Primarily based on the title of this submit, you would possibly assume that I’m about to suggest chopping Russia out of the SWIFT system for facilitating cash transfers by means of the banking system. Not so. Primarily based on what I’ve learn, it appears unlikely that Western powers have the abdomen for sanctions extreme sufficient to have huge affect on Russia, as our voters could be upset.
So right here’s one other thought. How about punishing Russia by eradicating sanctions? Particularly, why not permit Iran again into the SWIFT community, and permit Iran to dramatically increase its oil exports. The objective could be to punish Russia by miserable international oil costs. It’s weird that we ban Iran from the SWIFT community whereas permitting Russia to proceed utilizing the community. Iran’s authorities is actually dangerous, however Russia’s is way worse.
Right here’s a second proposal—restart the German nuclear energy trade. Then sharply scale back German imports of Russian fuel.
Neither of my proposals shall be adopted. The unhappy reality is that the US and Europe merely don’t care very a lot about Ukraine. We must always care, however we don’t. We’d like to assist Ukraine. We want them nicely. However . . .
PS. Nationwide Evaluation has one other good thought.