[codeflo]

I have no illusions about the effect, I hope my last sentences made that clear. But I disagree about framing the cause the way you do. Let’s say I somehow depend on you, and I want food and Pokemon cards, but you don’t give you enough money to buy both, just one of the two. And I go and buy the Pokemon cards. Is it really your fault that I’m hungry?

[jmyeet]

This is too binary.

Consider instead that 10,000 people collectively want food (necessities), Pokemon cards (luxuries) and electronics for military equipment (materiel). Before sanctions they bought all of these things. With sanctions they cannot. What will be the impact? The military will still get their requipment and the military as well as the rich and powerful will still get food (and probably their Pokemon cards) while the poor and vulnerable will starve.

[codeflo]

But again, who is it that makes that call?