International sanctions rarely achieve their stated goals, and I think we should stop pretending otherwise. Look at Russia after 2014 or Iran for decades—sanctions didn't topple governments or stop nuclear programs, they just hurt ordinary citizens. My friend who studies international relations says sanctions work best when paired with diplomacy and allies, but that's not how they're usually deployed. Are we okay with symbolic measures that cost lives but save political face, or should we push for direct engagement even when it's uncomfortable?