"Hit 'em where it hurts...right in the (empty) breadbasket!"

(Bread)basket cases: - 1) a major grain, wheat...cereal producing region; 2) stomach region; 3) a vessel, container (waiting for bread)

Ins and Outs of it: "It" here being whatever you, me, an entire nation depends on. Whatever a country imports In, exports Out. Trade agreements. Historically, in our country and around these parts of our globe, the "import-export" balance ebbs and flows. We usually don't take notice, unless we are a trader in commodities, agricultural products. Parts of the world more susceptible to drought, famine...wars, those who are almost entirely dependent on either the import or export of such commodities have always been more vigilant, apprehensive about what could end up emptying their warehouses, silos, storage bins...breadbaskets. Over the last few decades, the topic of "food insecurity" has made its way into the attention of the world press and thus, our evening news. We ourselves became more aware when the things we took for granted, "foodstuffs", weren't as plentiful on the store shelves throughout the pandemic, primarily due to "supply chain" interruptus. But now, over the past month or so, we have been hearing more and appreciating just how sensitive the "food chain" is vulnerable to not only the laws of 'mother nature', but the hostile actions of 'man'. And how inter-related the 'supply chain' of some things like fuel, fertilizers, and the 'food chain' of staples of wheat...bread are. Very dynamic, inter-dependent, vulnerable to outside influencers. 

Running on empty, trending: A recent trend in some areas, whereas a way of life in others. Headline grabbing circumstances as of late...

"When Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, concerns about the disruption of supplies from the Black Sea breadbasket caused wheat prices to soar 25% in two months..." - Wall Street Journal: 13 January, 2022.

"Farmers in Ukraine, in the breadbasket of Europe, have run out of fuel..." - Time: 15 March, 2022.

Meanwhile, on our side of the globe, where we have been having it relatively easy...

"Rodgers took a snap with 36 seconds left, and threw a perfect strike right into the breadbasket of his receiver..." -Milwaukee Sentinel: 19 December, 2021. 

Striking back: After the one who was hit in the breadbasket catches their breath, after the initial hit, maybe even a 'sucker punch' in the gut, after they struggle to get back on their feet, it's time for a 'counter', as in 'counter-punch', which in this case, has included "sanctions!" and other counter-measures, such as aid to Ukraine and other nations hit even harder by the actions of a few hostile leaders, exploiting what they thought was the soft, underbelly of another, thinking they would assume control of this breadbasket nation, what has turned out to be a much different endeavor, the results of which have served to interrupt the flow of wheat, fertilizer, and other key commodities throughout the most hungry parts of the world...

In any case: While we have been instructed by theologians ("Proverbs") that "Man does not live by bread alone", we have also learned what happens when the bread supply is threatened, lessened, unleavened...We may even find ourselves hailing those who grow, harvest, and deliver the wheat...blessing the hands that prepare it (from the threshers, to the winnowers, on to the bakers)...and seeking ways to fill the baskets, stomachs that remain empty.