You can see exactly why UN sanctions are failing to put much pressure on the Iraqi government if you go to Mosul, the city in Iraq's lush, green north where anyone who's anyone goes for a spring holiday. I went during the Eid al-Adha , the Festival of Sacrifice which marks the climax of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca and is the biggest celebration in the Muslim year. These people are Iraq's political and business elite. They're able to ride out the sanctions in their air-conditioned Mercedes saloons because they've got connections. The elite is not untouched by sanctions.
Nobody can be.
Your child's asthma drug might be available on the black market for a price, but you've still got to track it down. You might have a good job, but there's a whole web of family and friends who are relying on you to push money their way by giving them minor jobs in your organisation, getting their sons into the army, or lobbying for their company to get a contract. These people feel like Britain in the Blitz - we might stand alone against the most mighty nation on earth, but we're not defeated. Let the Americans go to hell, we're off to Mosul for four days of fun and food . Mosul's a rich city and ordinary families also managed to celebrate the Eid.