People talk about smart sanctions and crippling sanctions. I've never seen smart sanctions, and crippling sanctions cripple everyone, including innocent civilians, and make the government more popular.

In this quote, Mohamed ElBaradei, an Egyptian diplomat and former director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), criticizes the effectiveness of sanctions in achieving their intended political goals. He expresses skepticism about the idea of "smart sanctions", which are often promoted as targeted measures that only affect a government’s leaders or specific sectors, rather than the general population. ElBaradei argues that, in practice, sanctions are rarely as precise as their proponents claim, and they often end up harming the innocent civilians they are meant to protect.

ElBaradei also critiques crippling sanctions, which are intended to pressure a government into changing its policies by severely restricting its economic resources. He points out that these types of sanctions often have unintended consequences, including increasing the popularity of the government being targeted. When sanctions cause widespread suffering among the population, the government can portray itself as a victim of foreign interference, thus solidifying its power and support among its people, rather than weakening it as intended.

The quote reflects ElBaradei's belief that sanctions are an overly simplistic and often counterproductive tool in international diplomacy. Instead of bringing about political change, they may exacerbate the hardships of the general population and inadvertently strengthen the resolve of the leadership in power. ElBaradei’s remarks challenge the common notion that sanctions can be an effective means of enforcing international norms or punishing rogue states.

Ultimately, ElBaradei’s quote highlights the limitations and potential dangers of using economic sanctions as a diplomatic tool. He advocates for more nuanced and effective strategies that avoid harming innocent people and that address the underlying political issues without inadvertently bolstering the very government they aim to weaken.