When peace is a possibility all deaths in war are "unnecessary". But I think your question is really about the asymmetry and apparent hypocrisy of sanctions.

When peace is a possibility all deaths in war are "unnecessary". But I think your question is really about the asymmetry and apparent hypocrisy of sanctions. Sanctions run both ways so they require a power relationship to make sense. If one guy whose ball it is, decides the game is unfair he can "sanction" the other 10 players by taking his ball home. If I sanction you by not coming to your party, it's probably me who loses out by cutting off my nose to spite my face. Iraq II was s shitshow, utterly unfair and a result of the most awful foreign policy. But the USA has more to _offer_ the world, so it made no sense for international sanctions. Much as I like Russians as people, I'm quite good for vodka right now thank you. We will take a hit in fuel prices next winter for sure. Putin created an oligarchy that turned Russia into a relatively unproductive country unless you're in the luxury yacht or novelty poisons business.