SANCTIONS

One might remember Napoleon's continental blockade, sanctioning all trade with England. The measure backfired, flopped and missed both purpose and effectualness. It was too hard to monitor and went directly against vested interests, even in France, and was too costly for the consumer. 

People love, eat, betray and trade. They do not stand to be deprived of any.

Today, yet again, the sanctions against Russia pile up, are adjusted on a regular base and hardly dent a one-tier economy which is sustained by too many who care less about le chic than about the lure of the raw. Statistics about what makes up the trade in various NATO and EU countries with Russia show no dramatic adjustments.

Western economies are multi-tier and so much more exposed to variables. What occurs in the trade of goods and services equally affects financial operations which dispose of a myriad of loopholes to divert, hide, channel, regroup.

Should one forego sanctions all together?  Certainly not: on condition that they are considered for what they are, a nuisance for Russia, an unconvincing weapon for the West. Hotels might have to change names, diamonds might reach Antwerp by a different route but at the end of the day Russia will hardly blink.

Isn't it time to make the hard choices rather than to announce periodically a new bash of sanctions that are unpopular at home and for the most part snubbed by the culprit? If the delivery of the right weaponry were announced, fear would immediately get the better of detachment.