may be a very difficult conflict that could come and wanting to protect american lives. all of us lived through the afghanistan exodus and all of the difficulties that happened there, and the unexpected and unforeseen chaotic developments that happened. so they're trying to put in place some of the basic steps that are fairly standard from a state department point of view and preparation point of view of telling americans to leave the country of ukraine now if they are able and the other kinds of messages they put out, to reduce the risks to americans and reduce the risks to nato partner countries and to try to calm things down from an outer perimeter. those are things the u.s. may have greater control over, controlling what is in the mind of vladimir putin or his intentions much harder to do. and so the message from the u.s. at this point is trying to extend the time for diplomacy, hoping that that will calm things down. but as we understand it, the message that the president gave