I used to think berets were lame but I've officially had my mind changed

anti-thatcher-action joker-che che-smile

  • GalaxyBrain [they/them]
    ·
    5 months ago

    If you're being sanctioned you're already an enemy, allying with another enemy is gonna do what? Get you sanctioned?

    • Maoo [none/use name]
      ·
      5 months ago

      That's what the targets hope for.

      Historically, it means coups and fascist militias or bombing campaigns.

      • GalaxyBrain [they/them]
        ·
        5 months ago

        I can't think of one nation after being sanctioned then trading with another enemy nation and being bombed as a consequence of those actions. The coups and fascist militias happen regardless of who you trade with. If you can think of an historical example I'd like to hear it, in a non argumentative way. I'd like you to inform me. They have to have already been sanctioned and then their trading with a different enemy has direct violent consequence or its kinda just business as usual.

        • Maoo [none/use name]
          ·
          5 months ago

          Guatemala, basically the first example of the US flexing its new status as the global seat of capital, used this as one of its traps: place embargos on it, including weapons, in response to Arbenz doing SocDem things. Then Arbenz traded with the Soviets as they were the only major country to offer. The US used this as a major pretext for its campaign of painting Guatemala as a potential forward base for the Soviets and getting taken over by the reds. This campaign was part of its larger coup effort that included the use of US-trained death squads, genocide of the Mayan communities, and finally a bombing campaign to seal the deal. Lumumba had a similar experience, etc etc.

          Obviously there are no countries that have no other interactions with the US prior to getting sanctioned. Every country is a potential target, friend or foe, and friends get turned into foes at the drop of a hat. A country gets sanctioned because it's already a target, the US already has some stated pretext and a few schemes it's implementing.