Alex123 writes:
How difficult is it to interpret the UNICEF report stating in clear terms half a million kids are dead that wouldn't have been dead if sanctions wern't in place?
The reports stated no such thing. Rather, the authors of the report went to considerable effort to state in clear terms that
"Given the difficulty of accurately and specifically attributing the cause of death of a child to sanctions, any such figure that may be derived would certainly be questionable."
Observe the precision of their language -- this was not a casual statement. Words such as "accurately" and "specifically" have well-defined and commonly accepted meanings. When they used the phrase "any such figure", they did so deliberately. They pointed out that such figures would have to be "derived", not merely "copied" or "quoted", because they themselves quote no such figures. And finally, they use the word "questionable". Those who composed that statement were doing everything they could think of to get their point across.
It is hard to imagine a more thorough, complete, and unambiguous warning against misrepresentation of their work, especially when that sentence is coupled with the preceding one, "These surveys were never intended to provide an absolute figure of how many children have died in Iraq as a result of sanctions." Yet that is precisely what Halliday claims they were intended to do.
It's easy to deceive yourself with child mortality statistics you have no knowledge about.
Agreed. Those who conducted the surveys and wrote the reports are well aware of that, which is why they went to the trouble of warning in no uncertain terms against doing exactly that. Halliday has chosen to ignore their warnings and deceive himself. I have chosen not to. If you (and Halliday and his ilk) choose to continue contradicting what the people who know more about the infant mortality rates in Iraq since 1984 than anyone else on the planet have to say on their area of expertise, you are of course free to do so. Just don't expect anyone with basic reading comprehension skills to do the same.
Your idea that Saddam was confiscating medical supplies for example is utter nonsense.
It is? Hmmm... then I wonder why the infant mortality rate in some areas of Iraq dropped after sanctions were imposed?
It really does need people with knowledge of what is happening on the ground.
Like the selfless people who actually go out into the countryside and gather data directly from the people being studied, as opposed to suits with well-paying jobs who shuffle purchase orders, requisitions, and shipping documents in an air conditioned office? Agreed.
Are Dennis Halliday and Hans Von Spooneck BOTH liars with reading comprehension problems?
Dennis and Hans, for reasons unknown to me, have clearly chosen to...
Oh, wait... before I answer a new question, please answer these old ones:
1) Do you agree with the UN decision to expel the Iraqi occupation army from Kuwait by force in 1991?
Yes _______
No ________
I choose not to answer this question because it is nonsensical ________
Additional comments ____________________________________
2) Do you agree with their decision to leave Hussein in power in 1991 rather than eliminating him when they had the chance?
Yes _______
No ________
I choose not to answer this question because it is nonsensical ________
Additional comments ____________________________________
3) If Hussein continues to ignore the terms of the 1991 surrender agreement should the UN continue to do nothing more than file more condemnatory resolutions?
Yes _______
No________
I choose not to answer this question because it is nonsensical ________
3 a) If you answered "no", what other actions should the UN take instead of or in addition to filing more resolutions?
i) _____________________________
ii) ____________________________
iii)____________________________
4) If the UN supports this proposed military action the way they supported the Gulf War, would you still oppose military intervention in Iraq?
Yes________
No_________
I choose not to answer this question because it is nonsensical ________
Additional comments ____________________________________
5) Rank the following possibilities to the resolution of the Iraq situation from best option (1) to second best (2), to third best (3), etc. Feel free to add as many more options of your own as you wish, including them (of course) in the ranking.
( ) -- Hussein resigns voluntarily, free democratic elections in Iraq are held.
( ) -- Hussein is overthrown (or assassinated) by internal Iraqi agents, free elections in Iraq are held.
( ) -- Hussein fulfills all the terms of the 1991 surrender agreement, and continues as Ultimate Leader of Iraq.
( ) -- Hussein is captured (or assassinated) by a "SWAT team" of agents of a foreign power, free elections in Iraq are held.
( ) -- Hussein is captured or killed by a UN-backed military invasion of Iraq, free elections in Iraq are held.
( ) -- Hussein is captured or killed by a military invasion of Iraq that has no UN approval, free elections in Iraq are held.
( ) -- The UN lifts all sanctions, and arranges loans large enough to rebuild Iraq on the condition that Iraq fulfills all the terms of the 1991 surrender agreement, with the additional proviso that Hussein resign and free democratic elections in Iraq are held.
( ) -- The UN lifts all sanctions, and arranges loans large enough to rebuild Iraq on the condition that Iraq fulfills all the terms of the 1991 surrender agreement, Hussein remains in power.
( ) -- The UN lifts all sanctions, and arranges loans large enough to rebuild Iraq, Hussein remains in power. (kudos to Gazzbut for suggesting this option)
( ) -- The UN lifts all sanctions, imposes a stronger inspection regime, and investigates other countries known to possess WMD and violate human rights. Hussein remains in power. (kudos to Gazzbut for suggesting this option)
( ) -- The UN lifts all sanctions, and no one takes any further action apart from filing resolutions condemning Iraq, Hussein remains in power.
( ) -- Alex123 proposal A
( ) -- Alex123 proposal B
( ) -- Alex123 proposal C
( ) -- I choose not to rank the above because they are nonsensical, and I won't provide any options of my own.
Thank you.
pinky
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