Abstract

Iraqi Sanctions - A Postwar Crime

The article presents information on the present economic and social condition of Baghdad. It is reported that Baghdad looks even poorer now than it did three years ago, when it had already lost its rich veneer. Buildings are neglected and in need of paint. Pollution levels are high, as refining agents for gasoline and petroleum are banned under the embargo. The systematic explosion of Iraq's store of lethal chemical weapons over the past three years, under the aegis of the United Nations Security Council, has exacerbated the situation. Iraq's economy is in a free fall. Inflation is rampant. Even affluent middle-class families feel impoverished. The Iraqi dinar is now worth 700 to the dollar on the street; five years ago the currencies were almost on a par unofficially.