EDITORIAL - Don’t say it unless you mean it, Joe

During a speech in front of the Royal Castle in Warsaw, Poland, US President Joseph Biden seemed to hint that he was aiming for nothing less than the removal of Russia strongman Vladimir Putin.

“For God’s sake, this man cannot remain in power,” President Biden said.

Much later, however, the White House clarified that President Biden was not advocating for a regime change in Russia, rather he was referring to the power Putin exercised over Russia’s immediate neighbors in the region.

Was that really what President Biden meant? Considering how impassioned and fiery that speech appeared to be, we can’t help but have our own impressions and interpretations.

Despite that later clarification by White House staff, Russia has taken notice of the statement and voiced its displeasure.

In an earlier editorial we cautioned the US and European Union to be careful in their sanctions on Russia. One reason was because many ordinary Russians, even those opposed to the war, may be affected by these sanctions more than the intended targets; Putin and his gang of billionaires who are greasing the wheels of his war machine currently laying waste to parts of Ukraine.

The other reason was because the sanctions could be used by Putin and his propaganda machine to galvanize the Russian people into turning against the West --and also anyone he claims to be an enemy of the Russian people.

Now comes President Biden with a statement that can be misinterpreted to disastrous results.

No doubt right now someone in Putin’s propaganda machine is spinning the statement to their advantage. They may even say President Biden has directly threatened to remove the current administration. Considering how the statement was worded, it may not be hard to do so.

As to what action or show of fervor this will produce among Putin-rabid Russians remains to be seen.

No doubt his words inspired his allies, but President Biden really shouldn’t be vague with his words. Said another way, he shouldn’t say it unless he really means it.