[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 21 (Wednesday, March 1, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H578]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               SANCTIONS ON IRAQ: A REGRETTABLE NECESSITY

  (Mr. BEREUTER asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, in recent weeks a number of well-meaning 
but misguided voices have been raised to urge the lifting of economic 
sanctions against Saddam Hussein's government in Iraq. It has been 
suggested that lifting the sanctions will alleviate the suffering of 
the Iraqi people.
  Iraq does face a humanitarian disaster, but it is a disaster that has 
been created and perpetuated by Saddam Hussein. The Iraqi leader 
bemoans the lack of food and medicine, but Saddam has amassed a 
personal fortune of over $6 billion, much of it the result of pilfering 
the donations the international community has provided. While his 
people have gone wanting, he has built scores of palatial mansions at 
an estimated cost of $2 billion.
  Recent studies from the Food and Agriculture Organization indicate 
that more than enough food is available to satisfy the minimal caloric 
requirements to sustain health. The problem is that Saddam is 
preventing adequate food and medicine from reaching those groups and 
regions that most actively oppose him.
  Mr. Speaker, Saddam Hussein remains a lethal adversary who has 
repeatedly sought to circumvent international sanctions and has tried 
to divert humanitarian aid into military strategic programs. While it 
is entirely appropriate for the American people to care about the pain 
inflicted upon the people of Iraq, lifting the sanctions will not 
alleviate the suffering. We must not be naive, sanctions must remain in 
force.

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