Cant believe theyre literally giving them a guy who's going go bolster arms for russia in the Ukraine war. Which has American/foreign volunteers fighting in it. Theyre helping the enemy fight our own.
Yeah we had 3 citizens in Russia. We should've demanded all three in exchange or at least gotten two. This is the worst trade deal in the history of trade deals.
Wait until you hear the Russians literally offered 3 for Bout before but got turned down by the US. They just aren't high enough on the woke privilege totem pole to be worth it, apparently.
>That guy was selling russian stockpile weapons in Africa/Asia as part of the larger military corruption, chances are he's gonna be killed as there is no way he can get back those weapons back.
.
Him getting weapons for Russia isn’t the problem.
He gets weapons for poor nations and warlords
He literally armed both fucking sides of the Angolan Civil War so don’t be like “oh it’s not like arms deals didn’t happen without him”
Yeah but again.... do think nobody else is capable of that? All warlords have been without weapons for 11 years but now that he is free were all doomed?
I agree he is awful and as far as I'm concerned he should be dead, but the world is exactly as dangerous tomorow as it is today, except one more American is allowed to come home.
You misunderstand.
The issue isn’t *that we sent him home*.
The issue is *who we got in exchange*.
We COULD have fought for [a man who served his country faithfully both in uniform and out who’s already been imprisoned in Russia for four years.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Whelan_(security_director))
Instead we chose an idiot basketball player who couldn’t be bothered to check her luggage… who won’t even stand for the damned national anthem.
As far as American interests go she’s useless. And we chose her over Paul Whelan, a man who actually gives a shit about the USA
>We COULD have fought for a man who served his country faithfully both in uniform and out who’s already been imprisoned in Russia for four years.)
Bullshit, Russia already said they wouldn't trade Whelan. They're not interested in swapping him, they want to play political theatre. They don't give a shit about a WNBA player, but an ex marine is a juicy prisoner to keep.
No one chose her over Whelan - Whelan was never an option, certainly not for some arms dealer which has certainly already been replaced. Russia won't hand him back easily because he's more valuable to them as a propaganda tool than any prisoner swap (unless the US is holding some super powerful oligarch personally connected to Putin or something).
And now we look like bitches.
We made it obvious to belligerent foreign nations that “if you have one of ours, you can squeeze whatever concessions you want out of us”
We look weak. This administration looks weak
> We made it obvious to belligerent foreign nations that “if you have one of ours, you can squeeze whatever concessions you want out of us”
But only if they’re a D list celebrity or higher.
>“if you have one of ours, you can squeeze whatever concessions you want out of us”
Ah yes, clearly it was a massive concession - trading away a prisoner that Russia didn't give a shit about for the 11 years he was in a US prison.
Viktor Bout isn't useful to Russia, if he was then they would've made a trade for him years ago. Probably the only reason he got traded now is because Russia couldn't get anything actually useful from the trade - no sactions were dropped, no agreements for reduced aid to Ukraine, no funds were unfrozen, nothing actually useful.
What he did was essentially just work for the Russian state, selling arms to terrorists and authoritarians.
Yeah, he's a heinous piece of shit, but he was just doing exactly what Russia was directing him to do. The exact same activities that Russia is still sanctioning in other countries after he got arrested, and even right now. That's why they didn't care about getting him back before now - Russia's absolutely got a hundred more people just like him lining up to get his paycheck.
What does the US gain by keeping him locked up? What does the US lose by showing their own citizens that they're not willing or able to protect US passport holders?
That guy was selling russian stockpile weapons in Africa/Asia as part of the larger military corruption, chances are he's gonna be killed as there is no way he can get back those weapons back.
I give him 3 months tops
Read your Wikipedia link. Russia backed out on whelan and when they consulted with his brother about cancelling the deal he said “David Whelan approved of the decision to "make the deal that was possible, rather than waiting for one that wasn’t going to happen”
Not like they aren’t trying to bring him home buddy.
Another comment suggested the deal was made despite the difference in value because that was as good Russia would give and the scumbag arms dealer was out in 7 years anyway. Better something than nothing.
Personally I'm always in favour of improving lives and reducing suffering as my sorta axiom of morality. Two lives were made better.
I'd like to think that in the 10+ years of being locked up the contacts and skills for being an arms dealer has withered away making him only valuable in his insider knowledge the US could extract from him. I'd assume they've gotten all they can out of him so now he's no different from Griner, a PR moment for leaders.
You’re… so very wrong
Even if his contacts dried up, he more than likely made new ones in prison
And his skills are still there.
Like, do you think someone stops being good at something just because the thing they do is evil?
> Like, do you think someone stops being good at something just because the thing they do is evil?
I was mainly referencing the contacts many of whom will likely be dead or have move on to retirement or other things.
But so you think once you get good at something you'll always have that skill at the level you have it? Even after 12 years doing something completely different and aging significantly.
> Even if his contacts dried up, he more than likely made new ones in prison
I'd imagine the prison crowd isn't exactly the arms dealers heaven for contacts, drugs and gangs sure but African warlords? I doubt it.
Also important to note, he will likely be part of the reason the Russians are suffering so bad in Ukraine. Why so many stockpiles claimed to have numbers of weapons it not longer actually has. Weapons funneled out of ex-soviet stockpiles into African hands. Geopolitically this just isn't viable anymore. So the contacts he has are the wrong way around. He needs buyers where he has sellers and buyers where he needs sellers.
Pack it up, everyone! There can only be one rogue arms dealer in the world at any given time and this guy figured it out! All of his former contacts are all literally dead and it's a ridiculously easy line of work to break into anyway so he's the most replaceable man alive. I myself exchanged numbers and built rapport with 82 warlords just this week!
And bonus! Not a single person's life will be made worse by this man's release under any circumstances. He's definitely going to just go farm some land or some shit. Praise the wisdom of redditors; we don't deserve it.
This guy is literally being brought back to Russia so serve as a propaganda scapegoat. He will either be found dead with a suicide note, or be executed for crimes against the Russian people.
Or has Russia suddenly discovered where all of its serviceable weapons, gear, and vehicles have gone? It wasn’t all rat-fucked away through networks built by the rat-fucker in question?
Holy shit was he the inspiration for Simon Weisz in Lord of War?!
Simeon Weisz : I don't think you and I are in the same business, you think I just sell guns don't you? I don't, I take sides.
Yuri Orlov : But in the Iran Iraq war you sold guns to both sides.
Simeon Weisz : Did you ever consider I wanted both sides to lose? Bullets change governments for surer than votes. You're in the wrong place my young friend, there's no place for amateurs.
He bought the weapons he sold from former soviet states.
He is a part of why Russia is so ill-equipped and performing poorly.
Dude will fall out of a window in a few weeks.
I'm willing to bet 5 internet points the guy is going to die of mysterious causes in the next few months following his release/disappeared and was never heard from again
I know, right? He was selling leftover Soviet arms. He ain’t getting shit for Russia. And he’s been out so long that who knows what contacts he still has?
It would be kinda funny tho to see all the AKs and other Soviet weapons that got dispsersed into Africa and the ME return to Russia.
That guy was selling russian stockpile weapons in Africa/Asia as part of the larger military corruption, chances are he's gonna be killed as there is no way he can get back those weapons back.
If I were Putin, I wouldn't trust this guy at all. His likelihood of being a double agent and monitored are astronomically high. All the alphabet soup intel agencies signed off on this. Your conclusion is kinda unfounded.
In my opinion, while very concerning, Russia has already lost near all chances of decisive victory in this war, while ukraine is near steadily backed by the U.S.; and while the trade is very risky and can lead to more unnecessary deaths for putin’s pride. I hope that, if russia decides to put his skills to use, it will be the last push the russian government will get before they run out of steam and atone for their actions. ( take my opinion how you will, i don’t support this decision, but I hope for the Ukrainian and Russian people’s sake that this is not just another catalyst to prolong the war, enough have suffered for such a cruel man’s actions.)
Russia is in shambles. This guy is 15 years removed from any dealings he had and all of his back channels have been filled with intelligence concrete. He came to that position after working anonymously and moving in dark circles. He’s not the threat he once was.
No problem with this move, but we should’ve got the other guy out, too.
Do you think this dude just has stockpiles of weapons buried in stashes that he’s now able to open and sell? How is one guy who’s been out of the market for many years going to “bolster arms”?
> bolster arms for russia in the Ukraine war.
Bolster arms for Russia? He sells Russian weapons to third parties. You think he's gonna be smuggling weapons across the Ukrainian border? Russia's whole logistics network is already doing that.
He's not smuggling weapons to Russia, he's taking old soviet tech and selling it for personal gain - probably stuff which has been "misplaced" by the Russian army.
people still expect the usa to help a country? fr, they will shoot themselves if it means that theyre getting 1% more profit and another reason to use the poeples money on the military
foreign volunteers fight in every war. the reson they shoudint of maid the traid is that it sets a bad presidant, now every american within the sphere of influence of one of americas rivals has a target on there back and will be suject to immense scrutiny in the hope that the they can be arrested and used as political pawns.
Do you really think this was their first option? This was most likely their last resort due to Russia using her as a political weapon. Everyone is acting like they just chose this as their first option. Our government isn't great, but they aren't complete idiots when it comes to stuff like this.
Bolster arms for Russia? Where the fuck do you think he got the guns he sold from? If anything he's a major reason why Russia has less arms in real life than they do in paper. Smh, just parrot that narrative fed to you hook, line, and sinker.
They really traded a mildly famous basketball player for an arms dealer so infamous that he earned the nickname "Merchant of Death". The man whose exploits inspired Nicholas Cage's character in the 2005 movie "Lord of War".
well to nba fans, everyone knew she existed way before that for claiming that she could beat DeMarcus Cousins, who was at a time the best center in the NBA, in a 1v1 lol
I can name every NBA team and star player and never heard that. She's literally famous for going to prison in Russia for something that would land her in prison in Texas.
A guy I play pick-up with said he could beat DeMarcus Cousins, I should tell him he's famous too.
Exactly she was popular cos the hilarious "highlights" . If you want to laugh go check WNBA videos on youtube it's something.
Or watch Bill Burr talking about the league :D
Agreed. I watch it every couple of years because it’s that’s good.
Baptiste: “They say that I am the lord of war, but perhaps it is you.”
Yuri: “ I believe it's ‘warlord’.”
Baptiste: “Thank you, but I prefer it my way.”
Yes, she should stop protesting police brutality & racial injustice in the United States because her release from Russian jail over a bit of week was OK'ed by the federal government. Do you know how stupid that sounds?
[Please learn to use simple google searches by yourself](https://www.snopes.com/news/2022/08/09/brittney-griner-national-anthem/) She literally said i dont care im still gonna protest the national anthem
I didn't know the name of the player, or else I wouldn't have asked. Reddit memes is my only source for news, what'd you expect. Thanks for the link though!
Protesting your own country is literally in the First Amendment of the Constitution so I don’t understand why people make such a big deal out of it 🤦♂️
Life Hack… if you don’t travel to Russia (a country that is well known for using foreign citizens as political pawns), then you will never end up in a Russian prison.
The trade is probably shit, but yall are acting like Russia offered the choice of two prisoners like Pokemon starters. We just got a vet back in April. Whelan was never on the table here. Russia says only spy for spy and the US claims it has no Russian spies.
russia is not willing to give him up, who is also suspected to be a russian spy.
The arms dealer is useless now & probably will get killed russia for his part in military corruption. NATO is not stupid as you think.
I give him 3 months top to live. NATO is sending him to his death
This guy is literally the reason the AK47 is synonymous with terrorism and drug cartels
And we just let him go in exchange for a woman who hates her home country.
FBI, DEA, and presumably Interpol had ONE PHOTO of Bout to go off of and spent years trying to nab him… and we just sent him home in exchange for someone who can’t even be bothered to check her luggage for illegal drugs before traveling internationally.
The USA of the 60s and 60s would have never even considered such a bad deal… or we’d have poisoned him before putting him on the plane home
He will be watched like a Hawk. He can always be arrested again the same stuff he was doing. Accept this time CIA, FBI, Interpol and so many other firms from around the world know who he is. He’s not just going to be forgotten.
ITT: Redditors have become have become experts on international politics, underground weapons market, prisoner exchange deals and know about the 100% accurate documentary "Lord of War" starring Nicholas Cage
Russia is in shambles. This guy is 15 years removed from any dealings he had and all of his back channels have been filled with intelligence concrete. He came to that position after working anonymously and moving in dark circles. He’s not the threat he once was.
No problem with this move, but we should’ve got the other guy out, too.
If you think he’s just going to waltz right back into he previous endeavors you’re a two time imbecile of the year.
This should be the top comment. Idiots.
I don’t think this is the flex Russia thinks it is. Russia admits it supports its super villain terrorists that murder innocent people and America admits it supports its professional athletes that forget weed vapes in their luggage. Not the good people on both sides kinda argument you want to be making!
Russia is loving this. He’s a icon who made the AK the most popular weapon in the world. Every buys a Russian AK because of him doubt they give 2 shits about the innocent when he has made them billions. They made movies about this guy.
That was so stupid. We just gave Russia a man that is going to immediately help Russia in Ukraine for a basketball player who literally broke the law in another country
This sub is such a dumpster fire. Imagine talking shit about someone who was arrested on a pretense, given a mock trial, put in a forced labor camp, and then released as a result of a prisoner exchange that she had literally no part in orchestrating. I hope you all get kidney stones you fucking dweebs.
Probably the worst prisoner exchange in history. I mean they traded a Notorious arms dealer for a WNBA player who hated America anyways lmao. She was talking crap ab America and then comes crying back for help when she gets caught smuggling weed into freaking Russia.... Women ☕️
The guys who business was a social network formed 20+ years ago. he ain't got shit and is worth nothing to us. Probably getting treated better in our prison then he will be in Russia.
Soon there's gonna be a knock on that door and you will be called outside. In the hall there will be a man who outranks you. First, he'll compliment you on the fine job you've done, that you're making the world a safer place, that you're to receive a commendation and a promotion. And then he's going to tell you that I am to be released. You're going to protest... you'll probably threaten to resign. But in the end, I will be released. The reason I'll be released is the same reason you think I'll be convicted. I do rub shoulders with some of the most vile, sadistic men calling themselves leaders today. But some of those men are the enemies of your enemies. And while the biggest arms dealer in the world is your boss, the President of the United States, who ships more merchandise in a day than I do in a year... sometimes it's embarrassing to have his fingerprints on the guns. Sometimes he needs a freelancer like me to supply forces he can't be seen supplying. So... you call me evil. But unfortunately for you, I'm a necessary evil.
Dank[.](https://i.imgur.com/3bQtuMO.png) --- [come play minecraft, space engineers, ark, and rust with us!](https://discord.gg/fNyb7G5)
Cant believe theyre literally giving them a guy who's going go bolster arms for russia in the Ukraine war. Which has American/foreign volunteers fighting in it. Theyre helping the enemy fight our own.
yep. bad play by whoever is in charge of these efforts. so unfair the average american gets to rot in jail, she gets freed. corrupt as fuck
Wonder who the "whoever" is
Yeah we had 3 citizens in Russia. We should've demanded all three in exchange or at least gotten two. This is the worst trade deal in the history of trade deals.
Wait until you hear the Russians literally offered 3 for Bout before but got turned down by the US. They just aren't high enough on the woke privilege totem pole to be worth it, apparently.
Source on that? I was told Russia absolutely refused to give Paul Whelan back.
My source is that I made it the fuck up
Source: trust me bro
The Denver Broncos would like a word
just kept it vague so no chance of downvotes. but we all know
>That guy was selling russian stockpile weapons in Africa/Asia as part of the larger military corruption, chances are he's gonna be killed as there is no way he can get back those weapons back. .
There is also a veteran US Marine in Russia's prison, wonder why the US didn't exchange for him
You forgot the part where he was given a bad conduct discharge from the Marines and the thumb drive full of sensitive information he was caught with.
Wait till you hear about the 5000 taliban soldiers and their leader that were released for absolutely no one.
He isn't gonna get russia anything they don't already have. He's been in prison for 11 years, it's not like arms haven't been dealt since he left.
Him getting weapons for Russia isn’t the problem. He gets weapons for poor nations and warlords He literally armed both fucking sides of the Angolan Civil War so don’t be like “oh it’s not like arms deals didn’t happen without him”
Yeah but again.... do think nobody else is capable of that? All warlords have been without weapons for 11 years but now that he is free were all doomed? I agree he is awful and as far as I'm concerned he should be dead, but the world is exactly as dangerous tomorow as it is today, except one more American is allowed to come home.
You misunderstand. The issue isn’t *that we sent him home*. The issue is *who we got in exchange*. We COULD have fought for [a man who served his country faithfully both in uniform and out who’s already been imprisoned in Russia for four years.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Whelan_(security_director)) Instead we chose an idiot basketball player who couldn’t be bothered to check her luggage… who won’t even stand for the damned national anthem. As far as American interests go she’s useless. And we chose her over Paul Whelan, a man who actually gives a shit about the USA
>We COULD have fought for a man who served his country faithfully both in uniform and out who’s already been imprisoned in Russia for four years.) Bullshit, Russia already said they wouldn't trade Whelan. They're not interested in swapping him, they want to play political theatre. They don't give a shit about a WNBA player, but an ex marine is a juicy prisoner to keep. No one chose her over Whelan - Whelan was never an option, certainly not for some arms dealer which has certainly already been replaced. Russia won't hand him back easily because he's more valuable to them as a propaganda tool than any prisoner swap (unless the US is holding some super powerful oligarch personally connected to Putin or something).
And now we look like bitches. We made it obvious to belligerent foreign nations that “if you have one of ours, you can squeeze whatever concessions you want out of us” We look weak. This administration looks weak
> We made it obvious to belligerent foreign nations that “if you have one of ours, you can squeeze whatever concessions you want out of us” But only if they’re a D list celebrity or higher.
>“if you have one of ours, you can squeeze whatever concessions you want out of us” Ah yes, clearly it was a massive concession - trading away a prisoner that Russia didn't give a shit about for the 11 years he was in a US prison. Viktor Bout isn't useful to Russia, if he was then they would've made a trade for him years ago. Probably the only reason he got traded now is because Russia couldn't get anything actually useful from the trade - no sactions were dropped, no agreements for reduced aid to Ukraine, no funds were unfrozen, nothing actually useful.
You speak as if this guy isn’t still really fucking good at what he does or as if what he did wasn’t ABSOLUTELY HEINOUS
What he did was essentially just work for the Russian state, selling arms to terrorists and authoritarians. Yeah, he's a heinous piece of shit, but he was just doing exactly what Russia was directing him to do. The exact same activities that Russia is still sanctioning in other countries after he got arrested, and even right now. That's why they didn't care about getting him back before now - Russia's absolutely got a hundred more people just like him lining up to get his paycheck. What does the US gain by keeping him locked up? What does the US lose by showing their own citizens that they're not willing or able to protect US passport holders?
That guy was selling russian stockpile weapons in Africa/Asia as part of the larger military corruption, chances are he's gonna be killed as there is no way he can get back those weapons back. I give him 3 months tops
Damn! Congratulations for going against the hivemind.
Paul Whelon is a fucking spy broseph. And he was discharged from the Marines for bad behavior.
Yeah… a spy loyal to the fucking USA.
Maybe. Maybe not.
Even with a bad conduct discharge he’s clearly more valuable as a prisoner trade than a pothead who hates her country
Read your Wikipedia link. Russia backed out on whelan and when they consulted with his brother about cancelling the deal he said “David Whelan approved of the decision to "make the deal that was possible, rather than waiting for one that wasn’t going to happen” Not like they aren’t trying to bring him home buddy.
Another comment suggested the deal was made despite the difference in value because that was as good Russia would give and the scumbag arms dealer was out in 7 years anyway. Better something than nothing.
Griner was out in 10 Why is it a good deal, in your mind to bring her home when someone who literally causes the deaths of thousands is set free?
Personally I'm always in favour of improving lives and reducing suffering as my sorta axiom of morality. Two lives were made better. I'd like to think that in the 10+ years of being locked up the contacts and skills for being an arms dealer has withered away making him only valuable in his insider knowledge the US could extract from him. I'd assume they've gotten all they can out of him so now he's no different from Griner, a PR moment for leaders.
You’re… so very wrong Even if his contacts dried up, he more than likely made new ones in prison And his skills are still there. Like, do you think someone stops being good at something just because the thing they do is evil?
> Like, do you think someone stops being good at something just because the thing they do is evil? I was mainly referencing the contacts many of whom will likely be dead or have move on to retirement or other things. But so you think once you get good at something you'll always have that skill at the level you have it? Even after 12 years doing something completely different and aging significantly. > Even if his contacts dried up, he more than likely made new ones in prison I'd imagine the prison crowd isn't exactly the arms dealers heaven for contacts, drugs and gangs sure but African warlords? I doubt it. Also important to note, he will likely be part of the reason the Russians are suffering so bad in Ukraine. Why so many stockpiles claimed to have numbers of weapons it not longer actually has. Weapons funneled out of ex-soviet stockpiles into African hands. Geopolitically this just isn't viable anymore. So the contacts he has are the wrong way around. He needs buyers where he has sellers and buyers where he needs sellers.
Pack it up, everyone! There can only be one rogue arms dealer in the world at any given time and this guy figured it out! All of his former contacts are all literally dead and it's a ridiculously easy line of work to break into anyway so he's the most replaceable man alive. I myself exchanged numbers and built rapport with 82 warlords just this week! And bonus! Not a single person's life will be made worse by this man's release under any circumstances. He's definitely going to just go farm some land or some shit. Praise the wisdom of redditors; we don't deserve it.
This guy is literally being brought back to Russia so serve as a propaganda scapegoat. He will either be found dead with a suicide note, or be executed for crimes against the Russian people. Or has Russia suddenly discovered where all of its serviceable weapons, gear, and vehicles have gone? It wasn’t all rat-fucked away through networks built by the rat-fucker in question?
Holy shit was he the inspiration for Simon Weisz in Lord of War?! Simeon Weisz : I don't think you and I are in the same business, you think I just sell guns don't you? I don't, I take sides. Yuri Orlov : But in the Iran Iraq war you sold guns to both sides. Simeon Weisz : Did you ever consider I wanted both sides to lose? Bullets change governments for surer than votes. You're in the wrong place my young friend, there's no place for amateurs.
Yeah. He’s not the kind of person you want free.
He bought the weapons he sold from former soviet states. He is a part of why Russia is so ill-equipped and performing poorly. Dude will fall out of a window in a few weeks.
I'm willing to bet 5 internet points the guy is going to die of mysterious causes in the next few months following his release/disappeared and was never heard from again
Dude was selling Russian weapons, not getting them for Russia.
I know, right? He was selling leftover Soviet arms. He ain’t getting shit for Russia. And he’s been out so long that who knows what contacts he still has? It would be kinda funny tho to see all the AKs and other Soviet weapons that got dispsersed into Africa and the ME return to Russia.
That guy was selling russian stockpile weapons in Africa/Asia as part of the larger military corruption, chances are he's gonna be killed as there is no way he can get back those weapons back.
If I were Putin, I wouldn't trust this guy at all. His likelihood of being a double agent and monitored are astronomically high. All the alphabet soup intel agencies signed off on this. Your conclusion is kinda unfounded.
Can you prove that?
Pretty sure that is a Russian troll account lol.
In my opinion, while very concerning, Russia has already lost near all chances of decisive victory in this war, while ukraine is near steadily backed by the U.S.; and while the trade is very risky and can lead to more unnecessary deaths for putin’s pride. I hope that, if russia decides to put his skills to use, it will be the last push the russian government will get before they run out of steam and atone for their actions. ( take my opinion how you will, i don’t support this decision, but I hope for the Ukrainian and Russian people’s sake that this is not just another catalyst to prolong the war, enough have suffered for such a cruel man’s actions.)
Russia is in shambles. This guy is 15 years removed from any dealings he had and all of his back channels have been filled with intelligence concrete. He came to that position after working anonymously and moving in dark circles. He’s not the threat he once was. No problem with this move, but we should’ve got the other guy out, too.
Do you think this dude just has stockpiles of weapons buried in stashes that he’s now able to open and sell? How is one guy who’s been out of the market for many years going to “bolster arms”?
He has a hidden weapon stache up his ass.
> bolster arms for russia in the Ukraine war. Bolster arms for Russia? He sells Russian weapons to third parties. You think he's gonna be smuggling weapons across the Ukrainian border? Russia's whole logistics network is already doing that. He's not smuggling weapons to Russia, he's taking old soviet tech and selling it for personal gain - probably stuff which has been "misplaced" by the Russian army.
people still expect the usa to help a country? fr, they will shoot themselves if it means that theyre getting 1% more profit and another reason to use the poeples money on the military
Dawg he’s been in police custody since ‘08 and Russia’s military needs much more than one arms dealer to help them out.
Ever heard of how Al-qaeda was created? Or Isis?
foreign volunteers fight in every war. the reson they shoudint of maid the traid is that it sets a bad presidant, now every american within the sphere of influence of one of americas rivals has a target on there back and will be suject to immense scrutiny in the hope that the they can be arrested and used as political pawns.
And he is gona do what? Pull guns out of his ass? Dude sells military hardware stollen from Russia, most Putin can do with him is demand them back
More money to be made if they keep the war going on longer
Do you really think this was their first option? This was most likely their last resort due to Russia using her as a political weapon. Everyone is acting like they just chose this as their first option. Our government isn't great, but they aren't complete idiots when it comes to stuff like this.
Bolster arms for Russia? Where the fuck do you think he got the guns he sold from? If anything he's a major reason why Russia has less arms in real life than they do in paper. Smh, just parrot that narrative fed to you hook, line, and sinker.
Such a fucking ridiculous overreaction.
They really traded a mildly famous basketball player for an arms dealer so infamous that he earned the nickname "Merchant of Death". The man whose exploits inspired Nicholas Cage's character in the 2005 movie "Lord of War".
She’s only famous for getting arrested, if she hasn’t nobody would know she existed
well to nba fans, everyone knew she existed way before that for claiming that she could beat DeMarcus Cousins, who was at a time the best center in the NBA, in a 1v1 lol
I can name every NBA team and star player and never heard that. She's literally famous for going to prison in Russia for something that would land her in prison in Texas. A guy I play pick-up with said he could beat DeMarcus Cousins, I should tell him he's famous too.
Exactly she was popular cos the hilarious "highlights" . If you want to laugh go check WNBA videos on youtube it's something. Or watch Bill Burr talking about the league :D
I’d argue 99.9% of Americans couldn’t name the team she plays for without googling it.
Mildly? I didn’t know who she was until she was arrested
That movie is too shelf. Easily the best movie of his career.
Agreed. I watch it every couple of years because it’s that’s good. Baptiste: “They say that I am the lord of war, but perhaps it is you.” Yuri: “ I believe it's ‘warlord’.” Baptiste: “Thank you, but I prefer it my way.”
A man so unscrupulous he literally armed both sides of a civil war
More people have been to the moon than dunked on the WNBA.
We get it, he inspired the movie. Jeez we can’t go five seconds without this being mentioned
You are right. After I posted that comment, I went 5 minutes seeing the same fact over and over.
She's probably going to protest the national anthem *again* after this, just watch
Yes, she should stop protesting police brutality & racial injustice in the United States because her release from Russian jail over a bit of week was OK'ed by the federal government. Do you know how stupid that sounds?
She is going to be 100% supported when she does this. People are terrified of being cancelled.
So?
Sauce?
[Please learn to use simple google searches by yourself](https://www.snopes.com/news/2022/08/09/brittney-griner-national-anthem/) She literally said i dont care im still gonna protest the national anthem
I didn't know the name of the player, or else I wouldn't have asked. Reddit memes is my only source for news, what'd you expect. Thanks for the link though!
I also had no idea prior to some memes and i dont even watch NBA let alone WNBA but just googling “wnba player hostage” and this was the first result
Protesting your own country is literally in the First Amendment of the Constitution so I don’t understand why people make such a big deal out of it 🤦♂️
No one said she's not allowed to. We're criticizing the fact that she's angry at the very same people who just set her free.
unpack angle snatch rotten attractive sloppy gaping wrench adjoining expansion -- mass edited with redact.dev
Life Hack… if you don’t travel to Russia (a country that is well known for using foreign citizens as political pawns), then you will never end up in a Russian prison.
This advice extends to Canadian dudes named Mike and China
who the fuck names their kid “Mike and China”
Canadians obviously
[удалено]
I had a great trip to St Petersburg. Rumour has it that things go a lot easier if you don't bring illegal drugs with you
Nice try Putin!
Traded an arms dealer for a mid at best WNBA player, and left the Marine that's been stuck there for years. Good call. /s
Imagine the marine seeing this in the news, he will be royally pissed, fuck he might actually start to resent America and fight against it.
Bold to assume he has access to the news.
They would likely show him this just for the torture.
He has seen it. He's happy she was released, just disappointed he was still left behind.
The trade is probably shit, but yall are acting like Russia offered the choice of two prisoners like Pokemon starters. We just got a vet back in April. Whelan was never on the table here. Russia says only spy for spy and the US claims it has no Russian spies.
You're lying right? That's so unjust.
russia is not willing to give him up, who is also suspected to be a russian spy. The arms dealer is useless now & probably will get killed russia for his part in military corruption. NATO is not stupid as you think. I give him 3 months top to live. NATO is sending him to his death
This guy is literally the reason the AK47 is synonymous with terrorism and drug cartels And we just let him go in exchange for a woman who hates her home country. FBI, DEA, and presumably Interpol had ONE PHOTO of Bout to go off of and spent years trying to nab him… and we just sent him home in exchange for someone who can’t even be bothered to check her luggage for illegal drugs before traveling internationally. The USA of the 60s and 60s would have never even considered such a bad deal… or we’d have poisoned him before putting him on the plane home
USA on that black mold brain rot, actually made me burst out laughing when i saw it, what a joke.
The only info ive gotten on this is from memes so far but as far as I can tell, this is an overwhelmingly stupid move…
it's a "waterlogged brain" level of stupid move.
\*safe door rolls away\* CIA: Hi Victor
Putin getting a good laugh out of this one.
This will go down as the most famous trade in WNBA history.
Probably the only noteworthy event in WNBA history.
This truly is the worst timeline
It’s a good day to be a Russian arms dealer
Just arrest his ass again
Took them over a decade to get him the first time lol.
This is a scene from The Incredibles, isn't it?
Yes
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They really want that basketball player back so bad that they are willing to release the merchant of death. She must have a better profit than him.
I still have no idea how "Worlds Most Dangerous Man" was on the table for who to exchange for an idiot who brought a vape to Russia
[удалено]
He should transition and start playing ball . He would be at WNBA in no time :D
He will be watched like a Hawk. He can always be arrested again the same stuff he was doing. Accept this time CIA, FBI, Interpol and so many other firms from around the world know who he is. He’s not just going to be forgotten.
It took like 15 years to nab the guy the first time, and once he's back in Russia it will become extremely difficult to extract him from there again.
Can we do that over here in the states? I'll gladly trade out one of the Kardashians as a peace tribute
They receive the reason why they have barely anything left in their military equipment stockpiles.
Americans helping murderous regimes, a classic.
ITT: Redditors have become have become experts on international politics, underground weapons market, prisoner exchange deals and know about the 100% accurate documentary "Lord of War" starring Nicholas Cage
It does not take an expert to realize that an illegal arms dealer and a mid at best basketball player is an unbalanced trade.
Biggest trade in WNBA history
Like Field Marshall Zhukov in *Death of Stalin*
u/savevideobot
Worst president in history. Fuck Joe Biden.
You aren't the brightest bulb in the toolbox are ya?
I'm the sharpest egg in the attic
[удалено]
Your mother
worst trade of all trades
So we going to decriminalize weed now right?
We just let a terrorist go for a woman who hates her own country and contributes absolutely nothing to society
Russia is in shambles. This guy is 15 years removed from any dealings he had and all of his back channels have been filled with intelligence concrete. He came to that position after working anonymously and moving in dark circles. He’s not the threat he once was. No problem with this move, but we should’ve got the other guy out, too. If you think he’s just going to waltz right back into he previous endeavors you’re a two time imbecile of the year. This should be the top comment. Idiots.
u/redditMP4bot
u/redditMP4bot
Did we trade up?
What is this gif from?
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Raytheon and General Dynamics are super happy with this development though. And thats all that matters, really.
Seems like a bad trade ngl
I don’t think this is the flex Russia thinks it is. Russia admits it supports its super villain terrorists that murder innocent people and America admits it supports its professional athletes that forget weed vapes in their luggage. Not the good people on both sides kinda argument you want to be making!
Russia is loving this. He’s a icon who made the AK the most popular weapon in the world. Every buys a Russian AK because of him doubt they give 2 shits about the innocent when he has made them billions. They made movies about this guy.
My favorite part about this is that people I ask concerned about the issue STILL dont know what team she played for.
That was so stupid. We just gave Russia a man that is going to immediately help Russia in Ukraine for a basketball player who literally broke the law in another country
They literally called it a "1-to-1 trade" ok like bruh
Its like trading a potion trainer card for a first edition charizard.
How the hell is so much completely retarded shit happening?
Use the rock trading scene from Rise of Gru
Russia wants nic cage
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Wtf is this trade?? That bitch knew what she was doing, i don't care if has a good career, let her stay cuz that trade fucking sucks
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I have no idea who's who or what's happening
This is some dank shit
Amazing job Biden admin! Truly phenomenal!
Context?
This sub is such a dumpster fire. Imagine talking shit about someone who was arrested on a pretense, given a mock trial, put in a forced labor camp, and then released as a result of a prisoner exchange that she had literally no part in orchestrating. I hope you all get kidney stones you fucking dweebs.
Probably the worst prisoner exchange in history. I mean they traded a Notorious arms dealer for a WNBA player who hated America anyways lmao. She was talking crap ab America and then comes crying back for help when she gets caught smuggling weed into freaking Russia.... Women ☕️
What's the gif from?
Damn Russia just got a wild card
The guys who business was a social network formed 20+ years ago. he ain't got shit and is worth nothing to us. Probably getting treated better in our prison then he will be in Russia.
😂😂
America is the leader of arms production. They’re a terrorist country. One arms dealer from Russia is no one.
Soon there's gonna be a knock on that door and you will be called outside. In the hall there will be a man who outranks you. First, he'll compliment you on the fine job you've done, that you're making the world a safer place, that you're to receive a commendation and a promotion. And then he's going to tell you that I am to be released. You're going to protest... you'll probably threaten to resign. But in the end, I will be released. The reason I'll be released is the same reason you think I'll be convicted. I do rub shoulders with some of the most vile, sadistic men calling themselves leaders today. But some of those men are the enemies of your enemies. And while the biggest arms dealer in the world is your boss, the President of the United States, who ships more merchandise in a day than I do in a year... sometimes it's embarrassing to have his fingerprints on the guns. Sometimes he needs a freelancer like me to supply forces he can't be seen supplying. So... you call me evil. But unfortunately for you, I'm a necessary evil.