Sanctions Against Russia Won't Work

The U.S, announced another round of sanctions targeting banks, Putin's daughters and former politicians.

Apparently news hasn't hit American policy makers that Russia had been planning for all this for years and are somewhat insulated. 

Isn't it interesting and ironic Trump not only kept Putin under control? My take is he employed a keep your friends close but your enemies closer tactic. The result wasn't just some semblance of peace in Ukraine (the Ukrainians continued to bomb the Donbase since 2014) but he achieved the same thing in the Middle-East. Trump's foreign policy was, it must be said, excellent.

In any event, the sanctions are bound to be counter-productive. First of all, it doesn't include a key sanction: Oil and gas. And the reason why is because Europe is dependent on Russian oil and gas. If you want to 'bring to suffocate' (to borrow foreign policy whiz Melanie Joly's phrase) Russia, you may want to hit them where it hurts them most, no?

When the war started, Putin had 70% support of the people. It is now at 83%.

The harder you push them, the more you strengthen their resolve.

It's worth consulting history here. This is a country that repulsed Napoleon's Grande Armee and the Nazis under Hitler. 

Not only are these two victories embedded deep into the Russian psyche, it elicits monumental national  among Russians. 

Western sanctions are probably viewed in the same vain. Though the threat is not as existential. 

Russia will trade with China, India and Brazil to help offset any inconveniences.

Western nations need to get off their faux-righteous high horse and actually approach this with more intelligence.