The First Offensive! It has happened!

[Occhidiangela]

The continuation of the embargo is a direct result of the regime not complying with the UN security council resolutions, both before and after 1991 conflict. I did quite a bit of research on blockades and embargoes, and I found that, by themselves, they do little to any government who does not give a sh** about its people. Haiti was a great example, early 1990's. It took the threat of force, and the 82d airborne division being on the way to a combat drop, as well as some shuttle diplomacy by ex-Pres Carter and then ex-CJCS Powell to convince General Cedras and friends to 'get out of town.' The aim was to put the elected Pres Aristide, a charismatic but somewhat unscrupulous character (he among other things advocated the use of 'necklaces' of burning tires as a method of retribution against political opponents, back into his office. That situation parallel's the condition in Iraq, in a very broad sense, in that Saddam is an unelected dictator whose position is not a reflection of a republican or representative process. Many details are of course very different.

Embargoes/blockades under UN auspices are an attempt to coerce that uses something other than brute force, and are of very limited effectiveness, if any. However, they are one of the few measures that the UN agrees to try since the UN membership, and Security Council to include the US, in general prefers not to embark in armed enforcement where any other means can achieve the ends.

See also the US trade embargo with Cuba. It did not get Fidel out of Cuba, now did it? ;)