Bloomberg and the Washington Post are quite clearly linked in those articles. The worst hit sector seems to be auto manufacturing. The truth is not treason, and there is no question these 'draconian sanctions' have not turned out the way we expected, or at least were told to expect. Continental Europe, in particular, has endured the double whammy of a plunging Euro and a declining trade balance, still faces energy insecurity as Winter approaches, and is going into recession.