TASS — Sanctions Against Russia Do Not Work, New Measures Should Be Introduced - US Senator

Economic warfare is heating up. Can kinetic warfare be far behind?

TASS
Sanctions Against Russia Do Not Work, New Measures Should Be Introduced - US Senator

See also

The imperialist powers feeling their oats.

As Peters sees it, the economic war is aimed at China.

Hey, make up your mind, is it China, or Russia, or Iran, or Venezuela, or Cuba, or ? — anyone refusing to become either a US puppet state, a vassal paying tribute (like European countries), or a colony being exploited.

Looking more and more like a protection racket.

Zero Hedge
"Now The Real Economic War Begins, With America And Europe Allied"

Eric Peters, CIO Of New River Asset Management, as excerpted from his latest Weekend Notes

The Saker — The IMF admits that Russia has survived both the drop in oil prices and the sanctions and is on the path of recovery

IMF report provided.

The Vineyard of the Saker
The IMF admits that Russia has survived both the drop in oil prices and the sanctions and is on the path of recovery
The Saker

Alexander Mercouris — How the Sanctions Are Preparing the Ground for the Next Russian Economic Boom

When all is said and done, sanctions are a form of blackmail. The US and its allies imposed them on Russia in order to force Russia to do what they wanted in Ukraine.

That is blackmail however justified it might be, and however it is dressed up, and whatever it is called.

Regardless of what view one takes of Russian policy in Ukraine, capitulating to US demands to get the sanctions lifted would for Russia have been extremely dangerous.
Anyone with any knowledge or experience of blackmail knows that the biggest mistake one can make with a blackmailer is to submit to his demands. All that does is pave the way for more and more demands.

Had Russia capitulated to the US over Ukraine because of the sanctions, it would have shown weakness. The US would have learnt that Russia is a country that submits to pressure. More demands - backed by more threats of more sanctions and more pressure - would have followed.

These would in time have covered the whole spectrum of the US-Russia relationship, including the war in Syria, arms control, the conduct of court cases in Moscow, compensation for the Yukos shareholders, the way votes in Russian elections are counted, or whatever.

The best possible response to a blackmailer is to refuse to acknowledge his blackmail - and that is exactly what Russia has done.

There is no doubt the Russians understand this. That is why - as I discussed recently - Russian leaders like Putin, Lavrov, Ivanov and Patrushev say Russia refuses to talk about the sanctions with Western leaders.…

Not only Putin has noticed.

Russia Insider
How the Sanctions Are Preparing the Ground for the Next Russian Economic Boom
Alexander Mercouris

Alexander Mercouris — Financial Times Says Sanctions Already Eroding

1. Economics and finance speak louder than politics.

2. Russia still gets to restructure by import substitution to escape Dutch disease.

Russia Insider
Financial Times Says Sanctions Already Eroding
Alexander Mercouris

Flynt Leverett and Hillary Mann Leverett — How US Policy Unites Iran and China

The proliferation of U.S. government’s economic sanctions against a growing multitude of countries and individuals has created confusion and animosity around the world, driving some countries, like Iran and China, closer together and threatening the future U.S. economy, say Flynt and Hillary Mann Leverett.

ConsortiumNews
How US Policy Unites Iran and China
Flynt Leverett and Hillary Mann Leverett

Flynt Leverett served as a Middle East expert on George W. Bush’s National Security Council staff until the Iraq War and worked previously at the State Department and at the Central Intelligence Agency. Hillary Mann Leverett was the NSC expert on Iran and – from 2001 to 2003 – was one of only a few U.S. diplomats authorized to negotiate with the Iranians over Afghanistan, al-Qaeda and Iraq.