Ex-President trump had two + years to secure Mr. Whelan's release. He was arrested in 2018 during the trump presidency. For some reason trump never mentioned Whlean's name.

 

Trevor Reed, another American Marine arrested in Russia in 2018, also during the trump presidency. His release was made earlier this year during the Biden Presidency, in a one-to-one prisoner swap for convicted drug dealer/pilot Vadim Krasikov.

 

I suspect that Ms. Greiner, as a million dollar (per season) employee of UMMC Yekaterinburg since 2014, traveled to/from/within Russia hundreds of times. Amazing that she was never detained for cannabis vape carts in that time, as she was just days before the Ukraine invasion.

 

Welcome home Brittney, and congrats to Biden, Blinken, et al for getting things done.

 

putin wants Vadim Krasikov, a convicted murderer held in Germany, for Whelan. Can't see that happening.

It's "funny" (not ha ha) that the anti Griner rhetoric from the American right wing mirrors pro Putin Russian propaganda. Who is copying who?

 

James Carville: 'Most' Critics of Griner Deal Are Racist Putin Lovers (mediaite.com)

 

Quote

Speaking with CNN’s Jim Acosta on Saturday, Democrat pundit and strategist James Carville said in response to GOP criticism of President Joe Biden‘s prisoner exchange deal that no one in their “right mind” believes this would be the reaction were Brittney Griner a blonde White woman, and added that “most” people angered by it are also anti-Ukraine and pro-Vladimir Putin.

 

More worldwide dead and mayhem incoming and more danger for Americans...but hey, Britney Griner can play hoops again.

 

It took four years and one month, but Bout was extradited to the United States, convicted and sentenced to 25 years in prison. And then last week, the United States let him go, swapping him to secure the release of Brittney Griner, a WNBA star. But in the days since the swap, what has most troubled the DEA investigators who brought Bout down is the consequences of his release going forward.

 

Several are convinced he’ll soon reemerge as a player, helping Russia sell and acquire weapons in violation of international sanctions imposed in response to its invasion of Ukraine and earlier human rights violations. “The Merchant of Death is back in action, with more hatred against America and with greater motivation to fuel conflicts and support Russia in its outrageous and disastrous war with Ukraine,” says Derek Maltz, who as head of the DEA Special Operations Division oversaw the undercover investigation of Bout.

 

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2022/12/12/viktor-bout-merchant-of-death-00073422

So, Putin got an international arms dealer, at a time when Russia is running out of weapons.  Biden got an angry black lesbian (thought he already had one..)

 

Gee, wonder who came out on top here? 

54 minutes ago, Hanaguma said:

So, Putin got an international arms dealer, at a time when Russia is running out of weapons.  Biden got an angry black lesbian (thought he already had one..)

 

Gee, wonder who came out on top here? 

So Brittany Griner is angry? And it's relevant that she's black and a lesbian? Thanks for sharing with us your reflexive bigotry.

20 minutes ago, placeholder said:

So Brittany Griner is angry? And it's relevant that she's black and a lesbian? Thanks for sharing with us your reflexive bigotry.

Not  bigotry, it was important enough to be mentioned by the President's press secretary at the time.  And angry? Well she certainly doesn't harbor much love for her country if you look at  her past behavior.

1 hour ago, Hanaguma said:

So, Putin got an international arms dealer, at a time when Russia is running out of weapons.  Biden got an angry black lesbian (thought he already had one..)

 

Gee, wonder who came out on top here? 

When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.

 

Maya Angelou

 

 

And to answer your question: The U.S.A. came out "on top" here.

 

4 minutes ago, Hanaguma said:

Well she certainly doesn't harbor much love for her country if you look at  her past behavior.

Demanding positive changes in the U.S. hardly qualifies as an act of hate. In fact it displays love for something that can always be better, and be improved upon. I mean that's why we have Amendments to our constitution. Please see the Thirteenth and Fifteenth Amendments just to get yourself up to speed.

31 minutes ago, bamnutsak said:

When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.

 

Maya Angelou

 

 

And to answer your question: The U.S.A. came out "on top" here.

 

Demanding positive changes in the U.S. hardly qualifies as an act of hate. In fact it displays love for something that can always be better, and be improved upon. I mean that's why we have Amendments to our constitution. Please see the Thirteenth and Fifteenth Amendments just to get yourself up to speed.

You can mitigate for positive changes without being a disrespectful diva. Typical leftist virtue signalling at its worst.  In particular, it is wrong when you are at work. Do it on your free time, but leave politics out of your workplace. And yes, I would say the same if some athlete wanted to wear a MAGA hat.  

45 minutes ago, Hanaguma said:

Not  bigotry, it was important enough to be mentioned by the President's press secretary at the time.  And angry? Well she certainly doesn't harbor much love for her country if you look at  her past behavior.

To character her relevantly, all you had to do was call her a basket player. That would have made the point. What relevance does her race or her sexual orientation have to do with any of this? And the capper is that you didn't just call her a black lesbian, but an angry black lesbian. Coupling "angry" and "black" together is a hallmark of racists. Because of her stance on a political issue she's "angry"? Really?

5 minutes ago, placeholder said:

To character her relevantly, all you had to do was call her a basket player. That would have made the point. What relevance does her race or her sexual orientation have to do with any of this? And the capper is that you didn't just call her a black lesbian, but an angry black lesbian. Coupling "angry" and "black" together is a hallmark of racists. Because of her stance on a political issue she's "angry"? Really?

Yes, she is. And her race/gender/sexual orientation all played a big part in her release. Biden and Co. are always eager to gain street cred amongst the wokesters.  

 

According to the White House press secretary,

 

“Britney is more than an athlete, she is an important role model and an inspiration to millions of Americans, particularly the LGBTQ+ community and women of color,” remarked Jean-Pierre.

 

https://thepavlovictoday.com/karine-jean-pierre-on-brittney-griners-release-it-was-between-bringing-one-american-or-none/

 

And for this person, the Merchant of Death is free to continue his foul business.   Putin is laughing at the incompetence of the Biden White House yet again.

1 minute ago, Hanaguma said:

Yes, she is. And her race/gender/sexual orientation all played a big part in her release. Biden and Co. are always eager to gain street cred amongst the wokesters.  

 

According to the White House press secretary,

 

“Britney is more than an athlete, she is an important role model and an inspiration to millions of Americans, particularly the LGBTQ+ community and women of color,” remarked Jean-Pierre.

 

https://thepavlovictoday.com/karine-jean-pierre-on-brittney-griners-release-it-was-between-bringing-one-american-or-none/

 

And for this person, the Merchant of Death is free to continue his foul business.   Putin is laughing at the incompetence of the Biden White House yet again.

Did they mention her being "angry"anywhere? 

3 minutes ago, placeholder said:

Did they mention her being "angry"anywhere? 

Oh, so you agree that Griner being female, black, and gay were all relevant then...  thought she was just a "basket player"?

Just now, Hanaguma said:

Oh, so you agree that Griner being female, black, and gay were all relevant then...  thought she was just a "basket player"?

Yes I concede that. But it was you who called her "angry". And that reflexive coupling you made is very revealing. Also, it's odd that you called her an "angry black lesbian" but didn't even mention that she was a basketball player. As though her celebrity as a professional athlete was irrelevant to the case.

4 hours ago, Hanaguma said:

So, Putin got an international arms dealer, at a time when Russia is running out of weapons.  Biden got an angry black lesbian (thought he already had one..)

 

Gee, wonder who came out on top here? 

Biden got an angry black lesbian (thought he already had one..)

 

Two angry back lesbians in the US is just too much right................

4 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Biden got an angry black lesbian (thought he already had one..)

 

Two angry back lesbians in the US is just too much right................

Glad you think so too.  Biden already has one as his press secretary, not sure what he will do with another one. 

3 hours ago, Hanaguma said:

Not  bigotry, it was important enough to be mentioned by the President's press secretary at the time.  And angry? Well she certainly doesn't harbor much love for her country if you look at  her past behavior.

The key to getting the Biden Administration's attention is to have denounced the playing of the national anthem before one's imprisonment. If you did that, the president will move heaven and earth to get you released...only serving in the armed services not so much.

Just now, Hanaguma said:

Glad you think so too.  Biden already has one as his press secretary, not sure what he will do with another one. 

Is she also angry wow

Of course this would never have happened under Trump's watch, oh wait a minute. He claims he would have got her back fast....lol

 

"the taking wouldn't have even happened under my administration but if it did I would have gotten her out, fast!"

 

 

Trump confirms he turned down a Bout-Whelan prisoner swap. Oddly, he says “I would have gotten Paul out” but didn’t for two years of his administration.

1 hour ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

The key to getting the Biden Administration's attention is to have denounced the playing of the national anthem before one's imprisonment. If you did that, the president will move heaven and earth to get you released...only serving in the armed services not so much.

You forgot to mention that Whalen is also a thief and got booted out of the Marines for that reason with a dishonorable discharge.

The Russians have accused Whalen.of being a spy. So it's never going to be easy to get him out.

Off topic posts trolling about Trump have been removed as this topic is about:

 

Brittney Griner reportedly released from Russian prison 10 months after arrest

4 hours ago, Jingthing said:

The Russians have accused Whalen.of being a spy. So it's never going to be easy to get him out.

It looks like from what has been reported that he was entrapped by the Russians. Entrapment is a nasty thing, but apparently, he took the bait. If so, no one forced him to. And given his past unsavory record, is it actually unreasonable to assume that he might have been guilty of attempted espionage or whatever charge it is that the Russians banged him up for? In most countries that would be a far more serious crime than possession of a small amount of cannabis or hash oil.

11 hours ago, Hanaguma said:

Yes, she is. And her race/gender/sexual orientation all played a big part in her release. Biden and Co. are always eager to gain street cred amongst the wokesters.  

 

According to the White House press secretary,

 

“Britney is more than an athlete, she is an important role model and an inspiration to millions of Americans, particularly the LGBTQ+ community and women of color,” remarked Jean-Pierre.

 

https://thepavlovictoday.com/karine-jean-pierre-on-brittney-griners-release-it-was-between-bringing-one-american-or-none/

 

And for this person, the Merchant of Death is free to continue his foul business.   Putin is laughing at the incompetence of the Biden White House yet again.

So you prefer the Trump approach here: better no deal than a Griner deal?

44 minutes ago, stevenl said:

So you prefer the Trump approach here: better no deal than a Griner deal?

Yes, and Trump has nothing to do with it. Put in needs the Merchant  of Death  more than the US needs a relative unknown  like Griner.

 

20 minutes ago, Hanaguma said:

Yes, and Trump has nothing to do with it. Put in needs the Merchant  of Death  more than the US needs a relative unknown  like Griner.

 

Yes, Trump made the decision to do nothing, Biden made the decision to accept what he could get. I don't think that decision hurt Trump, I also don't think it will help Biden much.

Putin doesn't need him, neither does the US need her.

3 hours ago, stevenl said:

Yes, Trump made the decision to do nothing, Biden made the decision to accept what he could get. I don't think that decision hurt Trump, I also don't think it will help Biden much.

Putin doesn't need him, neither does the US need her.

Isn't the real point the guy that was exchanged for her? From all accounts a very dangerous guy for the US, and now even more reason to hurt the US.

Every American that dies because of him is now on Biden, IMO.

6 hours ago, stevenl said:

Yes, Trump made the decision to do nothing, Biden made the decision to accept what he could get. I don't think that decision hurt Trump, I also don't think it will help Biden much.

Putin doesn't need him, neither does the US need her.

I'm happy Griner is home and the right wingers that don't welcome her home because she exercised her American right to peacefully protest are truly disgusting. But I think Bout is valuable to Putin and I don't like the precedent of this deal. It makes Americans more of a target to our enemies and make no mistake, the US and Russia are basically at war now. 

4 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Isn't the real point the guy that was exchanged for her? From all accounts a very dangerous guy for the US, and now even more reason to hurt the US.

Every American that dies because of him is now on Biden, IMO.

He was an international arms trader.  Do you really think he can travel about selling weapons?  Do you really think he can reconstitute his long dead career considering the situation with Ukraine and international sanctions?   You can best your sweet behind if he leaves Russia, he'll be back in jail in a heartbeat.  

 

He was traded.  His sentence wasn't commuted.  If he's caught, he is eligible to continue serving it.

 

1 hour ago, Credo said:

He was an international arms trader.  Do you really think he can travel about selling weapons?  Do you really think he can reconstitute his long dead career considering the situation with Ukraine and international sanctions?   You can best your sweet behind if he leaves Russia, he'll be back in jail in a heartbeat.  

 

He was traded.  His sentence wasn't commuted.  If he's caught, he is eligible to continue serving it.

 

He will serve some purpose....Putin was pressured by the Russian elites to have him returned.....

He evidently has some connections and value.....

29 minutes ago, pgrahmm said:

He will serve some purpose....Putin was pressured by the Russian elites to have him returned.....

He evidently has some connections and value.....

He has name recognition.  Russia wanted him from Thailand; they didn't get him.  As far as danger goes, he is pretty much neutralized.