Spokespeople can "walk back" whether the statement was actually intended to mean "regime change" the way we all think of regime change (Putin no longer Russian president) but I think it's probably reasonable to say that while this is not what the White House is officially saying, you have to understand it certainly is what people are unofficially thinking. If that seems unfortunately hardcore, Putin has been making all kinds of threats towards NATO countries, and he should know he's not the only one who can do that.Biden calls for regime change in Russia, saying of Putin: "This man cannot remain in power".https://t.co/bqy7TeGfOg
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) March 26, 2022
FWIW, I don't think a negotiated settlement with a country actively engaged in genocide and threatening other countries on the border can be done in good faith at all. They aren't observing ceasefires, they are deliberately creating humanitarian crises, they are transporting Ukrainians to "filtration camps". They are still wildly lying about "denazification" and biolabs. I really don't know that Russia's recent apparent rolling back of the goal posts to just the Donbas is genuine at all.
What I will say is, if I were Ukrainian, I would find it intolerable, in the same way I would find it intolerable to share a bedroom with a rattlesnake just because it promised not to bite me. You could say, there would be legitimate security concerns.
Except, you know. Actually legitimate.
3 comments:
I'm going to add this in the comments, not as an update, because it's not really a new thing, just an elaboration, but my impression is that this wasn't a classic "Kinsley gaffe" but rather a statement made "accidentally on purpose". The quick "walkback" wasn't cleaning up after Biden, but choreography. Biden never said who was going to not allow Putin to be in charge of anything. He said "my God!" and that could even include an instance of divine intercession (she commented, agnostically).
What could be highlighted in that statement is that there is a real deviation between what is now best for Putin, politically, and what is best for Russia, as an entity that will exist after Putin is gone. What he has done has been militarily and economically catastrophic, and Russia no longer following his lead would reverse the recent bad fortune. Of course Ukraine, Europe, democracy, benefits.
Russia also does. That's an important consideration.
He spoke Truth, all else is of no consequence. Mountains, molehills.
Yeah, Putin heard it; only three quarters of the world are thinking it, half that muttering it under their breath, and a handful actually saying it out loud. He's knows what the penalty is for what he's done. His best bet is a well-apportioned bunker.
Today is day nine of Where's Putin? I'm not a gambling but I'd put odds he ain't above the carpet at about three out of ten. Anyone seen him? Is anyone in charge?
About a week ago, I gave him an over/under of around two weeks. We shall see.
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