But sanctions are losing their hoodoo. Right? I hope?
The US imposing sanctions works as leverage for US political will only so long as the world utilizes the US financial system in everyday business. The more sanctions are imposed on various entities, the more they will be compelled to find other means of conducting business, and the more they do that the less they will care about US sanctions.
There are the BRICS countries.... Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa that are collaborating on an alternate, not US or dollar based system. Those 5 countries represent about 41% of the world's population, compared to the US alone which is only about 6%.
Only problem is the C in BRICS. China is no friend of civil liberties and remains communist, and is in the process of expanding its influence worldwide. It's a good thing we put sanctions on them, expelled their diplomats and are recognized all through the west as the root of all evil. Oh, sorry, that's Russia. With China, we're signing great new trade agreements.