Yes, precisely. These billionaires with many assets in the west are in a good position to make internal changes. Get rid of Putin will lead to normalizing relationships, will lead to business and profits.
There is probably a Ferengi Rule of Acquisition that applies here…
This has to have been the cruelest sanction yet.
I know partially in jest, but that sort of thing has to happen ACROSS THE BOARD. Cancel all international exchanges schedule as sport - AND start every sporting event off with a clear announcement of the rejection of Russia’s actions. Heck, I’d urge the IOC to retroactively rescuing any Olympic medals, as Putin was clear just waiting for the games to end. (Of course, if we were seeking an organization more corrupt and venal than Russia…). 
Glad to see the UN is going into emergency session. Condemn/hurt the aggressors in as many ways possible.
However, we must realize at least the appearance of hypocrisy, if we have acted similarly in the past.
How far back do we go? The US has had three regime changes since the invasion of Iraq.
Wow, current word is that Switzerland is going to freeze Russian assets held there. I didn’t see that one coming, to be honest.
I agree.
This is pretty big. Gives the Russian Plutocrats a strong incentive to change management of Russia. Someone better for business.
If true it’s another nail in Putin’s coffin. Or, at the very least, is going to be yet another of the 10,000 cuts he’s getting and Russia is starting to bleed from.
I dunno. Good question. Heck, I’m still cognizant of the US’s own genocide, when we criticize other countries. Our our past (and current) pollution as our economy developed.
But 25 years doesn’t impress me as ancient history. And do you really consider presidential elections to be “regime changes”? I’ve never heard anyone say a sitting US President/Congress ought not be accountable for national policy under a predecessor.
Sorry if it’s been posted, but Switzerland is probably putting in sanctions as well.
EDIT: Ignore, it’s pay-walled as I just noticed. This one is not, I think.
This is another bit of good news:
Will the IOC have the stones to do what is right? (doubt it)
Also, I wonder if the surprise announcement from Switzerland will hurt Putin as much as I hope it will. The story is that Putin built up huge currency reserves and gold in anticipation of economic sanctions. How much of that is tied up in Switzerland, as Putin expected them to stay neutral, and act as his go-between to avoid restrictions on financial transactions? If he hoped for that, he’s hooped.
Well, it gets more and more interesting. From the Guardian:
The International Olympic Committee has recommended that Russian and Belarusian athletes be prevented from competing in international events, paving the way for a complete ban on Russian involvement in global sport.
And I hope there are no loopholes, like Russian athletes competing under a fake flag, or some such.
Complete ban = complete ban. From all international sports.
Oh, well this is nice. Putin has agreed to stop committing war crimes.
How nice of him.
This piece of shit needs to be removed from power. Soon.
To be fair, the easiest path for Russia to take over Ukraine is by using all the tools at their disposal - nukes, thermobaric weapons, destroying farmland, poisoning the water, etc.
Removing all of that from their arsenal puts them at a significant disadvantage compared to where they otherwise could be in the fight.
They still have greater numbers and better training but the two countries aren’t all that far off on numbers, Ukraine has a strong home team advantage, and Team Russia is taking a pretty strong morale hit through all of this.
“Huzzah! We are now in control of a radioactive burnt poisoned wasteland, where the survivors all want to kill us! Huzzah!”
Like you said, these things are on a continuum. So t hey “qualify” in the sense anything does.
But, let’s be honest; Iraq wasn’t Ukraine. Iraq was a state run by the most evil head of state in the world outside North Korea and he gave NK a run for their money. The world was better off for being rid of him and there was a very, very, very strong argument to be made the IRAQIS would be better off without him, though the post-war strategy was fucked up. (Long term they might still be.) I think the war was wrong but can see the pro-war arguments.
There are no pro-war arguments for Russian invading Ukraine. It is predation, pure and simple.
During the earlier Soviet period, the general rule was “Executions will continue so long as objections continue to be raised.” It took a couple of decades but, generally, objections stopped being raised.
Be afraid (of us Canucks), be very afraid - you saw how we treated the poor, hapless, peaceful protesting trucker-victims.
A lot of people feel that way.
I don’t think you get to make up arguments that you feel support militarily violating another nation’s sovereignty. And, I’m not entirely sure Hussein would be in the #1-2 slot in terms of worst leaders worldwide. My impression is that we’ve happily done business w/ many a leader who - if not quite as bad in your view, were certainly in the running.
I could imagine Putin presenting arguments that I would find just as persuasive as our WMD lies WRT Iraq.
Maybe. But Putin didn’t try and do his land grab through the international process and take it to the UN. Also…well, the US didn’t actually grab Iraq. Nor did we install a puppet. ETA: And this (installing a puppet) is definitely debatable, but long term I don’t think anyone can say the current Iraqi government is the US’s puppet.
I get what you are saying, and I doubt anyone here thinks Iraq was a good idea. But you are really avoiding the key differences that make Ukraine completely unlike Iraq unless you are seriously drinking the kool aide from Putin and Putin apologists. Which I don’t think you are. I think you are really reaching to make this analogy work and, well, it’s not working, at least IMHO and FWIW…I’m not exactly mainstream 'doper thought on most of this stuff, so grain of salt. 