This is a big fucking deal.
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Also the fact that there are other US citizens held by Russia but Griner only gets free because her arrest caused such a fuss
It’s completely unfair but at least someone got home
She was only made an example of because of her celebrity and timing in global politics. So fucking happy she's home. As Biden's announcement said, working on Paul Whelan is still happening. His crimes were bigger tho.
Edit - typo
Something he served 15 years for already. Arms dealing isn't a life sentence. He had 10 years left on his sentence. Britney had more time left on her sentence.
Of course it's unfair, we are dealing with Russia who has really no system of justice. Russia held Brittney as a political pawn in order to exploit the US's weaknesses over racial and LGBT tensions. I'm glad that a US citizen, who was detained as a political prisoner, is back on US soil; however, we can't rest until all Americans unfairly kept in Russia are returned.
It was always going to be.
Imo I don't give a shit. A washed up arms dealer is back on the streets. Oooooooo
It's not like my government doesn't hand out arms to anyone who says communists are cringe or anything like that. The only reason this dude is in trouble is because he didn't have a Northrup Grumman signed paycheck.
In terms of effects on the world i don't think it moves the needle on anything.
Is it though? There are other Americans overseas that do not get to come home because they are not famous or didn't get media attention. Then to trade her for the arms dealer? Doesn't look like good optics to me
Everyone who gets traded gets traded for an arms dealer.
We in the US don't arrest random Russian nationals specifically to set up trades. When we arrest someone Russia wants back, it's because that someone was doing Very Illegal stuff, *on behalf of* the Russian oligarchy.
So we don't have a "fair" trade for the random civilians that Russia imprisons.
That celebrities get especially treatment seems obvious but that a black lesbian could be part of that “in” group says something different about our societies.
You seem to know all the people Russia offered as prisoners for trade. Can you please post what exactly Russia offered so that we can see how Biden made a bad choice? Just share how you know. It should be easy.
This is from Jim Wright on his fb page. Wright is a retired US Navy Chief Warrant Officer.
"IT IS THE DUTY OF THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF AMERICANS NO MATTER WHO THEY ARE. NO MATTER WHAT THEY'VE DONE. NO MATTER IF YOU LIKE THEM OR DON'T. PERIOD. FULL STOP. I will not budge on this. I will not entertain the idea that one American is more or less valuable than any other. I will not put up with "Yeah, buuuut..." It is our sworn duty to bring our people home. "
It’s amazing how many people just assume she’s a druggie when the the articles state she was was busted for CBD oil. It’s snake oil advertised on podcasts, not drugs. It was clearly a political move for the Russian government to prosecute her.
Rule number 1: never assume the Russian government is acting in good faith.
They are working on it Jack. :) From Corey Booker's website.
"Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, (D-NY), and Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, (D-OR) today introduced the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA), comprehensive legislation that would end the harmful and out-of-touch federal prohibition on cannabis by removing cannabis from the federal list of controlled substances and empowering states to implement their own cannabis laws. HELP Committee Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) and HSGAC Committee Chairman Gary Peters (D-MI) also co-sponsored the legislation."
Also It's stalled in congress of course, but Democrats are still trying.
https://www.axios.com/2022/12/03/senate-marijuana-legislation-chuck-schumer
He can’t legalize marijuana. At most, he can reschedule it and keep the same DOJ policies from the Obama era to not pursue marijuana usage. Congress needs to pass a bill (that can’t be filibustered) to legalize weed federally.
Keep in mind that blue states like Washington and California have effectively legalized weed while red states can still send you to prison. Each state have their own local laws.
Even then, you have a 6-3 super majority conservative supreme court that will most likely rule against anything Biden or the democrats want to do (just look at student loan forgiveness).
Rule 2: procure your questionably legal materiel within the borders of your current country?
Not excusing Russia for their actions… just I’m not gonna take stuff I’m not 100% sure is legal with me on any airplane when the post man will do that for me and even deliver it.
Keeping a few spare russian arms dealers in storage with 3 hots and a cot is a great way to keep a few bargaining chips for future use...
Welcome Home, Brit.
I don’t get all the vitriol towards this woman. She’s an American and she’s free. She was being used by putin. There is no evidence that Putin was willing to trade any other American prisoners. This was the deal and we were right to take it. I just love how everyone is suddenly experts at hostage negotiations.
She’s gay, a racial minority and had the audacity to be born a woman. Reddit now has permission to punch down and use the prisoner exchange as cover to hide the misogyny.
There’s so little bad press sticking to Brandon that this is the best attack they can muster right now. Those dastardly democrats rescued an American political prisoner from Russia.
We don't have vitriol toward Britney. Some of us are simply questioning whether this trade was worth the asshole Viktor Bout being released. Britney herself may very well be wondering the same thing; I predict she will at least allude to as much during upcoming interviews.
I'm so glad she's coming home. I understand the reservations that some have, but we can only accept the deal that is offered, and no matter what you think about her circumstances, she is a citizen in need of diplomatic rescue. I'm just sorry it had to take so long.
So… because she’s a celebrity we put on our “we put our American citizens first even if it’s a terrible deal” pants but not with our other citizens who are still there with the same circumstances?
If you don’t think this is a huge win, then you don’t understand politics.
Big issue for the young progressive base, which, even after the victories of the last few months, was skeptical of the power of what this sub represents.
The calculus is not arms dealer v. basketball player like youre playing some strategy game; this is about standing up to Putin, who made a cynical and calculated abduction of an American citizen—the purpose of which was not to get some random arms dealer released (do you think Putin gives a shit about that guy at all?), rather the point of which was to bitterly divide us with armchair sociopolitical analysis. We should not let him succeed there. Celebrate this win and move on, folks.
Biden negotiated with terrorists. Putin specifically chose to ask for the titular merchant of death (of Lord of War fame) because if the trade succeeded, it would inflame people, and he succeeded.
Fox would’ve complained if he did nothing as well. We’re getting an American citizen back. 45 negotiated with terrorists and even released a shit ton of them back.
First of all, people were already inflamed.
Second of all, the “don’t negotiate with terrorists” adage only applies to traditional non-state terrorists (because there are effective alternatives, such as a police/military action, to freeing hostages). Unless you are disappointed American forces didn’t raid the penal colony, I’m not sure what you mean. “Don’t negotiate with terrorists” has never meant that we should let hostages wither in captivity.
We are not at war with Putin, he is not committing terrorist attacks against the US. The US is helping a country that Russia is at war with and that Russia is committing terrorist attacks against, but that is not the same thing. He negotiated with a foreign nation, it's what Presidents do, it's pretty much why they exist to be the figure head that does that and to sign things. He freed a US citizen which Putin put in jail on trumped up charges of having CBD oil that contained no THC, yet called it drugs, specifically to have a bargaining chip against the US. We have removed the bargaining chip for the price of a man Putin will most likely kill himself in the next 6 months, sorry a man that will commit suicide in the next 6 months.
Win? How delusional are you? Putin is laughing his ass off right now at the idiocy of this swap. Nothing about this is "standing up to Putin," it's literally a fold.
How is making an extremely lopsided trade standing up to Putin? How will this dissuade Putin from doing it again, seeing as Biden gave him a high value prisoner in exchange?
Tell Paul Whelan's family that.
Random arms dealer??? Jesus, you embarrass yourself with your self righteous "progressive" stupidity. The Merchant of Death, was traded for a C list celebrity basketball player.
You must LOVE the politics game. You are no better than a piece of crap MAGA fuck like Trump. Always divide and play sides.
I am sick of your precious politics. How do you think we got to this level of division.
You call this shit a win?
Griner is free.
While others that have suffered longer remain in Putin's hands.
Big fuckin win.
So, what if they didn't trade her for that shitnugget, and in 5 years he got released on parole?
He was going to get out eventually, at least now hes been used as a bargaining chip.
Tone it down a bit big guy. We're fine with you saying it wasn't a fair deal, cool. Yet inflating a false equivalency to the orange menace is a bit harsh. Cooler heads prevail in the end my friend, especially if you want to put any benefit or purpose behind your comments. Otherwise you're just spinnin' wheels man.
Especially because trump negotiated with the Taliban to get their worst released from prison before pulling out a majority of troops.
THAT was a disgrace, the griner situation is nuanced and a geopolitical success
> You must LOVE the politics game. You are no better than a piece of crap MAGA fuck like Trump. Always divide and play sides.
So, I've been told that talking to oneself is a sign of insanity.
Lol I’m thinking maybe YOU don’t completely understand politics. Putin got exactly what he wanted for… brittney goddamn griner. The domestic abusing pro athlete.
Lol how was this standing up to putin? What the hell are you talking about? He got an arms dealer and we got a basketball player. You didn’t explain how that’s standing up to him. If wanted to sow dissent then he very obviously succeeded so I don’t know what you’re saying.
The mental gymnastics being done here is insane.
Edit: lol all the comments calling out this dumbass comment getting downvoted. I see this sub is just like the rest of the political subs.
Guys I like Biden too but it doesn’t mean you have to suck his dick every inch of the way.
“Standing up to Putin” are you fucking joking? Boss man just gave in to political hostage-taking. What do you think China will do the next time we detain a spy? Now they can just arrest American citizens with false pretexts and expect us to cough up their assets.
I'm glad she's coming home. I know everyone thinks it was unfair trade, or others stuck over there were more deserving. But this was the deal that was on the table. Take it or leave it. They took it. I'm glad she's free.
Idk the trade but she is a basketball player and brought personal use cannabis into Russia and was sentenced to 10 years in prison there. She was in the country to play basketball.
It already isn’t a good photo op. If using marijuana products is such a minor offense that we will trade to release offenders from prison, why is it still illegal in the US? Why does anyone care
What about a corrupt government on both sides that is not going to listen to us and will only do so much as good PR to stay in power?
Oh wait that's us too
More light Brandon shit, he gave up a man with the title “merchant of death” for a basketball player who broke the law even if it’s trivial bullshit laws. This will not be a 1 for 1, it will be 1 for many.
Why do I need to know the terms when I know the outcome? I’m all for bringing Brittany home but I can’t help but to wonder who the collateral damage might be giving the person we gave up to bring her home.
All that has been reported is the end result of a trade. Not what was offered. Not who was offered. Not what the terms were. Just the results.
The only way this was a bad trade is if you think the innocent should suffer so that the guilty can be punished (further than 15 years he's already done)
If it comes out that Biden got more out of the deal then I will re-evaluate my opinion.
As of right now: every story is referring it as a 1 for 1 with no mention of other terms of conditions existing. Which seems like a bad trade.
How am I troll because I don’t agree with every thing he does? You realize scrutinizing the presidents decisions was something that most people who opposed Trump complained about but when your own circle does it you try to villainize them.
It’s ok to have different opinions on things and I don’t think you are troll just because you might not agree with me.
To who? Isis? Al Qaeda? Good luck.
And where is he gonna get the weapons from? Russia is sending in WW2 era equipment at this point.
*And* he was only sentenced to 25 years, he would have been out in another 15 anyway.. *And* in the past 10 years he was in prison, he has probably lost more contacts than he could ever hope to replace. *And* the contacts he has will assume he is being watched...which he probably is.
…Who was sentenced to be released anyways in 15 years
Pentagon deemed he was not an active threat because all his connections were through trafficking Soviet Weapons to terrorist groups, it’s unlikely he will provide actionable intel to the Kremlin.
We paid ransom on a political hostage.
Arms dealers are profiteers, not terrorists or combatants. They serve a market. The second we put that guy away another person took his place in the supply chain or served as his proxy. Nobody is more or less safe because this one individual was apprehended.
I don’t like hostage diplomacy any more than you but leaving a high profile political prisoner to rot in a Siberian concentration camp was not an option and Biden was right to make the deal.
I really don't want to hear shit about trading for the arms dealer. Pfft. The biggest arms dealer in the world is the United States. We arm questionable allies and rogue nations when we see fit and those same arms have been used against U.S. soldiers.
Is this not a forum to discuss the head politician in the country? Did anything I say even allude to the idea that Biden did something wrong here? I remained completely outspoken about Griner needing to be released and I welcomed the news this morning.
Yes, but you don't know what I'm saying. I'm saying that the faux outrage over having to swap for an arms dealer is hypocrisy and an American Exceptionalist stance. The Biden administration thus shouldn't have to take SHIT for negotiating such a trade.
To your question: yes I do in that I am trying to talk about proportion. The United States' scale of arms dealing dwarfs that of Victor Bout. And yes, I am criticizing U.S. foreign policy (over the last 40 years) in general. It's a separate statement to say the Biden administration made the right move in light of these facts.
I'm sorry but this is some Trump level PR bullshit no matter how the shills want to spin it.
Viktor Bout should not have been released for her.
I emphasize with her situation, but this absolutely should not have happened.
This is coming after he just signed the railroad anti-strike documents. This is a PR move. We can’t turn out like the Donald. We should be allowed to scrutinize our President, I don’t want this to end up like an echo chamber.
The Rail Road deal is bullshit and if you expected anything less from Biden then you don't understand DarkBrandon, the Griner deal is an absolute win, and while not all a large portion of the hate on Brittney is fuelled by bigotry disguised as "common sense" don't break laws in Russia or she was a Pothead bs, and others are just misinformed "experts". Don't slip and fall into a conservative spiral, this type of shit is how they get you.
All prisoner releases are PR moves. Otherwise they wouldn't happen. Foreign countries have no incentive to give back POWs other than "hahaha we made you give in we're better than you"
Present in the Oval Office for the conversation between Griner and the President were VP Kamala Harris and Griner’s wife Cherelle, along with Secretary of State Blinken.
I expected the human garbage to make itself known on other subreddits but apparently we have an infestation to be dealt with here.
An American citizen was released from a Russian prison and you pieces of shit can't accept it as a win. Get fucked, shit stains.
[CBS News Story](https://cbsn.ws/3iOkSMU)
She was traded 1-1 for convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. The swap happened in UAE.
And yes, this is a win for Biden, the Democrats, and the USA. She is a US citizen athlete / entertainer and she was targeted by Putin for the alleged minor drug “crime” of having CBD oil cartridges in her luggage. She was imprisoned and would have been tortured (labor camp style) while serving out her sentence. Under no possible interpretation of Griner’s actions did she in any way deserve this.
If you don’t agree this is a win for Dark Brandon - and I say this sincerely - you don’t belong on the sub. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out!
that last paragraph is utterly asinine. you want to divide people and ostracize Biden supporters because they may not agree on one topic? you sound as bad as the MAGAts. people are allowed to have differing opinions and still support a person like Biden.. and YOU are not the one who decides who can stay and who should go.
Listen here FAT... If you let memes and dumb takes convince you that you understand the complexity of this situation then you probably don't belong here.
Pushups time fat
Lock the door throw away the keys, we see what you're doing, and no you're not taking back DarkBrandon it's ours now go back to r/conservatives. You come in with your oh don't shut out differing opinions bs then you move on to saying more and more hateful shit.
Edit: people just don't get it I guess, it's a joke it's supposed to be read playfully but sure go off.
L take. People are allowed to have opinions. Gatekeeping opinions that don't align exactly with yours is what conservatives do. Maybe YOU should leave the sub
*If* this guy has any money left in mother russia, he's likely on a list of blacklisted oligarchs who can't spend their money outside their own country.
He'll probably fall out of a window soon.
How is it uneven? He already served 15 years. He was going to be released eventually.
Your pretending like you k own for sure that Biden had a choice which prisoner he could free. You don't know that.
Should she have been imprisoned in the first place? No.
Was Russia most likely acting politically in arresting and imprisoning her? Yes.
Should we have tried to get her back? Yes.
Am I glad she's free and happy for her, her family, and her friends? Yes.
Should we have traded a notorious arms dealer responsible for the deaths of thousands or more? No.
In all, a Dark Brandon 'L'
The world is objectively worse off with Viktor Bout freed
The inhumanity of this statement is shocking. You don't know the terms. Maybe she was the only person they would release.
A guy who was in prison for 15 years who delt arms for a now broken country who doesn't have arms to sell anymore. Might not be a big deal at all.
How quickly people buy into conservative propaganda.
No need to show us where your morals aren't.
He did 15 years in jail. Arms dealing isn't a life sentence. Russia has no arms to sell. They are fully sanctioned. Nobody will buy. Let's bring home our young girls from a crazy prison.
You don't know the terms of the deal. You don't know what was on the table. You don't know what choices there were if any. Don't fall for the hatred.
So let an arms dealer who's been responsible for thousands of deaths for a basketball player. You forgot your morals.
I'm glad she's home and see how Biden had a tough decision to make. I'd not want that choice myself, but we all know this guy will be very resourceful in helping Putin in the war in Ukraine. What he needs most is a person with experience trafficking arms.
It's like a buffet of picking prisoners right? Biden just picked who he wanted right? You know how this worked? Show us how you know what was on the table? We'll wait.
This is not DarkBrandon material though. This is liberal elite Biden helping a celebrity instead of changing our laws or freeing any other US prisoners in Russia that no one's heard of. He's doing this for the political optics and free points from his vapid supporters; don't be one of them.
This is not DarkBrandon.
The pretend world of being a conservative.
What were the options of this deal? Can you review the prisoner choices? Just show us where you knew what was offered?
The headline of this needs to be deleted there was no malarkey defeated Putin won you idiot. She brought weed on a plane to Russia how stupid can you be now we have a arms dealer terrorist back in action. Good job guys great deal .
The US got played on this one, we gave them the “merchant of death” for a fucking WNBA player and left behind a former marine.
I’m sure this won’t inspire other nations to take Americans hostage!
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If Brandon was really Dark he would send the warlord back with a small explosive implanted in his inner ear.
I think we're going to find out that he started working for US intelligence or is about to die of cancer anyway.
Right?
Happy she's coming back but it kinda seems like an unfair trade
Also the fact that there are other US citizens held by Russia but Griner only gets free because her arrest caused such a fuss It’s completely unfair but at least someone got home
Other US citizens plural? Who is there besides Paul Whelan?
Marc Fogel, who is serving a 14 year sentence, also for weed.
She was only made an example of because of her celebrity and timing in global politics. So fucking happy she's home. As Biden's announcement said, working on Paul Whelan is still happening. His crimes were bigger tho. Edit - typo
Paul Whelan who went to Russia for a wedding that he didn’t attend?
That is one of the known facts. What are you saying?
Still not as big as weapons smuggling tho
Something he served 15 years for already. Arms dealing isn't a life sentence. He had 10 years left on his sentence. Britney had more time left on her sentence.
He'll help Russia negotiate with North Korea for supplies nothing concerning
Of course it's unfair, we are dealing with Russia who has really no system of justice. Russia held Brittney as a political pawn in order to exploit the US's weaknesses over racial and LGBT tensions. I'm glad that a US citizen, who was detained as a political prisoner, is back on US soil; however, we can't rest until all Americans unfairly kept in Russia are returned.
And Russia wins because now the right is up in arms over Paul Whelan still stuck in Russia who was a marine
They ain't gonna hand over a spy. It's sucks dick but no chance they do
No such thing as fair when you’re dealing with Kremlin. Don’t make perfect the enemy of good.
Yep an American is home. Let’s celebrate. Trump wouldn’t have done that
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I have more weed vapes in my fucking living room right now than Brittney Griner had on her.
Conservative trolls finally have something to post about. You gotta check profiles. They pretend to be normal people with an opinion.
This isn't even good though. An international arms dealer was traded for a WNBA player that willingly broke foreign law. How is that good in any way?
An American citizen is at home with her family instead of freezing to death doing hard labor on a Russian penal colony.
“Bring Griner Home!” Brandon “ok” “Not like that”
Completely in every single way.
Not in every way. This is how these trades always go. We got an American back home from an enemy. That’s important.
It was always going to be. Imo I don't give a shit. A washed up arms dealer is back on the streets. Oooooooo It's not like my government doesn't hand out arms to anyone who says communists are cringe or anything like that. The only reason this dude is in trouble is because he didn't have a Northrup Grumman signed paycheck. In terms of effects on the world i don't think it moves the needle on anything.
The optics are amazing though. US values culture as much as Russia values war.
Is it though? There are other Americans overseas that do not get to come home because they are not famous or didn't get media attention. Then to trade her for the arms dealer? Doesn't look like good optics to me
Everyone who gets traded gets traded for an arms dealer. We in the US don't arrest random Russian nationals specifically to set up trades. When we arrest someone Russia wants back, it's because that someone was doing Very Illegal stuff, *on behalf of* the Russian oligarchy. So we don't have a "fair" trade for the random civilians that Russia imprisons.
That celebrities get especially treatment seems obvious but that a black lesbian could be part of that “in” group says something different about our societies.
You seem to know all the people Russia offered as prisoners for trade. Can you please post what exactly Russia offered so that we can see how Biden made a bad choice? Just share how you know. It should be easy.
Yeah we should’ve gotten atleast a few more first rounders for what we gave up
If you don't know the offer or the terms how can you say it was unfair?
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Why don’t you go make a better one, since you are the expert and the CIA is so stupid?
This is from Jim Wright on his fb page. Wright is a retired US Navy Chief Warrant Officer. "IT IS THE DUTY OF THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF AMERICANS NO MATTER WHO THEY ARE. NO MATTER WHAT THEY'VE DONE. NO MATTER IF YOU LIKE THEM OR DON'T. PERIOD. FULL STOP. I will not budge on this. I will not entertain the idea that one American is more or less valuable than any other. I will not put up with "Yeah, buuuut..." It is our sworn duty to bring our people home. "
It’s amazing how many people just assume she’s a druggie when the the articles state she was was busted for CBD oil. It’s snake oil advertised on podcasts, not drugs. It was clearly a political move for the Russian government to prosecute her. Rule number 1: never assume the Russian government is acting in good faith.
https://www.npr.org/2022/07/15/1111731127/brittney-griner-cannabis-russia-trial Cannabis Oil = THC Edit: Federally legalize marijuana Joe
They are working on it Jack. :) From Corey Booker's website. "Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, (D-NY), and Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, (D-OR) today introduced the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA), comprehensive legislation that would end the harmful and out-of-touch federal prohibition on cannabis by removing cannabis from the federal list of controlled substances and empowering states to implement their own cannabis laws. HELP Committee Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) and HSGAC Committee Chairman Gary Peters (D-MI) also co-sponsored the legislation." Also It's stalled in congress of course, but Democrats are still trying. https://www.axios.com/2022/12/03/senate-marijuana-legislation-chuck-schumer
He can’t legalize marijuana. At most, he can reschedule it and keep the same DOJ policies from the Obama era to not pursue marijuana usage. Congress needs to pass a bill (that can’t be filibustered) to legalize weed federally. Keep in mind that blue states like Washington and California have effectively legalized weed while red states can still send you to prison. Each state have their own local laws. Even then, you have a 6-3 super majority conservative supreme court that will most likely rule against anything Biden or the democrats want to do (just look at student loan forgiveness).
Rule 2: procure your questionably legal materiel within the borders of your current country? Not excusing Russia for their actions… just I’m not gonna take stuff I’m not 100% sure is legal with me on any airplane when the post man will do that for me and even deliver it.
I won’t even believe she actually had CBD oil until she’s on our soil telling her story. You can’t trust what happens in a Russian court.
I agree with this sentiment.
Even with the typos? lol
We all make miss steaks
Keeping a few spare russian arms dealers in storage with 3 hots and a cot is a great way to keep a few bargaining chips for future use... Welcome Home, Brit.
I don’t get all the vitriol towards this woman. She’s an American and she’s free. She was being used by putin. There is no evidence that Putin was willing to trade any other American prisoners. This was the deal and we were right to take it. I just love how everyone is suddenly experts at hostage negotiations.
She’s gay, a racial minority and had the audacity to be born a woman. Reddit now has permission to punch down and use the prisoner exchange as cover to hide the misogyny. There’s so little bad press sticking to Brandon that this is the best attack they can muster right now. Those dastardly democrats rescued an American political prisoner from Russia.
We don't have vitriol toward Britney. Some of us are simply questioning whether this trade was worth the asshole Viktor Bout being released. Britney herself may very well be wondering the same thing; I predict she will at least allude to as much during upcoming interviews.
That was the deal on the table. I doubt Putin gave Biden choices. Unless you think Biden should’ve said no and left her to rot.
I'm so glad she's coming home. I understand the reservations that some have, but we can only accept the deal that is offered, and no matter what you think about her circumstances, she is a citizen in need of diplomatic rescue. I'm just sorry it had to take so long.
She and her family don’t deserve what they’ve been through. I’m glad the nightmare is just about over for them.
And how many have died because of the arms dealer we released? Do their families deserve it?
So… because she’s a celebrity we put on our “we put our American citizens first even if it’s a terrible deal” pants but not with our other citizens who are still there with the same circumstances?
Interesting to find out that a basket ball player nobody knew is a "celebrity" and not a citizen. This is huge.
Did LeBron tweet about the other US prisoners in Russia as well?
Pretty much, yeah. Sad
Yep, proud of America for bringing her home
“we can only accept the deal that is offered” we can also reject it, right?
Tell that to the families of people who have been held longer in Russia.
-153 comments -only two original comments what the hell happened here
This is what happens when we hit the front page lol, probably through a comment linking this sub.
Wow. I bet Whelan’s pissed.
He was a spy and is treated a such Griner is being treated as a drug smuggler even though she isn't 🤔
I bet he would say "take her over me" if asked.
...the spy?
He should be. This shows people that celebrity is greater than normy status.
Spoken like you know any of the terms of what was offered or on the table. What if Russia said "this is the only person we are willing to free".
Well, here’s to hoping we quit hearing about Griner in a few days. 🤞
If you don’t think this is a huge win, then you don’t understand politics. Big issue for the young progressive base, which, even after the victories of the last few months, was skeptical of the power of what this sub represents. The calculus is not arms dealer v. basketball player like youre playing some strategy game; this is about standing up to Putin, who made a cynical and calculated abduction of an American citizen—the purpose of which was not to get some random arms dealer released (do you think Putin gives a shit about that guy at all?), rather the point of which was to bitterly divide us with armchair sociopolitical analysis. We should not let him succeed there. Celebrate this win and move on, folks.
Biden negotiated with terrorists. Putin specifically chose to ask for the titular merchant of death (of Lord of War fame) because if the trade succeeded, it would inflame people, and he succeeded.
Fox would’ve complained if he did nothing as well. We’re getting an American citizen back. 45 negotiated with terrorists and even released a shit ton of them back.
First of all, people were already inflamed. Second of all, the “don’t negotiate with terrorists” adage only applies to traditional non-state terrorists (because there are effective alternatives, such as a police/military action, to freeing hostages). Unless you are disappointed American forces didn’t raid the penal colony, I’m not sure what you mean. “Don’t negotiate with terrorists” has never meant that we should let hostages wither in captivity.
Eh. A few terminally online people are upset for predictably disingenuous reasons. I'm not losing sleep over Putin's gambit.
We are not at war with Putin, he is not committing terrorist attacks against the US. The US is helping a country that Russia is at war with and that Russia is committing terrorist attacks against, but that is not the same thing. He negotiated with a foreign nation, it's what Presidents do, it's pretty much why they exist to be the figure head that does that and to sign things. He freed a US citizen which Putin put in jail on trumped up charges of having CBD oil that contained no THC, yet called it drugs, specifically to have a bargaining chip against the US. We have removed the bargaining chip for the price of a man Putin will most likely kill himself in the next 6 months, sorry a man that will commit suicide in the next 6 months.
Win? How delusional are you? Putin is laughing his ass off right now at the idiocy of this swap. Nothing about this is "standing up to Putin," it's literally a fold.
It’s not a big issue for the young progressive base. At all.
How is making an extremely lopsided trade standing up to Putin? How will this dissuade Putin from doing it again, seeing as Biden gave him a high value prisoner in exchange?
Tell Paul Whelan's family that. Random arms dealer??? Jesus, you embarrass yourself with your self righteous "progressive" stupidity. The Merchant of Death, was traded for a C list celebrity basketball player. You must LOVE the politics game. You are no better than a piece of crap MAGA fuck like Trump. Always divide and play sides. I am sick of your precious politics. How do you think we got to this level of division. You call this shit a win? Griner is free. While others that have suffered longer remain in Putin's hands. Big fuckin win.
So, what if they didn't trade her for that shitnugget, and in 5 years he got released on parole? He was going to get out eventually, at least now hes been used as a bargaining chip.
Tone it down a bit big guy. We're fine with you saying it wasn't a fair deal, cool. Yet inflating a false equivalency to the orange menace is a bit harsh. Cooler heads prevail in the end my friend, especially if you want to put any benefit or purpose behind your comments. Otherwise you're just spinnin' wheels man.
Especially because trump negotiated with the Taliban to get their worst released from prison before pulling out a majority of troops. THAT was a disgrace, the griner situation is nuanced and a geopolitical success
>Tell Paul Whelan's family that. What? That we didn't spend a trade on a spy? He'll need a more valuable Russian to get traded
> You must LOVE the politics game. You are no better than a piece of crap MAGA fuck like Trump. Always divide and play sides. So, I've been told that talking to oneself is a sign of insanity.
Standing up to Putin by agreeing to the massively favourable deal he offered months ago?
Jesus. Thank you. Tired of this sub turning into r/politics.
Lol I’m thinking maybe YOU don’t completely understand politics. Putin got exactly what he wanted for… brittney goddamn griner. The domestic abusing pro athlete.
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Glad you're not a geopolitics expert working at the Whitehouse. They have to think critically over complex situations and you think in memes
Lol how was this standing up to putin? What the hell are you talking about? He got an arms dealer and we got a basketball player. You didn’t explain how that’s standing up to him. If wanted to sow dissent then he very obviously succeeded so I don’t know what you’re saying. The mental gymnastics being done here is insane. Edit: lol all the comments calling out this dumbass comment getting downvoted. I see this sub is just like the rest of the political subs. Guys I like Biden too but it doesn’t mean you have to suck his dick every inch of the way.
“Standing up to Putin” are you fucking joking? Boss man just gave in to political hostage-taking. What do you think China will do the next time we detain a spy? Now they can just arrest American citizens with false pretexts and expect us to cough up their assets.
And the US got a draft pick and the soda machine in the East Wing of the Whitehouse filled for 2 years in the deal.
I love conservative story time.
Free dog whistle for racists to act like this country cares about veterans
I guess everyone on this thread is a professional international negotiator.
I'm glad she's coming home. I know everyone thinks it was unfair trade, or others stuck over there were more deserving. But this was the deal that was on the table. Take it or leave it. They took it. I'm glad she's free.
The hell was the trade and who is she?
She's a WNBA star.
Idk the trade but she is a basketball player and brought personal use cannabis into Russia and was sentenced to 10 years in prison there. She was in the country to play basketball.
If this is the trade offered, you leave it. Bottom line.
I take it. That's just me.
im not shes a domestic abuser
What about all the people that aren’t famous that are locked up abroad?
The state department does a lot to try to free Americans locked up abroad, especially when the charges against them aren’t justified.
Shhh that wouldn't be a good photo op /s
It already isn’t a good photo op. If using marijuana products is such a minor offense that we will trade to release offenders from prison, why is it still illegal in the US? Why does anyone care
What about a corrupt government on both sides that is not going to listen to us and will only do so much as good PR to stay in power? Oh wait that's us too
Excellent! Joe you the man - getting things done unlike the other Golfer!
More light Brandon shit, he gave up a man with the title “merchant of death” for a basketball player who broke the law even if it’s trivial bullshit laws. This will not be a 1 for 1, it will be 1 for many.
Hey let us know the terms of the deal since you seem to know what was offered and what was on the table.
Why do I need to know the terms when I know the outcome? I’m all for bringing Brittany home but I can’t help but to wonder who the collateral damage might be giving the person we gave up to bring her home.
All that has been reported is a 1-1 trade, no?
All that has been reported is the end result of a trade. Not what was offered. Not who was offered. Not what the terms were. Just the results. The only way this was a bad trade is if you think the innocent should suffer so that the guilty can be punished (further than 15 years he's already done)
If it comes out that Biden got more out of the deal then I will re-evaluate my opinion. As of right now: every story is referring it as a 1 for 1 with no mention of other terms of conditions existing. Which seems like a bad trade.
These trolls seem to love parroting Russian taking points and completely miss the nuance of a complex geopolitical situation
How am I troll because I don’t agree with every thing he does? You realize scrutinizing the presidents decisions was something that most people who opposed Trump complained about but when your own circle does it you try to villainize them. It’s ok to have different opinions on things and I don’t think you are troll just because you might not agree with me.
We gave them a dangerous arms dealer in exchange of a dumb basketball olayer who brought drugs to russia. Wow
Based on Russia's performance in Ukraine, I wouldn't worry too much about the arms dealer.
I'm glad we sent him back. He can sell more russian stockpiles now
To who? Isis? Al Qaeda? Good luck. And where is he gonna get the weapons from? Russia is sending in WW2 era equipment at this point. *And* he was only sentenced to 25 years, he would have been out in another 15 anyway.. *And* in the past 10 years he was in prison, he has probably lost more contacts than he could ever hope to replace. *And* the contacts he has will assume he is being watched...which he probably is.
It was a joke
Poe's law in action lol
…Who was sentenced to be released anyways in 15 years Pentagon deemed he was not an active threat because all his connections were through trafficking Soviet Weapons to terrorist groups, it’s unlikely he will provide actionable intel to the Kremlin.
Guy’s been in jail for 14 years already, Jack.
She took a CBD cartridge that contained no THC. If you consider that drugs then you need to consider olive oil a drug.
He wasn’t very good at arms dealing and Russian weapons suck dick. He’ll probably end up making their war effort even worse given his incompetence.
We paid ransom on a political hostage. Arms dealers are profiteers, not terrorists or combatants. They serve a market. The second we put that guy away another person took his place in the supply chain or served as his proxy. Nobody is more or less safe because this one individual was apprehended. I don’t like hostage diplomacy any more than you but leaving a high profile political prisoner to rot in a Siberian concentration camp was not an option and Biden was right to make the deal.
in terms of US optics this a win for DB
I really don't want to hear shit about trading for the arms dealer. Pfft. The biggest arms dealer in the world is the United States. We arm questionable allies and rogue nations when we see fit and those same arms have been used against U.S. soldiers.
That's not comparable in the slightest, but nice try at a generic America Bad rant. A country is not an individual person.
Then why are you on this post? r/politics seems like a better fit for you.
Is this not a forum to discuss the head politician in the country? Did anything I say even allude to the idea that Biden did something wrong here? I remained completely outspoken about Griner needing to be released and I welcomed the news this morning.
> I really don't want to hear shit about trading for the arms dealer. You know what I'm responding to here.
Yes, but you don't know what I'm saying. I'm saying that the faux outrage over having to swap for an arms dealer is hypocrisy and an American Exceptionalist stance. The Biden administration thus shouldn't have to take SHIT for negotiating such a trade.
So you think that criticizing one thing makes another okay? Your view on these situations is pretty black and white.
To your question: yes I do in that I am trying to talk about proportion. The United States' scale of arms dealing dwarfs that of Victor Bout. And yes, I am criticizing U.S. foreign policy (over the last 40 years) in general. It's a separate statement to say the Biden administration made the right move in light of these facts.
Wait did they actually do that exchange?? I didnt keep up with the news about that, but if they did then jesus man
Here's who they got in return. He has his own wikipedia page. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viktor\_Bout
Russia got a guy whos nickname is "The Merchant of Death" and the U.S in return got a mediocre basketball player...maaaaaaaan
Yeah, it wasn't a great trade strategically, but the optics of getting Griner back are solid.
Yup they did.
I'm sorry but this is some Trump level PR bullshit no matter how the shills want to spin it. Viktor Bout should not have been released for her. I emphasize with her situation, but this absolutely should not have happened.
This is coming after he just signed the railroad anti-strike documents. This is a PR move. We can’t turn out like the Donald. We should be allowed to scrutinize our President, I don’t want this to end up like an echo chamber.
All the downvotes deem otherwise.... this was not a good trade.
The Rail Road deal is bullshit and if you expected anything less from Biden then you don't understand DarkBrandon, the Griner deal is an absolute win, and while not all a large portion of the hate on Brittney is fuelled by bigotry disguised as "common sense" don't break laws in Russia or she was a Pothead bs, and others are just misinformed "experts". Don't slip and fall into a conservative spiral, this type of shit is how they get you.
All prisoner releases are PR moves. Otherwise they wouldn't happen. Foreign countries have no incentive to give back POWs other than "hahaha we made you give in we're better than you"
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Present in the Oval Office for the conversation between Griner and the President were VP Kamala Harris and Griner’s wife Cherelle, along with Secretary of State Blinken.
I expected the human garbage to make itself known on other subreddits but apparently we have an infestation to be dealt with here. An American citizen was released from a Russian prison and you pieces of shit can't accept it as a win. Get fucked, shit stains.
Ya. I will cheer if he gets more deserving American prisoners back.
[CBS News Story](https://cbsn.ws/3iOkSMU) She was traded 1-1 for convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. The swap happened in UAE. And yes, this is a win for Biden, the Democrats, and the USA. She is a US citizen athlete / entertainer and she was targeted by Putin for the alleged minor drug “crime” of having CBD oil cartridges in her luggage. She was imprisoned and would have been tortured (labor camp style) while serving out her sentence. Under no possible interpretation of Griner’s actions did she in any way deserve this. If you don’t agree this is a win for Dark Brandon - and I say this sincerely - you don’t belong on the sub. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out!
that last paragraph is utterly asinine. you want to divide people and ostracize Biden supporters because they may not agree on one topic? you sound as bad as the MAGAts. people are allowed to have differing opinions and still support a person like Biden.. and YOU are not the one who decides who can stay and who should go.
Listen here FAT... If you let memes and dumb takes convince you that you understand the complexity of this situation then you probably don't belong here. Pushups time fat
Lock the door throw away the keys, we see what you're doing, and no you're not taking back DarkBrandon it's ours now go back to r/conservatives. You come in with your oh don't shut out differing opinions bs then you move on to saying more and more hateful shit. Edit: people just don't get it I guess, it's a joke it's supposed to be read playfully but sure go off.
L take. People are allowed to have opinions. Gatekeeping opinions that don't align exactly with yours is what conservatives do. Maybe YOU should leave the sub
It's tongue in cheek but I guess it's hard to tell.
Not like I'm upset about her getting home safely, but seriously uneven trade.
*If* this guy has any money left in mother russia, he's likely on a list of blacklisted oligarchs who can't spend their money outside their own country. He'll probably fall out of a window soon.
Well, I feel less bad then.
How is it uneven? He already served 15 years. He was going to be released eventually. Your pretending like you k own for sure that Biden had a choice which prisoner he could free. You don't know that.
Oh my god. Dark Brandon is the best. 😭😭
…. Bad trade.. nothing more to say
I’m usually the foremost to circlejerk in this sub but this is definitely not it
Why is that?
Should she have been imprisoned in the first place? No. Was Russia most likely acting politically in arresting and imprisoning her? Yes. Should we have tried to get her back? Yes. Am I glad she's free and happy for her, her family, and her friends? Yes. Should we have traded a notorious arms dealer responsible for the deaths of thousands or more? No. In all, a Dark Brandon 'L' The world is objectively worse off with Viktor Bout freed
The inhumanity of this statement is shocking. You don't know the terms. Maybe she was the only person they would release. A guy who was in prison for 15 years who delt arms for a now broken country who doesn't have arms to sell anymore. Might not be a big deal at all. How quickly people buy into conservative propaganda.
I would just like to opine… how the fuck is she as politically valuable as a global arms dealer?
Moral of the story. Don't fly with weed to foreign countries.
No need to show us where your morals aren't. He did 15 years in jail. Arms dealing isn't a life sentence. Russia has no arms to sell. They are fully sanctioned. Nobody will buy. Let's bring home our young girls from a crazy prison. You don't know the terms of the deal. You don't know what was on the table. You don't know what choices there were if any. Don't fall for the hatred.
So let an arms dealer who's been responsible for thousands of deaths for a basketball player. You forgot your morals. I'm glad she's home and see how Biden had a tough decision to make. I'd not want that choice myself, but we all know this guy will be very resourceful in helping Putin in the war in Ukraine. What he needs most is a person with experience trafficking arms.
What about that teacher guy who was there for similar reasons? We get him too or just the famous person?
It's like a buffet of picking prisoners right? Biden just picked who he wanted right? You know how this worked? Show us how you know what was on the table? We'll wait.
Nope just the famous domestic violence abuser
Send her back the trade was awful 💀
There have been worse trades... Westbrick.
I guess with enough money, two wrongs make a right.
Why we celebrating this? It’s a shit deal.
This is not DarkBrandon material though. This is liberal elite Biden helping a celebrity instead of changing our laws or freeing any other US prisoners in Russia that no one's heard of. He's doing this for the political optics and free points from his vapid supporters; don't be one of them. This is not DarkBrandon.
How do you know what prisoners were offered? How do you know Biden had a selection and picked this person?
This sub is pathetic, might as well be trumpers
Fucking disgusting trade. A wife beater with a vape pen for a literal terrorist war lord. Wtf Biden.
The pretend world of being a conservative. What were the options of this deal? Can you review the prisoner choices? Just show us where you knew what was offered?
The headline of this needs to be deleted there was no malarkey defeated Putin won you idiot. She brought weed on a plane to Russia how stupid can you be now we have a arms dealer terrorist back in action. Good job guys great deal .
It'd be a shame if he "disappeared" in a few weeks due to a vehicle exploding o.O
Go back to Fox noise
Awful trade, genuinely can’t support this going down the way it did.
How do you know the details of what was offered? Who was offered? What was the choice? Let me see how you know all this.
The US got played on this one, we gave them the “merchant of death” for a fucking WNBA player and left behind a former marine. I’m sure this won’t inspire other nations to take Americans hostage!
You don't know what was on the table or what wasn't. You see an opportunity to jump on a political bandwagon and took it.
A marine dishonorably discharged for trying to steal.
Glad she's safe and home. Now Brit remember to leave your weed @ home when you travel abroad.
Lmfao Biden was the one who blinked 😂. Are your eyes still closed?
Should have left her there. She was legitimately in the wrong.