the sanctions were set for many reasons, for example. the chemical attack on the Kurds, violations on the northern no fly zone, still no account for missing VX and mustard gas munitions, violation of the southern no fly zone, moving skud missle launchers into the no fly zones (near the border of Jordan), and operating surface to air missile sites in the no fly areas. also keep in mind that these are UN mandates. so i would blame the iraqi government for the sanctions. i dont doubt that russia and france helped the iraqis get arms for oil. but france and russia we not the only ones. when i was taking baghdad last march, i captured a mobile anti aircraft missile system, state of the art system that is made and used in england. now this system is new, i mean new. its all about the money