Publisher's Synopsis
Saddam seems content to let his people suffer extreme hardships from widespread disease and malnutrition, watch his state's economy severely deteriorate, and see his once prosperous nation fall into despair. Why not? He is largely insulated from the harsh effects of the sanctions, and he and those close to him still maintain a very high standard of living. Also, today his armed forces are still the most formidable in the region. Moreover, Saddam remains firmly in power in Iraq, and he rules completely and unopposed. The sanctions against Iraq have also had significant collateral impact on Jordan and Turkey, both major trading partners with Iraq prior to the Gulf crisis. Jordan's trade volumes with Iraq plummeted from their levels in August 1990, especially as sanctions enforcement severely curtailed Iraq's imports and exports.
