The United States Sanctions against Iraq - Assignment Example

Kozaeva Dzerassa Bird WRIT 2000 US Sanctions against Iraq Sanctions have irreversible and uncertain consequences and can result in human misery on the negative side reducing the economic growth of the nation. However, sanctions can help in changing the behavior of the targeted nations, for instance, Iraq. Over the years, sanctions have influenced the political behavior of opposition governments in the nation to bring a change. This paper, therefore, discusses the nature of US sanctions against the government of Iraq and the possible consequences in terms of change both in negative and positive aspects. Effects of sanctions from article 1 The nature of US Sanctions against Iraq is discussed by Uri Friedman, who reviews different political sanctions in the last decade. Friedman tries to explain that targeted sanctions were used by the Greek Empire to address territorial conflicts. The aim was to pressure the enemy or political foes to change tactics.Friedman analyzes the evolution of politically motivated sanctions in the ancient Greeks. Also, he also explains that there has been a lengthy history of nations blockading their opponents to force a change in behavior. Friedman concludes that sanctions have become a new political tool in the 20th century since they are currently active compared to the 2,400 years ago as a result of several changes in civilization and new appearance in political arena as compared to the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. European pacifists enacted a series of conferences in the early 20th century in order to discuss how to enforce the decisions of the proposed International System of the arbitration. This was a regulation body handling any aspect of dispute resolutions. Henri La Fontaine, Belgian International law professor persuaded delegates to approve peaceful sanctions through acquiring the legal terms from the nations who had better governance. As a result, delegates from member countries adopted the resolution as a solution to national conflicts. However, French representatives endorsed a treaty to isolate countries in times of war. The French officials described the resolutions as a diplomatic expression. In 2011, the US and the United Nations enforced political, economic and territorial sanctions against the Libyan president. The mission of the enforcement was to isolate the Libyan president and his allies. During the sanctions in Libya, struggles for bank software to recognize the various spending of the Librarian president was to be ascertained. However, the sanctions could not achieve their objectives because of technical flaws. Between 2011 and 2012, the US imposed targeted sanctions on Syria, North Korea, Iran, and Iraq. However, Friedman argues that on the contrary to sanctions, failure to be a triumph in any war can result in a negative response in different regions. For example, according to Friedman, Japan did not receive any advantages after World War Two in which they fought, successfully against Russia. At the bargaining table in France after the war, they came away empty-handed. Friedman believes that sanctions have morphed into a new political tool that serves humankind. Thus, sanctions could be executed in a political, economic, social, or military way. However, sanctions are an alternative solution to the war. Currently, sanctions are used as correcting measures in the nation. After the Lockerbie bombing in 1988, the US and her allies enforced sanctions on the Libyan government for her role in the incident. As a result, the Libyan president was accused and put on trial. Similar sanctions in South Africa, Serbia, and Somalia have achieved positive results. However, sanctions can be a tool that influences regional conflicts. The targeted sanctions of 1941 led to the Japanese uprising (Friedman). Consequently, sanctions imposed on Iraq between 1991 and 2001 resulted in the deaths of women and children. The penalties reduced the trade agreement between Iraq and her neighbors, thus, negatively affecting the poor population. Friedman did not explain how trade was being weakened, and the question remains “How was the trade undermined? Moreover, more importantly, to what extent did it achieve the aims of the sanctions?” To make sanctions efficient, Friedman suggests that all the world leaders must come together and discuss how to utilize a common strategy in their nations. Also, Friedman argues that a smart sanction needs international cooperation. Internal instability must also accompany political sanctions. In conclusion, the article analyzes the effects of sanctions on the present nations that are still facing political dispensation. Friedman further argues that smart sanctions can be used to change the behavior of corrupt leaders. Economic sanctions can be substituted with incentives to avoid political conflict. Thus, sanctions can be applied in accordance with stipulated rules. However, the procedures of political action must be in accordance with stipulated laws. Sanctions can improve the conditions of a nation; however, it could cause deaths. Effects of sanctions from article 2 Ullrich Gottstein, in discussing the nature of US sanctions against Iraq, argues that, it is hard to accept the impact of the sanctions against the Iraqi people. Gottstein suggests that in order to heal Iraq from the violence and maintain peace, sanctions must be put to an end. He also suggests that the US policies are an important factor for the occurring disaster in Iraq apart from the natural catastrophe. He assures readers that many people are dying in Iraq due to the sanctions. This is immoral, and the economy of the nation is significantly affected. Also, Gottstein claims that sanctions have been in Iraq since 1990 just immediately after the imposition of Kuwait. The people of Iraq are suffering as the innocents pay the price for the actions (Gottstein). Although Iraq is experiencing sanctions, the country’s economy has not depleted that much. This is because the nation is still able to gain foreign exchange through importation of medicine and food by 70%. Nevertheless, Iraq is now the second largest oil producing country in the world. The country can buy medicine and food using their precious resources. From Gottstein’s point of view, it is clear that the trade in Iraq has not been majorly affected by the sanctions. The economy of Iraq continued to grow during the sanctions. It is technical to answer, but the question remains “How is can trade flourish in Iraq despite the sanctions that are taking place?” In general, Gottstein discusses the appropriate tactic of maintaining peace and of preventing violence in Iraq. He suggests that peace can only be implemented in Iraq through the stoppage of sanctions in the state. He further states that it is hard to maintain peace and stopping violence in the country. Effects of sanctions from article 3 Additionally, the British Government outlines nature of sanctions in Iraq. The British Government claims that the flow of goods and services are controlled by the government under strict supervision due to the sanctions taking place in Iraq. The sanctions in Iraq have raised human rights violation and regional instability. In addition, the author expresses a fundamental concern regarding the improvement of weapons in Iraq for mass destruction. Iraq is also under sanctions like damage to foreign corporations, nationals, and accountable for the nonstop loss as a consequence of its invasion of Kuwait in 1990. The author concludes that if you anticipate carrying out business in Iraq, you are supposed to understand the current sanction situations through information channels like media (Department of Business). Effects of sanctions from article 4 Kenneth Katzman expresses US Sanctions against Iraq through the article “Iraq: compliance sanctions, weapon threats, and US policy. The author claims that US is asserting on sanctions against Iraq just because US requires Iraq to get rid of the WMD. Also, Katzman explains in the article that President Bush is preparing for a military action against Iraq only if Iraq fails to disarm. Katzman reveals to the readers that since the September attacks, there have been increased concerns by the United States on the potential threat brought about by Iraq on mass destruction. Katzman concludes in the article that the various governments are joining United State in order to disarm Iraq. The effect of disarming Iraq will reduce terrorism that has grown to be a major concern in the world today. Work Cited Department for Business, Innovation & Skills, Export Control Organisation and Foreign & Commonwealth Office “Embargoes and Sanctions on Iraq” Gov, UK. 2012. Web. 29 Sept. 2014. . Friedman, Uri. "Smart Sanctions: A Short History." FP Magazine. 23 (1), p.1-6. Web. 10 Sep. 2014. http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/04/23/smart_sanctions Gottstein, U. The Effects of Sanctions on the Civilian Community of Iraq. (1998). Web August 27, 2014, from http://www.mapw.org.au/files/downloads/Gottstein Katzman, Kenneth. "Iraq: Weapons Threat, Compliance, Sanctions, and U.S. Policy." Issue Brief for Congress, 2003. Web. 25 Aug. 2014. . Read More