Economic sanctions against Iraq were waged simultaneously by the United Nations and the United States, resulting in the most comprehensive siege against a country, targeting civilians while strengthening the regime of Saddam Hussein. Economic sanctions claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of children, through water borne disease and through the denial of medical care and humanitarian infrastructure.

Sanctions against Iraq were lifted by the United Nations May 22, 2003. United States sanctions were not lifted until July 29, 2004, a few days shy of fourteen years of economic warfare.

Although sanctions are no longer in place, their effects continue to be felt. Economic manipulation, theft, and occupation have intensified as multi national corporations divide and contract out the lives and resources of Iraqis, backed by the barrel of the US military and its corporate complex.

Through continued war, bombing, and economic sanctions, the United States has been responsible for infanticide masquerading as foreign policy. As it decimated Iraq, the US simultaneously sold weapons of mass destruction, maintained military bases and training of foreign armies, and gave massive amounts of economic and military aid, including to Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Kuwait, Israel, Jordan, Egypt, and Bahrain.

The weapon of economic sanctions continues to be unleashed upon innocent populations. It must be resisted, through nonviolent direct action and education, at all costs."

We cannot say we did not know.