Letter: Gulf attacks lack hard evidence and imagination
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.SO-CALLED selective attacks on Iraq will no more build up resistance to Saddam Hussein than flattening German city centres helped effective opposition to Hitler.
Nor are sanctions going to lead to a breakthrough. Bureaucratic nit- picking in the West ensures that many desperately needed items are embargoed on grounds of potential "double-use", while most of what is allowed through is diverted from the mass of the population.
Imagination is needed. The UN should set up a supply line to deliver food, medical equipment and other essential material by land along a defined route, and by air to a designated airfield. UN forces could ensure that convoys and aircraft got through, and would supervise distribution. Saddam would hardly dare interfere with this process, but if he did, not merely would the use of force be obviously justified, it would have the support of the Iraqi people.
For years Saddam has been driving a wedge between his regime and the population: it is time we started exploiting the gap instead of trying to close it.
HARVEY R COLE
Winchester
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments