Brittney Griner released from Russian detention

[Gunny]

What a deal. An America-hating basketball play for an international arms dealer, mass murder/human rights violator. Almost as good a deal as a half-dozen terrorists for a deserter.




Griner was released as part of a prisoner swap for convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout (https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/27/americas/viktor-bout-profile-intl/index.html), according to a source familiar with the matter.

https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-12-08-22/index.html

[Gunny]

meanwhile:

https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/08/politics/paul-whelan-cnn-interview-brittney-griner/index.html

Guess he should have learned to play basketball.

[Kathianne]

Having spent a good chunk of the morning thinking and writing about morals, this story is to me, the epitome of a morals free administration. Very bread and circuses in action.

Shi* the Saudis were involved, can't get lower than that.

[fj1200]

meanwhile:

https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/08/politics/paul-whelan-cnn-interview-brittney-griner/index.html

Guess he should have learned to play basketball.

and be black and be gay and have a larger cohort of whining friends. This and the pension giveaway this morning has me flabbergasted. All you need to do is to tell a good left-leaning story to get anything out of this administration. biden is a joke.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/bidens-pension-bailout-is-a-giveaway-to-unions-multiemployer-pbgc-covid-insolvency-american-rescue-plan-11657573175

[Gunny]

Saying what you really think then being advised to walk it back. Too late. Original tweets already forwarded :)

https://www.foxnews.com/sports/cowboys-star-takes-aim-biden-brittney-griner-swap-major-flaw-we-still-not-voting-you

[Kathianne]

Saying what you really think then being advised to walk it back. Too late. Original tweets already forwarded :)

https://www.foxnews.com/sports/cowboys-star-takes-aim-biden-brittney-griner-swap-major-flaw-we-still-not-voting-you

IMHO there is no understating Biden's willingness to abandon those who have or are serving. This is one 'retired' Marine, I'm thinking of Afghanistan. Always.

[Kathianne]

This is not playing the way the WH hoped. First the french lady walked out of presser. Now this:

https://www.foreign.senate.gov/press/dem/release/chairman-menendez-statement-on-the-release-of-brittney-griner


WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement on the release of Brittney Griner:

“The news this morning of Brittney Griner’s release is a welcome development toward our collective efforts to secure the return of all those wrongfully detained in Russia. I can only imagine the pain and heartache she and her family have been going through since her detention almost ten months ago, and I join them in this moment of profound relief as she returns to her life here in the United States.


“To be clear, Ms. Griner should have been released immediately and unconditionally a long time ago. Putin has known that all along. This should be a moment of deep reflection for the United States government to recognize we have a serious problem with hostage-taking of Americans. The Russians and other regimes that take American citizens hostage cannot pretend that there is equivalence between the Brittney Griners of the world and people like Viktor Bout, the so-called ‘Merchant of Death.’ Nothing could be further from the truth, and we cannot ignore that releasing Bout back into the world is a deeply disturbing decision. We must stop inviting dictatorial and rogue regimes to use Americans overseas as bargaining chips, and we must try to do better at encouraging American citizens against traveling to places like Russia where they are primary targets for this type of unlawful detention.


“My heart also goes out to the families of other American citizens in Russian prisons and labor camps, including Paul Whelan. They have my renewed commitment and determination to use the power of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to secure Mr. Whelan’s safe return and to continue fighting for the release of all Russian political prisoners, like Vladimir Kara Murza, and all other unjustly detained Americans.”

[fj1200]

We negotiate with terrorists now. :mad:

[icansayit]

With the 13 members who DIED in the Surrender of Afghanistan on BIDEN'S STUPID WATCH. And now leaving a U.S. MARINE Behind in IRAN.

BIDEN has shown the World. "WE DO LEAVE OUR PEOPLE BEHIND!" But to appease the LGBTQRSTUVWXYZ RADICAL AMERICANS WHO VOTED FOR SLEEPY.
He felt better leaving a MAN OF HONOR BEHIND to make RADICALS HAPPY.

[Gunny]

IMHO there is no understating Biden's willingness to abandon those who have or are serving. This is one 'retired' Marine, I'm thinking of Afghanistan. Always.What would be the first clue Whelan is not guilty of espionage charges? The US government DOESN'T want him back. If he was guilty, damage control would dictate getting him back.

You are correct in your assertion. Biden just sent a message to all persons wearing a US uniform: you aren't worth an America-hating, (insert FJ's adjectives here), basketball player :rolleyes:

[Gunny]

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2022/12/10/marc-fogel-russia-brittney-griner-00073363

[fj1200]

Just brilliant. :rolleyes:


CNN —
Freed Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout (https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/08/americas/viktor-bout-profile-prisoner-swap-intl/index.html) said on Saturday he “wholeheartedly” supports Moscow’s so-called “military operation” in Ukraine and that if he had the opportunity and necessary skills, he would “certainly go as a volunteer.”
https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/10/europe/viktor-bout-supports-ukraine-war-intl/index.html

[Kathianne]

Just brilliant. :rolleyes:


https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/10/europe/viktor-bout-supports-ukraine-war-intl/index.html

Imagine, an arms dealer favoring war.

What a deal. :rolleyes:

[Gunny]

Just brilliant. :rolleyes:


https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/10/europe/viktor-bout-supports-ukraine-war-intl/index.html


Imagine, an arms dealer favoring war.

What a deal. :rolleyes:

Not taking up for the a-hole, but what else would he say? After all that Putin just traded away for him :rolleyes:

If he turns up down the line brokering arms or other deals between Russia and Iran and/or N Korea I won't be a bit surprised. I have no idea what his current value to anything is.