@Lodinn Yes. Sanctions are ethically fraught. So is not imposing sanctions.

I am not suggesting that not imposing sanctions is somehow better, rather that on a personal level, there is a case to be made for their response to the situation not being purely egotistical. I don't see "go back to your country and fix the mess it has created" as a particularly constructive approach here, some people seem to think that some sort of civil unrest would lead to a regime change, but while usually immediately preceding it, it is hardly the determining factor.

Overall, governments imposing sanctions is an absolutely sensible thing, and for those affected by it, it is indeed better to not think of it as being singled out and attacked personally. But what I am saying is that are also well within their right to press their (again, personal) case against those sanctions. The end goal of any political influence is making people change their behavior; refusing any positive change if it falls short of becoming the paragon of virtue is just counter-productive

only the one so defined by the democrats.

@Dr.Snoopy: Thanks for your response and the clarification!