Quote Originally Posted by firn
Which might weaken it's resolve considerably more down a long bleak economic road as it enables in the short run more policy stupidity.
I think there's alot of inferences in that assessment that wouldn't stand up to scrutiny. The problem with the sanctions argument and the assumptions about Russia's behavior in response to them is that its often viewed (and justified) within the prism of Western normative dispositions. Russia 'should' do this or 'should' do that. When is anyone going to talk about what Russia will do and can do?

Quote Originally Posted by outlaw
The sanctions are only speeding up the Putin Doctrine not slowing it down
That would be more aggressive.

If the sanctions do not reverse Russia's gains in Ukraine, but 'punish' Russia by weakening its economy (with all the attendant instability), is that a 'win' for the U.S. and/or the West?