On Wordle #261, and Day 11 of Russian Attack on Ukraine...

This was fun...

Wordle 261 3/6

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As the Russian siege of Ukraine continues, dragging on for 11 days now, one has to wonder how long Putin can keep up the façade. The exodus of foreign businesses accelerates. Following Visa and Mastercard, Amex now suspends operations in Russia too. Weaponry is flowing into Ukraine resistance. I find it almost amusing to see that Putin whines about the West canceling Russia with all the exodus. Well, what does he expect? What a dickhead.

And finally, the public and world at large might be succeeding in shaming Joe Biden to finally consider embargo of Russian oil, just to make a stance. But read this:

    Biden has been “very clear about one thing all along as well, which is we’re not going to put the United States in direct conflict with Russia," he said, noting that "if you declare a space 'no fly,' and a Russian plane flies through it, it means we have to shoot it down."

    "For everything we’re doing for Ukraine, the president also has a responsibility to not get us into a direct conflict, a direct war with Russia, a nuclear power, and risk a war that expands even beyond Ukraine to Europe,” he continued. “That’s clearly not our interest. What we’re trying to do is end this war in Ukraine, not start a larger one.”

To be honest, if I were Putin, knowing that Biden has already blinked, it's a tacit way to tell Russia that they can do whatever they want in Ukraine, carte blanche. Statements like this, is as stupid as it comes. I simply can't believe it when I read it.

One thing Biden did right, is to cultivate an alliance of allies. Has he not laid the groundwork, I don't think the financial sanctions (particularly with the sledgehammer of banning Russian banks from SWIFT) would have come so swiftly, pun intended. 

Although Joe Biden isn't really cut out to be a wartime leader, it's a world of difference to have him in White House now when the Ukraine attack happens. I cannot begin to fathom, had it been Trump still in the White House. Instead of sanctioning Russia's aggression, Trump would have made a pilgrim trip to Moscow to congratulate Putin for a job well-done. At least finally Mike Pence has had enough, tsk-tsk'ing "Putin apologists" in front of GOP donors. This is finally a bridge too far for Pence, for what Trump did. 

On the funding side...

I must say, this generation can be quite creative to weaponize the web. People have been making bookings in Ukraine on Airbnb, though with no intention of using the reservations, but simply as a roundabout way to donate to Ukrainians who are staying to fight the good fight. Certainly it's a way for people to feel good about themselves for being able to do something about this military attack and to help people in needs. One has to wonder if it actually has the intended effects. While it might not have the intended effects as donating to traditional charities like The Red Cross whose efforts are directed helping those who are in needs, rather than those who have a bank account. 

Ukraine government has also been crowdsourcing funding which has reached $200m so far which is pretty impressive.