Quote:
Originally Posted by spudcon
Sanctions have always worked with Iran and Iraq.
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As you said, sanctions worked perfectly with Saddam. He was a threat to no one. He was actively promoting myths about WMDs because many of his neighbors could easily conquer him. We learned after the fact how weak he was. Do to sanctions and Clinton's cruise missile strikes, those who know (especially after the Saddam interviews) realized Saddam could have probably been toppled even by a civil war in years. One consensus estimate gave him only a few more years in power if we had just let him stew.
Iran has yet to see any serious sanctions. With so much of the world more distrusting the US than Iran, Iran has easily subverted many sanctions. Sanctions worked on Saddam because the world believed what the US government said. After 2002, the world routinely distrusts American claims. Now demands massive supporting facts. Rightly so.
An American that was highly respected due to Desert Storm only saw a self serving power that loves war everywhere. Axis of Evil making it obvious how dangerous America was becoming. How many even in the Cellar believed lies rather than respect for the world.
Saddam was a threat to no one. Sanctions were that effective.