> the author cites work that shows a great difference in mortality rates
> in kurdish areas of iraq. the work cited purports to show (and may very
> well succeed in showing -- i am not in a position judge that validity
> of the data but i've not yet seen anyone refute it) that saddam has it
> in his power to greatly curtail the 'excess deaths' but chooses instead
> to spend funds on the military and on personal luxury.
.
Quoting myself:
[Anupama Singh, the head of UNICEF's Iraq office, directly contradicted the New York Times/State Department interpretation, as the London Financial Times reported (8/13/99):
The U.N.'s direct role in the north did not account for the widely different results in infant mortality, especially since the oil-for-food deal went into effect only in 1997. [Singh] suggested that differences could be explained partly by the heavy presence since 1991 of humanitarian agencies helping the Kurdish population, a factor that helped improve malnutrition rates. According to Ms. Singh, the oil-for-food money going to the north includes a cash component, allowing the UN, for example, to train local authorities and more effectively implement and monitor programs. In the center and south under Iraqi regime control, no funds are allocated to ministries for fear they would be used for more sinister purposes.]