Sanctions simply do not work

Implications: Sanctioning Iran or Zimbabwe or any such nations is a bad approach to politics as well as economics. It is true as the writer says that the US efforts on sanctions are not coordinated, worse , these measures are never properly enforced and loopholes benefit a select few. More importantly, ecnomic sanctions, boycotts and all the jazzy language end up always hurting the US producers and benefit other nations of Asia, South America and especially Europe. Our leadership has got to stop relying  on and using sanctions , which in essence  ,are sanctioning  US companies and not the intended target.

Analysis: It is important for our nation to stay the course as a super power , when a course of action is decided. Empty and veiled threats hurt our image as a nation .  A paper Tiger is the common description of the US these days in the outside world , even in friendly countries of Europe and Asia...we punish our people economically and others benefit from such action in reputational image and financially. There is nothing wrong  about doing business with a country that we dislike or consider unfriendly as long as these activities do not threaten our national interest and security. Business leaders practice these actions daily including the writer. Using the the threat of sanctions  or imposing them so often and so frequently without any obvious gains is a losing proposition and real sanctions  when needed, will lose their teeth. Let us use them only when we know that that are tight, imposing and hurt the others and not us.