President Obama today unveiled a handful of new sanctions against Russia, saying the moves aimed to force Russia to change its behavior with respect to Ukraine, and that much worse sanctions remain in serve.
The sanctions targeted a handful of people believed to be close allies of President Vladimir Putin, including oil magnate Igor Sechin, the first time US sanctions ventured into Russia’s energy sector in even an insignificant way.
Russian officials were critical of the move, saying it amounted to a return to Cold War-era practices by the US, and was if anything limiting the chances for diplomacy.
Putin’s top economic adviser also dismissed the move as woefully ineffective, saying the sanctions would encourage some consolidation among targeted officials to avoid future US sanctions, but would not have a major effect on Russia’s economy.
Russia should declare that Ukraine is in serious need of R2P and decide that Ukraine is now a "no-fly zone" therefore, humanitarian intervention is warranted. Given the illegitimate coup d'état pulled off by the Obama regime in Kiev, Russia would be justified to do exactly that. Kiev will be toast by about quitting time and Ratso Yats Yatsenyuk should probably seek shelter with Victoria Nuland.
Sanctions on the US would commence by noon on the tomorrow.
The way to get the attention of the Americans (and not just the USG, btw):
1. close the Northern Route into Afghanistan. Let the Americans deal with the Pakistanis and the southern route through the Kyber.
2. Inform the Americans that they're sending a ship to the ISS to pick up the Americans and that from that point forward there will be no further transportation provided until the Americans grow up and act like adults.
These 2 things might just set the table for meaningful discussions…but I doubt it.
Hi curmudgeonvt:
Good points and I especially like number 2.
I was surprised that this evening on the NBC propaganda news program they actually brought up the fact that the Russians are the only way to get Americans up to and down from the ISS and that if the Russians curtailed the accommodation it would be…problematic. I think one of the Russians targeted by the new sanctions brought it up.
Sanctions are not intended to have any significant effect. They're intended as a warning and the message seems to be received loud and clear in Putin's circle.
Somebody should sanction Washington.
or just sanction Congress and the WH…oh, and AIPAC for good measure.
What about Sanctions to change Americas behavior?????????????The rest of the World surely surely would love it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Behavior"? Or Russia's national interest? This kind of condenscending tone and manner is not unnoticed in the world. Coming from a black president who should know better then to act in a manner consistent with supremacist logic, where only superior beings have legitimate interests, while others until they learn to do what we say, have just a "behaviour" problem.
Of course if it wasn't for the funding from the US to a NEO NAZI group then this mess WOULD NOT have eventuated!
The Irony here is the country that will side with Israel NO MATTER WHAT, installed a Government in the Ukraine that has already started to do Anti Semetic acts!