Would it work? Maybe not directly, but, like the invasion of Iraq making countries less likely to ignore our military threats, it would have an effect on countries that normally would ignore our econmic threats (plus some payback for kicking us out).

Good luck with your soon to be larger family. That’s ultimately what it’s all about.

i’m not sure the cotton embargo would improve anything at the orphanage—you have to care before you would make any changes. since the orphans produce no economic benefit to anyone, improving their conditions has no cash value–however, if a country is heavily penalized for a specific situation (like the conditions of cotton workers) it becomes adventagious for them to improve those conditions and take a relatively minor loss in profits that way rather than a large loss in profits and contracts if the whole Western world were to stop buying the cotton until they made the changes.

i am under no illusion that a US only embargo would have all that much effect on the situation–after all, we prefer our own cotton anyway. but i don’t think this was ever particularly about a US embargo, especially since it was suggested by a British politician (or former politician).

The EU is pretty pissed at Uzbekistan now, and if the US and the EU could together persuade South Korea and Turkey to boycott Uzbek cotton (okay, fairy tale land, i know) you’ve got a pretty powerful economic incentive to at least LOOK like you might care.

It’s a hell of a lot easier to make a few concessions than have to renegotiate the whole basis of your economy with China.

As for how this applies to the government, as I alluded to in the article, we all know that oil is not where Karimov got his 15 billion dollars, where Almatov makes his money, or even where Sanjar Umarov got his billion.

Wealth and power are locked in a death grip here, anyone whose made a casual trip here could guess at that–and they didn’t get that money from the Vin Zavod or making those little plastic cars.

My argument is emotional, subjective, and pretty much completely unscientific. I have little actual hope for sanctions ever happening. Really, I just feel like it’s high time we did SOMETHING more than write them carefully worded, diplomatically phrased, “one could almost get the impression if one were not careful” angry letters.

It might be better to let the Uzbek government have its insane rhetorical meltdown. They’re doing a fair job of isolating themselves.

Now, forgive me for asking — and please don’t think I’m suggesting the U.S. continue to support Karimov’s activities — but what exactly would an embargo do other than clear our consciences to a degree? What change within the Uzbek government are we supposing an embargo will affect?