U.S. curbs to target Saddam

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, MARCH 26. The Bush administration's revamping of sanctions against Iraq could result in the posting of monitors on the borders of that country and at foreign airports to prevent the Saddam Hussein regime from importing military goods; and in return, those countries which cooperate with this Washington idea will be given a chance to buy Iraqi oil at discounted prices, says The Washington Post.

The Bush administration has acknowledged that the sanctions regime against Baghdad is in tatters and is looking for ways to keep the punitive measures and at the same time, with the support of allies in the Arab world, devising ``smart sanctions''. That is, focus the punitive measures against Mr. Saddam Hussein and his regime but lift the curbs on things that hurt the Iraqi population.

In order to keep tabs on the regime in Baghdad, the U.S. is proposing that monitors - either from the United Nations or private companies - be posted in bordering nations to work with local officials to prevent smuggling of arms into Iraq. Washington is also asking the U.N. to draw up a list of oil companies that would be allowed to buy Iraqi petroleum products.

This is an attempt to hit the middlemen or front companies who are believed to be making illegal payments to Mr. Hussein and his regime. Those familiar with this kind of business have been making the point that Iraq has been levying a surcharge of between 10 and 50 cents a barrel.

The Bush administration is in the process of reviewing the entire gamut of sanctions imposed on some nations; and for the most part, is in favour of getting rid of the measures for a number of reasons. But at the same time, Washington is expected to keep the sanctions on some nations for political reasons. The administration has also been making the point that there is no fixed time frame in mind for the sanctions review. In the present context of Baghdad, the proposals being devised by the administration is said to have only the broad approval of major powers including Russia and the details have not been hammered out. At the U.N., sanctions against Iraq are a sensitive issue with several of the major powers such as Russia, France and China at odds with Washington on the subject.

America's Arab allies and friends in West Asia may have little use for Mr. Saddam Hussein and his policies; but have also made it clear that they do not approve of the present sanctions regime, as, among other things, it is taking a high toll on the Iraqi people, especially children. And Baghdad has been scoring points on the public relations front.

According to the report in The Post, administration officials are expected to have the full details on the Iraqi sanctions by the time the U.N. Security Council is scheduled to review them in June.

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Section  : International
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