Oh.
Then it won't happen.
The way you deflate Russia is the same way you deflate the Persian gulf state Iran and Al Qaeda.
Kill the price of energy.
Putin's personal fortune may exceed that.
Step one of that Diplomacy is not have a Pill Pedaling Homo President working against the U.S.A's best interests.
We should have (and still should) do what Sarah Palin said and that is Drill our our own Fossil Fuels and Natural Gas. That will help undercut the Russian's Enormous Profits they are getting.
There is no downside to drilling for natural gas. None! This is a prime opportunity to sell gas to Europe, we get much needed money, jobs and infrastructure, they get more diversified source of Natural Gas. Everyone wins!
I like the underfolding stock on that AK74, btw.
The biggest winner in this fight is China (monkey on rock watching two lions fight). If Russia wins, it forces US to pivot forces from Asia to Europe. If Russia loses, it forces her to be closer to China. Note the Chinese response to Ukraine Russian crisis is very neutral. India was slightly leans to the Russians then Chinese remark. China does not want a strong aggressive Russia on her borders either. Both have been invaded by each other (Mongols to Russia; Czarist annexation of Manchurian Amur region for Siberian Railroad and warm Pacific port of Vladivostok). Russia cannot fight the combined central banks of EU/US/Japan.
but won’t
Thinking that economic sanctions will bring Putin’s Russia to heel is so unaware of the lack of success of economic sanctions against much smaller, more vulverable countries in the past: Iraq, Iran, Serbia, Syria, North Korea, South Africa, and others.
The only reason they “worked” in Serbia is because they finally went to a bombing campaign, and THAT’S not economic sanctions.
Saddam Hussein’s smart enough to get around them, but Russia isn’t?
Our leaders are engaging in pure public relations stunts. They’ve got to know better.
I hope those TBTF bank “stress” tests weren’t just for fun and games, this ride could get bumpy.