Iraq Sanctions by U.S. Violate Geneva Convention

The 1.2 million civilian deaths during 12 years of sanctions  is why the Gulf War is a particularly egregious violation of the Geneva Convention and the U.S. Legal Code. The U.S.-led sanctions on Iraq is a violation of articles 50, 54 and 56 of the Geneva Convention about the conduct of war.
Article 50 stipulates clearly that “willful killing, torture or inhuman treatment, including biological experiments, willfully causing great suffering or serious injury to body or health, and extensive destruction and appropriation of property, not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly” are prohibited and violate the Convention.
Article 54 states that "Starvation of civilians as a method of warfare is prohibited."
Article 56 says "To the fullest extent of the means available to it, the Occupying Power has the duty of ensuring and maintaining, with the cooperation of national and local authorities, the medical and hospital establishments and services, public health and hygiene in the occupied territory."

Sanctions program is also against the U.S. Legal Code (Title 18-2331) that says terrorism is defined as:

  1. involving violent acts or acts dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the US or of any State, or that would be a criminal violation if committed within the jurisdiction of the US or of any State;
  2. appear to be intended:
    a) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population;
    b) to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or
  3. Occur primarily outside the territorial jurisdiction of the US, or transcend national boundaries in terms of the means by which they are accomplished, the persons they appear intended to intimidate or coerce, or the locale in which their perpetrators operate or seek asylum 

For these reasons we recommend that the U.S.-led sanctions program be immediately rescinded. 

PeaceAware.com

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