Comments on: Whoops! http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/04/11/whoops/ Summum nec metuas diem, nec optes - Marcus Valerius Martialis Thu, 19 Apr 2012 09:00:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Gauis Arbo http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/04/11/whoops/comment-page-1/#comment-520 Gauis Arbo Wed, 12 Apr 2006 17:33:22 +0000 http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/04/11/whoops/#comment-520 Yeah, they didn't exactly work with Saddam, did they? Yeah, they didn’t exactly work with Saddam, did they?

]]> By: Black Jack http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/04/11/whoops/comment-page-1/#comment-518 Black Jack Wed, 12 Apr 2006 17:20:12 +0000 http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/04/11/whoops/#comment-518 Sanctions are largely symbolic and don't actually work to prevent trade and technology transfers, nor do sanctions punish a rogue nation if it has significant resources. Saddam's oil-for-food scam is a perfect example, and Iran has lots of oil too. The UN already has the template and can get a bribe-dirven program up and running almost overnight. All a sanctions program would do is force trade onto the black-market and quickly enrich UN bureaucrats. It buys time for the rogues, and gives those in the 5th column time to organize. Sanctions are nothing but a staged waste of time, but they are also politically correct. Consequently, sanctions are a featured tap dance in the whole sorry charade. Sanctions are largely symbolic and don’t actually work to prevent trade and technology transfers, nor do sanctions punish a rogue nation if it has significant resources. Saddam’s oil-for-food scam is a perfect example, and Iran has lots of oil too. The UN already has the template and can get a bribe-dirven program up and running almost overnight.

All a sanctions program would do is force trade onto the black-market and quickly enrich UN bureaucrats. It buys time for the rogues, and gives those in the 5th column time to organize. Sanctions are nothing but a staged waste of time, but they are also politically correct.

Consequently, sanctions are a featured tap dance in the whole sorry charade.

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