DougR- No I don't blame the US alone for sanctions.The United Nations Security Council are the ones who apply sanctions. They are France, Germany, Guinea, Mexico, Pakistan, Russia, Spain. Syrian Arab Republic, UK, US, Angola, Bulgaria, Cameroon, China and Chile.
The thing about sanctions is maybe Hussein is at fault for them but the people of the country are paying for it.

Iraq being a sovereign nation rejected the "food-for-oil" resolution in 1991 because they felt it wasn't compatable with their sovereignty. By putting together revenues for humanitarian purposes and those intended for compensation payments and weapons inspections, the humanitarian crisis was politicised.
Now talks about 'smart sanctions' are going on, that put the pressure on regimes and not the people. Smart sanctions involve freezing financial assets and blocking financial transactions of the political elite. That seems to be the better route to effect Hussein rather than starving a nation of people don't you think?
The 'food-for-oil' program seems to be a tricky way to still get oil and money from them while killing them off in a slow way.
Peace. Rustic