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7 - US and Multilateral Sanctions Regimes against the Republic of Iraq

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 March 2025

Caf Dowlah
Affiliation:
University of Miami Law School
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Summary

This chapter spotlights the profound impact of the comprehensive and tragic sanctions imposed on Iraq during the 1990s. These multilateral and bilateral sanctions, ostensibly aimed at eliminating non-existent weapons of mass destruction, led to a devastating humanitarian catastrophe, claiming around two million lives, largely children. The chapter delves into intricate dynamics, including US interventions, military actions, regime changes, and foreign occupation until 2011. It examines how these sanctions shaped pre- and post-invasion crises and systemic corruption. Legal dimensions are explored, probing issues of genocide, human rights violations, and international charters, revealing a complex web of consequences, actions, and implications within this historical context.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2025

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