He's not "pulling" Starlink, he's requesting that governments actually pay the "tens of millions of dollars each month" that it costs. Spending that money in exchange for nothing only make sense when there's a PR benefit, which there isn't here if Ukraine is going to continue publicly attacking him. Note that Newsweek isn't even considered a reliable source by Wikipedia.

I've noticed Ukraine also seem to be directing their Twitter bot farms to attacking Musk. Note that a site that has alleged ties to the Ukrainan Security Service, Myrotvorets, has briefly put Musk on its "kill list" of "enemies of Ukraine", a list which has resulted in quite a few assassinations in the past.

I wish I knew what in the conversation led to that exchange. Elon just turned on a dime as a person after that whole “pedo guy” thing and it’s so upsetting to see your hero literally become a face you’re sick of seeing.

Politics and communications have always been intertwined. Some say the US trade & state departments motivations to help promote internet standards outside the ITU and disrupt international state monopoly telephony since the 1960s was continuations of strategic policy in the standards space.

Musk is in an invidious position, owning assets which provide common carrier class services, seeking control of a communications channel (twitter) which has highly contentious regulatory issues worldwide, and wants to make high profile statements about world affairs. He might understand his FTC legal risk more than his FCC risk. The FTC has already acted on his PR statements hot microphone. (I suspect he has no FCC risk actually. I sort of think he should)

It's "throw gasoline on a large bonfire to see what happens" stuff. With lives at stake? just makes it more interesting for him.

I am not sure that "fuck off" meant remove our ability to communicate!

I think everyone in that situation is being petty. Looks like the Starlink stuff was in motion well before the whole tweet controversy though? Unless I’m missing something?

I have noticed though you can get some absolutely vile reactions from some people if you don’t seem to declare your undying support for the war. I’m certainly not supportive of Putin… but we also have to discuss just how involved we should be. Funny how US was the butt end of so many “world police” jokes yet now we’re the “bad guys” for not getting involved (at least to some people).

The whole thing is just so tragic and I honestly believe its mostly attributable to Putin’s ego, one way or another. I just don’t see this happening with someone even slightly more relaxed.