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Originally Posted by livius drusus
How about the Iraq sanctions, Sauron? They were responsible for hundreds of thousands dead, and as Michael notes in the Amy Goodman quote, Madeleine Albright famously said they believed the price (a half million dead children) was worth it.
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That number is complete and utter bull SHIT. I had to research this claim for debate. The total number of dead was 500,000, and that was almost entirely in areas in which the UN was unable to provide relief directly. It was the areas in which Saddam was responsible for distribution that mortality rates incerased (and, incidentally, infant mortality rates dropped, as did children). The extent to which blood is on the hands of the US for sanctions is not as great as is often made out. (Not that the US is free wrongdoing, or that the sanctions were generally good policy once it became clear that Saddam was stealing the food and medicine to pay for his military expenditures, or when it became obvious he was unwilling to comply with UN resolutions). I had this explained to me by someone who was
actually there and was involved with the overall efforts.
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I think Michael's basic point about the both parties having blood on their hands is pretty undisputable.
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To a certain extent, that is correct, but murder is something else entirely. Its use is highly perjorative in this instance.