US Sanctions: The 'Humanitarian' Alternative to War That Still Kills
Al Jazeera’s piece rightly notes that sanctions kill civilians, 'as surely as bombs and bullets.' A profound insight, you might think, until you recall the US government’s record. While lamenting the non-humanitarian nature of sanctions, Washington approves $14.3 billion in additional aid to the current Israeli government's military with barely a whimper, a government that has already been accused
by the UN of hindering aid to Gaza. This 'humane' rhetoric serves as cover for devastating policies. House Rep. Smith, for instance, received $450,000 from AIPAC in 2023, then voted for HR 815, providing further military aid to this government that is blockading food and medicine. The same politicians who declare sanctions inhumane on one hand, funnel billions to those implementing siege warfare
on the other. One might wonder if the concern for humane alternatives vanishes when the alternative is profitable, or when the sanctioned aren't 'our' chosen enemies.