tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19209018.post113743862106954672..comments2024-03-28T14:32:19.334+00:00Comments on Who Would Have Believed The Singularity Would Be So Stupid?: How To Beat Iran Without MissilesPastoriushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03169561459129778670noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19209018.post-1137546739234102372006-01-18T01:12:00.000+00:002006-01-18T01:12:00.000+00:00It will never work. Look at the dismal failure of ...It will never work. Look at the dismal failure of the sanctions regime in Iraq, a country that a UN coalition had defeated in war. Iran has not been defeated. It's a much bigger country with more money to throw around. Neither Russia nor China would go along with any meaningful trade restrictions for more than the shortest of terms. The rest of the non-Western world won't either.<BR/><BR/>And don't under-estimate the ability of the Iranian people to endure hardships brought on by any sanctions. Sure many people don't like the mullahs but as I think we have seen in other countries that people blame the foreign powers, not their own leaders. <BR/><BR/>The mullahs would use the sanctions to play the nationalist / Shi'ite martyrdom card against the foreign oppressors and smuggle, bribe and extort the essential equipment they need.Oscar in Kansashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14246698674048005534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19209018.post-1137445771203558302006-01-16T21:09:00.000+00:002006-01-16T21:09:00.000+00:00It wouldn't be, would it? And, the thing is, I sus...It wouldn't be, would it? And, the thing is, I suspect Russia and China like the idea that Iran is causing us problems.Pastoriushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03169561459129778670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19209018.post-1137443570118539862006-01-16T20:32:00.000+00:002006-01-16T20:32:00.000+00:00If there were to be a boycott, I wonder if Russia ...If there were to be a boycott, I wonder if Russia and China would participate? If these two powers continued to "do business as normal" with Iran, how effective would a boycott be?Krishna109https://www.blogger.com/profile/10497968813137194720noreply@blogger.com