Freedom drives innovation. Kleptocracy drives dachas.

And also, who does Ukraine have for partners? Sweden, Norway, France, UK, Czechia, Finland, even Spain & Switzerland, Japan, too. US, elements of.

Who does Putin have? The genius Ayatollahs and Kim Jung WooWoo. Modi, still wanting to slurp the oil while doing a Mr. Holy Namaste. China, of course, is the real danger, buying the oil and shipping every dual use cheapo consumer doodad it can think of.

Putin, though, has the karma that should keep him up at night: The wandering souls of Prigozhin and Nicholas II. And over 1 million killed or wounded. All those wives, mothers, and fathers, the impoverished townsfolk of all the places they came from.

There's a song from back during Vietnam I'm just thinking of - "Your flag decal won't get you into heaven anymore." For Putin, it's his version of socialist patriotic propaganda.

Wes, as you love to say, Glory to Ukraine!