"The hardline stance works nearly every time its tried, and REALLY benefits the citizens of the country. "
The first exception that comes to mind is the banking and economic sanctions on panama in the late 80's. It made a mess of the banking system (which uses the dollar), hurt any and everyone with a bank account (you couldn'g get your money out, poor or rich), and did not dislodge the target.
Of course, when he was arrested during a coup in 10-89, Southcom also declined to send a unit the 2 miles from Quarry Heights to the Comandancia to pick him up either as the coupmongers requested. This obviously would have been much harder to do than the actually invasion 2 months later. (sarcasm)
Interesting. How did Noriega(sp) get away from the coupsters?