyrocketing mortality rates from water-borne diseases. --The US claims that Iraq was importing materials for weapons of mass destruction were sometimes based on highly speculative justifications that were immediately dropped in the face of public structiny. Hundreds of millions of dollars in medicines were blocked on the claim that they could be converted into WMDs, then the blocks were lifted within days in the face of negative press coverage. --The US claims that Iraq was importing materials that presented security risks were sometimes based on little more than the State Department's political agenda. For example, the US blocked Chinese contracts for fiber optic cables, claiming these could be used for military purposes; then lifted them immediately, once China voted in accordance with US demands.

2200 companies made illicit payments says report All players gained from oil for food { February 3 2005 } Annan accepts criticism of united nations programs { September 8 2005 } Annan refuses to quit over UN report Annan son took payments through 2004 { November 26 2004 } Australia wins iraqi wheat deal despite allegations { March 3 2006 } Bombastic brit defies senate charges Bremer office hampering oil for food corruption inquiry Bush expresses confidence in annan Case against sanctions { October 6 1996 } Chalabi used oil for food to subvert grain contract { March 25 2006 } Charges filed against two texas oilmen { October 27 2005 } Congressman visits iraq { April 17 2000 } Documents say US condoned iraq oil smuggling Fined for taking medicine France disputes oil for food allegations Hussein used oil to dilute sanctions { October 7 2004 } Indian minister resigns over iraq oilforfood Internal UN audits ignite debate iraqi sanctions Kofi critizes US and british role in scandal Lawmakers deny oil for food accusations { May 17 2005 } Report blames france russia and china Report recommends fundamental administrative reform Saddam blames child deaths on sanctions { June 21 2003 } Saddam subverted double oil for food theft { November 15 2004 } Sanctions destruction Scandals leads discussion of no confidence measure Senator coleman calls for annan resignation Texas businessman indicted in oil for food program { April 14 2005 } Texas oilman pleads not guilty in oilforfood probe { October 28 2005 } Three indicted for giving sadam kickbacks { April 14 2005 } Treasury department oil for food violation { February 17 2005 } Un council backs probe of oil for food { April 22 2004 } Un responsibility suffering iraq { August 20 2003 } United nations official subverted oil for food inquiry { November 14 2004 } US acquiesced in iraq transactions outside UN program { February 3 2005 } US ignored oil smuggling warning { January 14 2005 } US was aware for iraq smuggling { January 13 2005 } Virginia oil company pleads guilty in scandal Volcker report sharply critical of oil for food operation { February 3 2005 } Files Listed: 40

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