The Congress is pushing the Trump administration for the tougher sanctions on Russia as the way to exert influence.

Ukraine, Palestine, Canada: US Senators
Brutally Grill Rubio Over Trump Policies
US Senate Hearing / Times of India

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio testifies before Congress, facing sharp scrutiny from former colleagues who now express regret over confirming him—accusing Rubio of failing to challenge President Trump’s controversial policies.

Rubio faces intense questioning in Congress over Trump’s foreign and domestic agenda, including plans to lift Syria sanctions, the immigration crackdown, aid to Gaza, and efforts in Ukraine. Senators may also press Rubio on Trump’s controversial remarks about annexing Canada and acquiring Greenland, which have strained ties with key allies.

View video of Senate hearing at this link.

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Natalya P. — The government to continues using sanctions as the only foreign policy tool to exert influence, without as much as the public calling them out on it.

What do we expect from the next bone-crushing sanctions package, but higher inflation, with higher energy prices? Then our warmongers turn around and blame the Trump administration for not bringing down the inflation as promised. And fret over de-dollarization, also sanction-driven.

Can’t the peace movement raise awareness with the public at this particular time about sanctions as the only foreign policy tool that has replaced any and all diplomacy without inspection and discussion of its effects and effectiveness?

Much analysis has been published already tracking the effects of the 17 previous packages. They include de-industrialization of Germany due to higher energy prices and higher inflation in the US. Can’t we question the lawmakers’ sanity for undermining our own economy, with what hopes of coercion an adversary that is much more economically self-sufficient than we are? These senators are not showing any signs of waking up to the results of their actions.

Coleen R. — Exactly right, Natalya!  Such delusions but it seems the US must learn the hard way.  The US-NATO sacrificed the bulk of its “soft power” beginning at least a couple decades ago.  It gave up its only legitimate “soft power,” (i.e. any moral authority) right after it launched its “war on terrorism” including its series of wars in the Mid-east, all illegal under Nuremberg standards, its illegal torture program, etc.

Finally, with $37 trillion in debt and climbing with absolutely no way to repay that, it’s sacrificed its economic power.  All it has left is its nukes (which use would not just be homicidal but also suicidal).  Which is why we are in such risk of nuclear WWIII.

And the kicker “rest of the story” as that old commentator Paul Harvey used to say, is that 24 years later and at least 5 million civilians dead in its “war on terrorism,” the US now embraces all forms of terrorism, including Syria’s Al Qaeda President Joulani, now re-branded and dressed up in a suit; the MEK, the neo-Nazis in Ukraine, etc which is evaporating whatever scintilla of “moral authority” we have left.

“Power is always dangerous. Power attracts the worst and corrupts the best.” —Edward Abbey