Time to promote global unity 3-17-2020

 

17, March 2020             Time to promote global unity

In a time of global crisis with the coronavirus pandemic it is heartening to witness acts of compassion and solidarity that unites all of humanity.

Iran which is suffering from a major increase in fatalities from the virus compounded by crushing US sanctions but has received much needed help.

Russia which has thus far remained unscathed by the virus has reputedly dispatched 50,000 c-virus test kits to Iran.

Even China, the birthplace of the deadly disease, is sending thousands of ventilators and respirators to Italy which is in a complete lockdown.

In sharp contrast to these acts of kindness, the US continues to punish the Iranian people with its crushing sanctions. These sanctions have b boomeranged from their intended purpose. They have not toppled the Iranian regime but have intensified hostility towards the US.

Washington claims the sanctions were not targeted to medical supplies but this claim was countered by Human Rights Watch which stated that sanctions are severely impacting Iran’s public health system.

The United Nations International Court of Justice ruled that US sanctions are unlawful because they prevent the importation of critical humanitarian medical supplies. Global US economic pressure has severely impacted Iran’s global oil exports plunging the country into a deep recession and hyperinflation intensifying the suffering of the Iranian people. This is a stark reminder of US economic sanctions on Iraq which resulted in the death of 4% of the population.

It is sickening to hear President Trump and his silent enablers claim that reneging on the 2015 nuclear agreement and imposing economic sanctions is a foreign policy success. Iran is responding in anger by ramping up its bomb making capabilities. Oh, America when will you ever learn from your past blunders (Vietnam, Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan,  . .). It is time for a radical shift in foreign policy. Let us saturate the world with human kindness and compassion not economic boycotts and accelerating our own bomb making capabilities.