Who Is Viktor Bout, the Arms Dealer in the Swap for Brittney Griner?

[Knuckle Ball]

Not in my case. If he didn't make a deal I have no problem with her in prison. She chose to bring her vape in. Its all on her.

Honestly she shouldn't have even been in the equation. Paul Whelan should have been the one to trade for. Or not at all. Bout is a sociopathic monster.

I don’t think the US ever gets “fair value” back in these kinds of situations. As a superpower they always wind up having to “overpay” to get their people back. At some point, it just costs what it costs and you do what you have to do.

There is no doubt that this arms dealer is a despicable person…but is the world less safe because one more arms dealer returns to the scene? Probably…at least to some degree; although it’s not like there aren’t plenty of arms dealers out there who took over his role ages ago. As a matter of principle, though, you’re not wrong and the optics are shitty. That’s part of the cost of any deal like this.

And as far as Paul Whelan goes, I don’t know much about his situation but it looks like Biden just exchanged his most valuable Russian prisoner for Griner so then what does that leave for him to bargain for on Whelan’s behalf? I know Biden says they have not forgotten about him but Whelan must be feeling left out in the cold right now. I just hope all of the people who advocated so hard to get Griner home continue to advocate for Whelan, too- but they probably won’t.

 

[mandrill]

I don’t think the US ever gets “fair value” back in these kinds of situations. As a superpower they always wind up having to “overpay” to get their people back. At some point, it just costs what it costs and you do what you have to do.

There is no doubt that this arms dealer is a despicable person…but is the world less safe because one more arms dealer returns to the scene? Probably…at least to some degree; although it’s not like there aren’t plenty of arms dealers out there who took over his role ages ago. As a matter of principle, though, you’re not wrong and the optics are shitty. That’s part of the cost of any deal like this.

And as far as Paul Whelan goes, I don’t know much about his situation but it looks like Biden just exchanged his most valuable Russian prisoner in exchange for Griner so then what does that leave for him to bargain for on Whelan’s behalf? I know Biden says they have not forgotten about him but Whelan must be feeling left out in the cold right now. I just hope all of the people who advocated so hard to get Griner home continue to advocate for Whelan, too- but they probably won’t.

The bargaining inequality is that The Poo just suppresses any news he doesn't like in Russia by killing the reporter and the new editor. So he can spin - or kill - any news story he wants and doesn't have to deal.

 

[Resetset]

Trump wouldn't have agreed to this deal.

 

[mandrill]

Trump wouldn't have agreed to this deal.

He'd be too busy sucking Putin's dick.

 

[Knuckle Ball]

Trump wouldn't have agreed to this deal.

And you guys are the ones who are always accusing the left of TDS.

 

[Resetset]

And you guys are the ones who are always accusing the left of TDS.

You guys are the weak ones of this deal. The cross your legs when sitting type.

 

[dirtydaveiii]

Trump wouldn't have agreed to this deal.

No he would have gave Alaska back in the exchange

 

[Resetset]

No he would have gave Alaska back in the exchange

How many bongs do you own?

 

[Resetset]

The best United States President ever would have never made this deal.

The weakest one ever did.

 

[The Oracle]

You guys are the weak ones of this deal. The cross your legs when sitting type.

 

[Resetset]

View attachment 194219

Trump is taller.

 

[Butler1000]

I don’t think the US ever gets “fair value” back in these kinds of situations. As a superpower they always wind up having to “overpay” to get their people back. At some point, it just costs what it costs and you do what you have to do.

There is no doubt that this arms dealer is a despicable person…but is the world less safe because one more arms dealer returns to the scene? Probably…at least to some degree; although it’s not like there aren’t plenty of arms dealers out there who took over his role ages ago. As a matter of principle, though, you’re not wrong and the optics are shitty. That’s part of the cost of any deal like this.

And as far as Paul Whelan goes, I don’t know much about his situation but it looks like Biden just exchanged his most valuable Russian prisoner for Griner so then what does that leave for him to bargain for on Whelan’s behalf? I know Biden says they have not forgotten about him but Whelan must be feeling left out in the cold right now. I just hope all of the people who advocated so hard to get Griner home continue to advocate for Whelan, too- but they probably won’t.

Read up on Whelan. They had a deal at one point and the US govt backed off. Then decide to save her instead?

This is a mistake. A royal fuck up.

 

[Knuckle Ball]

I understand how many people think Griner was stupid to put herself in this situation in the first place. She definitely was…I just don’t think she deserves 9 years in a Russian prison colony for it.

And…despite the fact that I am a lefty, I disagree with all the people who are saying this was caused because WNBA players don’t make enough money and are thus forced to play in places like Russia. None of those people could even name 5 WNBA players and have never watched a WNBA game…they all need to sit back down…lol

 

[Resetset]

I understand how many people think Griner was stupid to put herself in this situation in the first place. She definitely was…I just don’t think she deserves 9 years in a Russian prison colony for it.

And…despite the fact that I am a lefty, I disagree with all the people who are saying this was caused because WNBA players don’t make enough money and are thus forced to play in places like Russia. None of those people could even name 5 WNBA players and have never watched a WNBA game…they all need to sit back down…lol

She knew exactly what she was doing smuggling drugs into Russia. Now a nutcase is free to kill again.

 

[Knuckle Ball]

Read up on Whelan. They had a deal at one point and the US govt backed off. Then decide to save her instead?

This is a mistake. A royal fuck up.

They could have dealt Whelan for Bout back when Trump was in office but Trump turned down the deal…and now he’s criticizing Biden for not making the same deal that he turned down in 2019.

Anyway…there is always criticism after any deal like this is made going all the way back to the Iran hostage crisis. Sometimes the criticism is valid; sometimes it’s just politics. This is probably a bit of both. On balance, I am still more happy about Griner’s return than I am concerned about Bout’s release.

 

[Resetset]

They could have dealt Whelan for Bout back when Trump was in office but Trump turned down the deal…and now he’s criticizing Biden for not making the same deal that he turned down in 2019.

Anyway…there is always criticism after any deal like this is made going all the way back to the Iran hostage crisis. Sometimes the criticism is valid; sometimes it’s just politics. This is probably a bit of both. On balance, I am still more happy about Griner’s return than I am concerned about Bout’s release.

Noted. Blood on your hands.

 

[Knuckle Ball]

Prisoner Swap for Griner Was Biden's Second Such Exchange

White House officials stressed such exchanges would remain "extremely rare."

time.com

From the above article:
“In July, the Biden administration put another offer on the table with Moscow: release of the convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout in exchange for the return of basketball star Brittney Griner and former Marine Paul Whelan. Griner, a basketball star, was arrested at a Moscow airport in February for having cannabis oil in her luggage. She was sentenced to nine years imprisonment after pleading guilty to drug charges, and was recently transferred to a Russian penal colony. Whelan was arrested in a Moscow hotel in December 2018 during a trip to Russia for a friend’s wedding. After what he has called a “sham trial,” he was convicted of espionage in June 2020 and sentenced to 16 years in prison.

For months, Russia rejected the exchange offer. Then, a few weeks ago, a counteroffer arrived. Russia was willing to do a swap for Bout, but only for Griner’s release.”

and

“Biden’s use of prisoner swaps does not mark a shift in US policy from the previous administration. In December 2019, the Trump administration secured the release of Princeton graduate student Xiyue Wang, who Iranians had charged with espionage and imprisoned for three years, by releasing an Iranian stem-cell scientist Masoud Soleimani, who had been arrested in 2018 for trying to export research materials without a license. The next year, Iran released American Michael White, a U.S. Navy veteran, in exchange for the release of Majid Taheri, also known as Matteo Taerri, an Iranian-American doctor who had been charged with violating U.S. sanctions. Near the end of his presidency, Donald Trump also approved of the Afghanistan government releasing 5,000 Taliban prisoners as part of his 2020 deal to set a timeline for the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Paul Whelan’s family was told on Wednesday that the US was close to securing Griner’s release, but that Paul would be left behind. The communication was a courtesy the Biden administration didn’t extend to the Whelans before Russia announced the release of Reed in April. Paul Whelan’s twin brother David Whelan said on Thursday in a statement to ABC News that the fact that Paul wasn’t part of the latest deal is “a public disappointment for us” as well as “a catastrophe for Paul.” David Whelan also said, “The Biden Administration made the right decision to bring Ms. Griner home, and to make the deal that was possible, rather than waiting for one that wasn’t going to happen.”


If Paul Whelan’s twin brother supports the deal then I think I’m okay with it too.

 

[Frankfooter]

The best United States President ever would have never made this deal.

The weakest one ever did.

Sure he would got a good deal.

 

[Butler1000]

Prisoner Swap for Griner Was Biden's Second Such Exchange

White House officials stressed such exchanges would remain "extremely rare."

time.com

From the above article:
“In July, the Biden administration put another offer on the table with Moscow: release of the convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout in exchange for the return of basketball star Brittney Griner and former Marine Paul Whelan. Griner, a basketball star, was arrested at a Moscow airport in February for having cannabis oil in her luggage. She was sentenced to nine years imprisonment after pleading guilty to drug charges, and was recently transferred to a Russian penal colony. Whelan was arrested in a Moscow hotel in December 2018 during a trip to Russia for a friend’s wedding. After what he has called a “sham trial,” he was convicted of espionage in June 2020 and sentenced to 16 years in prison.

For months, Russia rejected the exchange offer. Then, a few weeks ago, a counteroffer arrived. Russia was willing to do a swap for Bout, but only for Griner’s release.”

and

“Biden’s use of prisoner swaps does not mark a shift in US policy from the previous administration. In December 2019, the Trump administration secured the release of Princeton graduate student Xiyue Wang, who Iranians had charged with espionage and imprisoned for three years, by releasing an Iranian stem-cell scientist Masoud Soleimani, who had been arrested in 2018 for trying to export research materials without a license. The next year, Iran released American Michael White, a U.S. Navy veteran, in exchange for the release of Majid Taheri, also known as Matteo Taerri, an Iranian-American doctor who had been charged with violating U.S. sanctions. Near the end of his presidency, Donald Trump also approved of the Afghanistan government releasing 5,000 Taliban prisoners as part of his 2020 deal to set a timeline for the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Paul Whelan’s family was told on Wednesday that the US was close to securing Griner’s release, but that Paul would be left behind. The communication was a courtesy the Biden administration didn’t extend to the Whelans before Russia announced the release of Reed in April. Paul Whelan’s twin brother David Whelan said on Thursday in a statement to ABC News that the fact that Paul wasn’t part of the latest deal is “a public disappointment for us” as well as “a catastrophe for Paul.” David Whelan also said, “The Biden Administration made the right decision to bring Ms. Griner home, and to make the deal that was possible, rather than waiting for one that wasn’t going to happen.”


If Paul Whelan’s twin brother supports the deal then I think I’m okay with it too.

He has to say that or alienate the govt from helping.

As for Griner my take on this is her idiocy in taking drugs into Russia, knowing she could face this, or stupidly not knowing, may have cost Whelan his chance. And let a monster go.

And I doubt she gives a shit.

 

[AndrewX]

You wonder if Brittney Griner will now stand for the national anthem