Brittney Griner is being freed in a prisoner exchange with Russia. We're releasing Viktor Bout an arms dealer in exchange. What are your thoughts?

[SnowedIn]

Updates

1 y

Thank you everyone for your thoughts and comments. I appreciate the robust debate and the passionate feelings on both sides.

I've made the decision to not select MHO for this. I confess: I'm going conflict avoidance on that. Normally, I always select MHO but this time I'm going to let GaG's algorithm do it. Not because I don't care but this isn't an issue or discussion where I personally feel there's a more or less helpful or a right or wrong.

[Marymax]

Good I was hoping thois happened to bad we could not have traded bher for that spy who had a masters but was taking basic math. She was attending gun show and making political controbution to American Poltical compagnes but yeh she calims she wanted to sit threw first year college math for what all the guys she could meet and dumb American men she could influence with money and sex. Thank God for common sense s this women is a sweet , kind athlete who made a mistake fine her not prison. She is from c alifornia American not trying to influence Russian! God save and bless her Ms Griner is on many prayer list to include mine. Many military vets saport her journey home we need people like her in our political system she made a mistake and I as an American love her and her wife and want her to come back to my America. She is a basketball player not a politician. She is my hero. I hope one day I see her back here soon. I love Brittney Gainer and God Bless you and your honest soul. I hope you run for California politics we need honest trustworthy people. I live in Maryland.

[SnowedIn]

Thanks for posting!

[ManOnFire]

@Marymax Cool username by the way!

[Msputiton]

I am so happy for her.

Knowing she didn't do anything but make a forgetful mistake rushing to catch her plane in a country that saw an opportunity to piss off America right before starting a war.

She did not deserve to be put in a 9yr labor camp.

She did not deserve any of this.

Welcome home BG42

[SnowedIn]

Appreciate these thoughts.

[Msputiton]

👍🏽👍🏽

[Chazmatazz269]

Everything about that exchange is wrong. If you look at Bout’s convictions, it’s not a “fair exchange” on the face of it. Then take into account that the Biden administration opted to free an athlete who knowingly smuggled THC into Russia instead of a former Marine and veteran who actually served this country AND has been improperly detained for four years, as opposed to just months for Griner.
And don’t even get me started on the anti-gun hypocrisy! Biden said it’s “disgusting” that law abiding citizens can own semiautomatic firearms, but he’s RELEASING a terrorist who deals in REAL assault weapons on a massive scale AND was convicted of conspiracy to kill Americans!
It’s nothing short of complete insanity, in my opinion. Yet it won’t change a single vote in the this country. Shameful.

[SnowedIn]

Thank you for sharing.

[NamerOfStars]

Viktor Bout? The Merchant of Death? The guy Lord of War was based on? Who was convicted of selling weapons to terrorists and conspiracy to commit mass murder? In exchange for... somebody caught with a tiny amount of hashish oil? I agree that Griner's arrest and detention was purely politically motivated, but this FAR from an even trade. And with Paul Whelan still being held, I can't help but think that this is ALSO a purely political move on Biden's part.

At least this means that Edward Snowden's safe; the price for him would probably be Alaska and California.

[SnowedIn]

Yes. That guy. The one.

[NamerOfStars]

Oy gevalt.

[virtue2332]

And to do it so damn publicly for votes is craaaaazy. I know we like our doorbuster blow out holiday sales but we just put notice that the going rate for a terrorist is a Basketball player.

[Messianic_Monk]

I would be willing to entertain the idea of giving away California to be honest. Those Californians will get proper discipline from those Russians 😅 maybe then it'll get rid of the far-leftism there.

[loveslongnails]

Do you think Viktor's organization fell apart when he got arrested, or has someone else in his organization taken his place? I'm not saying it didn't slow it down, or make a dent, but terrorists didn't suddenly stop getting guns for the last 14 years because he got arrested. If he had helped bring down his organization and supply the US with other terrorist contacts, he'd have been out a long time ago.

[coachTanthony]

It's unfortunate because Paul Whelan is still there.. an actual patriot. If I know a good marine.. Paul is probably happy because he knows he can handle it and he fights for the freedom of Americans like her even if she hates AMERICA. God bless you Paul.

[SnowedIn]

Coach, thank you for sharing. Appreciate your post.

[DaveJord]

Honestly, for me I think her celebrate played a role in this. I am against releasing the merchant of death arms dealer in exchange for political prisoner. Not when you have service members imprisoned like Paul Whelan.

I was not satisfied with Blinken's answers, sounded like they let Russia dictate the terms... and they did it to score political favor and released a bloody murder of an arms deal back to the Russians. Not a fair trade in my opinion. But it gave Biden a good opportunity to stand on the stage with same a sex couple and score points with the LGBTQ and Black community.

[SnowedIn]

Thank you for responding.

[Lliam]

I could give zero fucks about Brittney Grinner. She made her own bed.

Instead of worrying about Russia's drug policies, maybe we should release all the people in American prisons who have been convicted for possession of weed. The hypocrisy is striking.

[SnowedIn]

Appreciate the post; thank you for sharing.

[SpringValley]

What hypocrisy? Russia and America are two different countries.

[Lliam]

@SpringValley The U. S government's hypocrisy in criticizing Russia's drug policy.

[SpringValley]

Can you post something about US criticism?
I'm not disagreeing with you, but I don't understand.
Can you imagine yourself going through Russian customs with a Class A drug in your luggage?

[Lliam]

@SpringValley. I found this article after a quick search.
www.cnn.com/.../index.html

It doesn't talk about Russia's drug policy, per se, but reference to "Russia is wrongfully detaining Brittney" is beyond ironic. We're supposed to believe that Russian laws are unfair while we completely ignore the U. S. judicial system and drug laws.

[SpringValley]

Thanks for the link, and I read it.
But I'd like to hear more about your idea of hypocrisy.

[Lliam]

@SpringValley. The number of individuals incarcerated for cannabis at any moment in time in the U. S. is higher than 40,000.
And I wonder how the U. S. treats foreign visitors who try to smuggle cannabis or other illicit products into this country.
But we're supposed to believe that Russia is brutal in comparison.

I don't agree with Russia's policy on the use of cannabis. It just cracks me up when U. S. politicians act compassionate and sanctimonious in regards to Russia. Since when does the U. S. care about justice in the world? .

[SpringValley]

Okay, I gotcha. Pot is completely legal where I live, and you can get any edible under the sun. But Brittney had hash oil, and that's a big no no. Had she been a butcher, baker or candle stick maker, she wouldn't have tried to bring honey oil into Russia. But since she's a celebrity, she felt she was above the law.

[Oigit]

The funny part is Griner being thrown in jail in Russia was her being used as a political tool and Biden is doing the exact same thing by trading her for Viktor Bout. Biden clearly needs a political wins and getting Griner home is nothing but him getting the win he needs.

Also it's funny as hell that people in our government are worried about Viktor Bout going right back into the illegal gun trade. Because I'd say it's a for gone conclusion that he will. It wouldn't be surprising if he started working with various groups to target American interests overseas. Be them military interests or civilian ones. Because the dude has years of anger built up and probably has or can obtain the means to start up some serious crap for our gov overseas.

[SnowedIn]

Thank you for responding.

[ShadezMcgee]

Not surprised. This is the stupid MO this administration has had. We trade an arms dealer for a pro athlete who knowingly brought drugs into another country? Get out of here. Meanwhile Biden is perfectly content with leaving the Marine they have behind.

Fuck Griner and fuck Biden. Terrible decision all around. You don't trade someone who provides weapons to kill and do harm onto others for a has been athlete.

[SnowedIn]

Thank you for responding.

[BlueScorpio]

Shrug, all I can say is she got lucky and that hopefully this will be a lesson to her to never try to bring drugs into another country again. You have to follow their laws, some countries execute people for bringing drugs into their land. Plus she's black and openly gay and you're going to try to get in Russia with drugs of all places... even I could told her that wasn't a good move.

[SnowedIn]

Thanks for responding.

[DaisyM23]

non-american here, i don't know much about this but i know she got arrested for trying to bring weed into russia. i think some people are just plain old stupid, anyone who pulls this kind of stuff when going to another country where they'll check your bags at borders, especially in a country like russia, is just urgh - i don't know anything about who they're exchanging her for but an arms dealer for weed hmmmm

[SnowedIn]

Thank you for sharing.

[DubiousIntentions]

That is your retarded buddy Biden's doing. He must have a thing for un-American people who won't say the pledge of allegiance. They should have left her there in my opinion.

[SnowedIn]

Great meme! Thanks for sharing.

[RolandCuthbert]

Well, I am glad she is home.

But I think it is hilarious that maga thinks she should be thanking them, when they hate everything about her, her lifestyle, her beliefs and convictions. She should thank the people who prayed, worked, and hoped for her release.

This is was weird before. . . now it is downright fruitty.

[Msputiton]

Agreed.
But at this point nothing those fools say can take away the joy of this moment.
Knowing she an American citizen has been brought home from a foreign hostile country.

[SnowedIn]

Thanks for responding.

[BeMuse]

Viktor Bout was probably excited to take up his new role in the syndicate moving all the "missing" weaponry sent to Ukraine with American tax payer dollars... Only 30% made it to the front line. The other 70% is being sold on the black market. Who better to move it than Viktor Bout, a professional weapons smuggler and black market arms dealer. Of course 10% goes to the "big guy"...

[BeMuse]

They sure got you distracted with a pot head basketball player though...

[BeMuse]

That's a lot of money Joe is stealing from the American tax payer... $68 billion * 0.07% = $4,760,000,000.

[SnowedIn]

Than you for responding.

[virtue2332]

I'm glad she is free but let's look at it from a realistic point of view. A would she be freed here if she broke one of our laws? Probably not so the only reason she is being freed is for the optics of it. They could care less about poor Brittney and care more about how many votes they think this will generate them come voting time. Either way congrats on the freedom Brittney.

[Jamie05rhs]

Yes, she absolutely would be freed if she had committed the same crime in America. Heck, she may not have even been arrested in the first place!

[virtue2332]

I didn't mean the same crime a meant an equally in the eyes of the law that would require similiar sentences. We obviously don't agree that she should have been jailed based on the crime compared to our legal system or standards, but should our laws supersede the laws of other nations? Do you suppose the laws be based on the nation the person originates from. That could be scarry. I guess it would depend on what state as far as arrest goes but I guarantee you we have jailed people for much longer with less of a crime than she did. Lets not forget I am all for her not being incarcerated Im just aware that there are a lot of people here in the sates that also should not be incarcerated that probably will never see the light of day because the votes and spotlight just isn't there and thats sad. By the way im pro America I served with the Airforce im not on either political side of any fence I'm just aware of why certain things get attention and why some don't and we need to factor these things in when they are being fed us in the way they are.

[Jamie05rhs]

"but should our laws supersede the laws of other nations?" No; I never said that. Every nation is sovereign and their laws should be respected.

[Jamie05rhs]

"I guess it would depend on what state as far as arrest goes but I guarantee you we have jailed people for much longer with less of a crime than she did." We have in the past, but not currently. NORML has waged a successful campaign of repealing or reforming the marijuana laws in most states.

[virtue2332]

@Jamie05rhs So when they are not respected should they be packaged up and traded with a serious criminal weapons dealer with the leader of our country making statements about how great everything went. Its not good in my opinion it should have been done behind closed doors. the last thing we should do is make it public that the going rate for an arms dealer is a basketball player. I can imagine that meeting because i've been in similar ones on a much smaller scale but attracting voters was probably more valuable than the lives that were involved. I hope im wrong and im missing something like she is a basketball player/ CIA operative and the trade made more sense and doing it soo publicly was diverting attention away from much more important issues we are working on.

[Jamie05rhs]

@virtue2332 Oh, I agree with you on that part.

[SnowedIn]

Thank you very much for responding.

[ManOnFire]

It's both good and bad. Good that Brittney can finally be home, but giving Viktor back to Russia is exactly what they wanted and needed. Of course, Biden needed to win the deal for Brittney anyway to try to make him look better but it isn't helping a whole lot. I'm glad for her and that's about it.

Putin didn't give up Paul Whelan, but it doesn't mean we didn't try to fight for him either.

[SnowedIn]

Thank you for responding.

[jshm2]

America has plenty of arms dealers, you can get that shit in Walmart! But not enough drug dealers, now that weed is legal in some states.

Also, Griner is worth 5 million. Which is more than what a dozen disposable weapon marines are worth.

[SnowedIn]

Thanks for taking the time respond.

[Anonymous]

We also didn't release a guy who's been imprisoned there for espionage, when all he was doing was attending a wedding. He should have priority over someone who intentionally broke their strictest laws, but she's a celebrity so she gets out and he has to sit there for who knows how many more years.

[SnowedIn]

Appreciate you posting; thank you.

[Literalbillionaire17]

I don’t feel bad for her🤷🏽‍♀️ they should have left her. She knew she was supposed to come home, everyone else came home and she stayed just for a little extra money.


I don’t think weed should be a crime but she was not in America, she was in a foreign country, she should have followed the rules.


Great for her that she’s coming home but this is her fault tbh

[SnowedIn]

Thank you for sharing.

[bolverk]

Brittney Griner Should not have been swapped for Viktor Bout, a convicted arms dealer. Paul Whelan should have been swapped as he has been incarcerated longer.
But I suppose for the Biden Administration he's the wrong colour, gender and orientation (and he's an Ex Marine). for them to be concerned about him.

[SnowedIn]

Thanks for taking the time to post this. Well said.

[Jamie05rhs]

This is what happens when you slack off on the Drug War. There are international consequences.

She did what she did because law enforcement in the U. S. is soft, so she was conditioned to believe that she could get away with it.
And now look what happened. We had to get the fucking Secretary of State to rescue her ass.

[SnowedIn]

Thank you for sharing.

[Jamie05rhs]

You're welcome!

[letuswaltzforthedead]

I can't say I'm surprised but can't we just have the both executed? I don't understand why have Griner back? That's just a great show of weakness, being so desperate to want her back (and for no good reason).

[SnowedIn]

Very well said although I'll have to have another cup of coffee and think about the execution part. 😂

[letuswaltzforthedead]

dw, it doesn't need to be gruesome lol but enjoy your coffee

[TotallyAlmost]

This is another Biden catastrophe. Totally asymmetrical. Whelan, a man who served his country and has been in prison for years, is left behind in favor of a celebrity. Classic Democrat politics. Incentivizing more kidnapping and false imprisonment of Americans around the world. What else should we expect from the architect of the historically botched Afghanistan withdrawal that the media and universities have conveniently forgotten.

[SnowedIn]

Thank you for sharing.

[Pudsmucker]

He's quite interesting how are political views go. Personally would have let ask for the veteran to be released versus Brittney Griner. The veteran did more for this nation than Griner ever did except making high scores for basketball team. Shows you how we view our protectors of our nation.

[SnowedIn]

Thank you for responding.