re: #29 Dr Lizardo

That could work, though on a lesser scale.

The US is pretty much a hegemon in the international financial system. If the doors are closed to business in the US financial system, the Europeans will follow suit, as they’re not going to risk their own financial system in a head-to-head clash with the US colossus.

Even the EU is now set to impose sector-wide sanctions against the Russian economy. That’s going to hurt the Russian government - the fact is, Russia needs the West far more than the West needs Russia, aside from her natural resources.

Russia is far too dependent on its natural resources. Much has been made of Russia and China doing a natural gas deal; that’s nice. The infrastructure for it doesn’t exist yet, and it will take a while to build. And I’m pretty sure the Chinese might be willing to lend money to Russia, but at conditions that would make your average loan shark look like the Pope.

But China and Russia have always been the best of friendly neighbors!
/(dripping)