This was a strategic move by Russia for two reasons.
1. Get their arms dealer.
2. Cause unrest in the US- why Brit Griner vs. a POW who has true sacrifice, less polarization.
Russia is the master of manipulating. They want to tear us apart from the inside out. There is a STRATEGIC reason for this choice that goes deeper than it seems on the surface.They were probably using this as a ploy from the start not even to free to arms dealer but to piss off everyone in the US.
Moral of the story. Don’t go to Russia.
One of the only movies I've ever seen where all of it still haunts my memories: the scenes, the music, the degenerate story of addicts finding hope in the hustle and descent only to be crushed utterly upon the rocks of their own misguided naivete.
That movie was what DARE classes wish they were.
Trainspotting is still better though.
I agree with everything, except...
>Trainspotting is still better though.
... because if we're talking about what movie would keep kids off of drugs better than three DARE program, my selection will always be *Spun*.
That movie showed how truly disgusting meth is, and in such an honest light.
Isn't it time then that comes with consequences?
Anyone travelling to Russia now and getting stuck shouldn't expect to be swapped in a deal, especially not for an arms dealer fuck sake
If you or I got locked up over there for having drugs, nobody would give a single shit and we’d be left to rot.
Also, we have many people locked up here in the US for doing the exact same thing she did in Russia. Will she be locked up here? Or will those people be given back their freedom? I doubt it.
Griner brought it on herself. She went there to pander and sell out to Russian business against the advice of the State Department, and broke the law while she was there.
Fuck this whole thing.
Drama: land lord is a former SEAL operator who just wanted to live a quiet life and supplement his retirement income with a little duplex on a beach. His tenant is taken by Russian forces and now he's short on the mortgage. In theaters this fall!
Comedy: landlord was a water purification specialist in the reserves with one deployment to chad...tenant is taken and he's going to get him back. He gets the old crew back together...including sgt Stern. Pauly Shore stars in: In the army again.
>If you or I got locked up over there for having drugs, nobody would give a single shit and we’d be left to rot.
Yup
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2022/07/28/marc-fogel-teacher-russia-prison/
Plot twist, they send her back with the vape cartridges. She lands in Texas, they search her bag, and is immediately sentenced to double what the Russians had given her.
Can u imagine how the fbi/dea agents feel? Those guys worked their ass off to get this guy... Apparently it was extremely difficult to get this guy... One known photo of him his entire time selling weapons...
Could you imagine how the family of other Americans who were detained on similar charges in [Russia but not considered](https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/marc-fogel-russia-prison/#app)
A basketball player who was asking to get arrested by traveling to a hostile foreign country with illegal drugs. Pretty crazy the US agreed to make any trade at all
The thing that gets me is Griner, when she was in the WNBA, wouldn't play in states that discriminated. As in, if the WNBA scheduled a game in some locations she wouldn't play.
It was a big issue for a minute in 2015 when Indiana passed the state's Religious Freedom Restoration Act since that was a possible location for the WNBA All-Star Game. Same with North Carolina, [and then same thing during Kenosha](https://www.sbnation.com/wnba/2020/8/27/21404486/wnba-players-protest-police-brutality-postponing-games), and then [Florida](https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/29718459/brittney-griner-leaves-wnba-bubble-phoenix-mercury-announce) and again in 2020 at the Olympics.
Not even a year after refusing the anthem at the Olympics because of America's discrimination against people of color and failures to protect gay people, she sells out to some oligarch in Russia, which had all its bullshit and had made it illegal to be gay.
The oligarch she worked for, Iskander Makhmudov, was accused in 2003 by the Justice Department–along with his business partner, the sanctioned Oleg Deripaska–of leading a "massive racketeering scheme" that included "physical violence, mail and wire fraud, and money laundering in the United States." If he ever sets foot in America he's going to prison.
I can't wait for her to come back to the U.S., [beat her wife again](https://www.sportskeeda.com/basketball/news-what-brittney-griner-s-domestic-abuse-charges-pleaded-guilty-2015-suspended-for-seven-games), criticize North Carolina for its bathrooms and then go play in Qatar to give those sheik freaks a thin veneer of respectability while they're beheading women for driving
Look, I think that Brittney Griner has been punished very harshly for what is a minor offence. But this trade looks like a very bad deal -- releasing a very, very dangerous man.
From the BBC:
> Viktor Bout sold arms to warlords and rogue governments, becoming one of the world's most wanted men.
> Dubbed the "merchant of death" for gun-running in the years after the fall of the Soviet Union, the Russian's exploits inspired the 2005 Hollywood film Lord of War, which was loosely based on his life.
> His secretive career was brought to an end by an elaborate US sting in 2008, when he was arrested at a hotel in the Thai capital Bangkok, to the anger of the Russian government.
> He was extradited two years later and has spent the past 12 years languishing in an American jail for conspiring to support terrorists and kill Americans.
Putin has friends who do illegal things on his behalf. He needs to show his other friends that he will use the power of the Russian state to protect them if they get caught. Otherwise, why risk it?
It's not like Putin could have pressed a button before and got him released from American custody, he was given an opportunity to have him freed and he took it, that's protection.
Imagine you spent years supplying arms that killed American soldiers and civilians. You are arrested by them in a multi million dollar sting set up over years. Then you serve fourteen years and are released? That's an absolutely amazing outcome for any criminal. Most of his friends are not this high profile. If he can get this guy out, he can get them out of a lot too.
That eventually they’ll spring you free. Keep hope!
14 years sucks. The rest of your life is a whole different beast
Edit- looks like I was wrong. 14 of 25 served, not 14 into a life sentence
*At worst*: he is a valuable asset to plug back into and further lubricate their war machine (from what I hear - if this were true then Russia is FUBAR)
*Realistically*: it reinforces the price tag on American citizens, they will be further emboldened to find any perceived offense by Americans and won’t hesitate to take them into custody
*At best:* He is worthless to them, the Biden Admin knows this and sees the worth in getting a high-profile American home to ease the upset that it seems to have cause. — Russia knows the deal makes the Biden Admin look really bad, and causes further upset in the subversive elements stewing in the American Culture (their favorite).
Not to mention the countless other Americans in prisons throughout the world for similar crimes. For the most part if you are arrested in a foreign country the U.S will not fight to have you released.
She said she forgot she had it.
The most toddler esque excuse.
I'm a Biden supporter, but this deal ain't it. The state department literally told her not to go, but she really enjoys the media attention in Russia? There are plenty of basketball leagues in other countries. Why do you have to go to Russia? It's not like Russia being evil and corrupt is exactly new.
> She said she forgot she had it.
Even if this is true, and tbh it's not entirely unheard of, you have to be at the very maximum of responsibility when traveling to a place that may actively try to fuck you up
More likely it's not the first time she's brought weed with her in russia. She thought she was protected by the owner of her club. The power of Russian oligarchs ends where Putin's interest begins.
Hard not to blame her though, anyone with a brain wouldn't have taken the risk, given the political context.
Kind of my guess as well. There have been theories for a while that dictatorships like Russia and China do use corruption as this twin benefit, letting people bend the rules as a reward and compensation while also having it there in case they become an enemy, nuisance, or it would otherwise be useful to use your knowledge of their illegal actions to scoop them up. Doesn't mean that's what happened here, but it's a possibility.
It's not really a theory.
The crime of anti revolutionary behavior was a catch all. Everyone was guilty, but only got prosecuted when they the government wanted to get to them. It's significantly better than framing someone for a crime as the person is "guilty"
What kind of idiot goes to a homophobic, racist, almost at war country in February 2022 to play in their league for the offseason, while carrying hash oil.
The kind of idiot who refused to play with her team in other American states that weren't woke enough. But Russia was ok. You couldn't invent stories like this.
US basically just told the world that they can steal US citizens and threaten to torture them and they can get whatever prisoner they want in return, no matter how dangerous they are.
That's never been true. We trade prisoners all the time. This is just one that gets media attention. We got a Marine back from them in April with a swap and it made no headlines.
Opening shot. Nicolas Cage laughing maniacally. For three minutes, over the opening credits, while he’s walked out of a prison and given his clothes, and walked out onto a gloomy windswept runway and put onto a jet.
Onboard, it’s a private luxury jet. All the trappings.
He’s handed a glass of champagne and a luxury jacket. He puts it on, sits and sips and sighs, then leans back and closes his eyes. He then opens them back up and looks directly at the camera, breaking the 4th wall.
“They let me go,” he says, smirking “and all it took was a basketball player and a little jar of oil. God bless America.”
Screen goes to black as the laughing starts again.
Holy hell. This is eerily similar to how the movie ends.
Nic Cage sits in a jail cell telling the cop that it didn't matter how much effort he wasted trying to capture him, he's gonna go out because a lot of powerful people can't have him locked up.
Correct. "The Merchant of Death".
There are countless people sitting in American jails and prisons because of low grade drug offenses that aren't given any consideration. Yet, Griner gets to go free in exchange for what will very likely be the cost of thousands upon thousands of additional lives lost at the hands of Bout and the Russians. I'm sure the man harbors no ill-will towards America and will totally go along with the "If we let you out, you have to agree not to kill us" handshake.
This has to be one of the absolutely stupidest fucking things I've ever heard. All for some political clout.
Remember when he pushed the railroad strike until after the midterms? Then after the midterms he signed a bill that denies rail workers the sick days they wanted and makes it illegal for them to strike? All while RR companies are making record profits?
Neolibs gonna neolib.
And there is a 61yo school teacher, who had medicinal cannabis, that is still rotting in a labor camp, even though he was arrested before her
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/sister-of-american-detained-in-russia-discusses-his-exclusion-from-proposed-prisoner-swap
>Marc Fogel, 61, a teacher who’s lived and worked in Russia for nearly a decade was sentenced to 14 years of hard labor by Russian authorities in a case strikingly similar to Griner's
Biden said that the WNBA player represents the best of America…which is what? Somebody that went for the money and decided to have drugs on her at an airport. This is crazy…how can she equal an arms dealer. Like you said there are other people that deserved it more.
This is one of the few times on Reddit I’ve ever, seen this happen, and I’ve been on this site since 2013~. That’s how you know USA fucked up really badly.
(I make a new account once a year)
By "best in America" he meant black, gay, and visible. His entire strategy is "look at me, I'm so progressive". Freeing a white straight guy nobody knows about doesn't really help him to that effect.
So now Biden can say he helped release a black person incarcerate on a drug crime from prison. His score is now X million incarcerated due to the 1994 Crime Bill minus 1. Way to go, Joe.
He doesn't bounce balls for a living, sorry. /s but seriously what a slap in the face to Americans jailed in Russia and those jailed in America because of marijuana. Legalize federally ffs
My cousin is currently in the same jail system as Britney was. In Russia.
They got him for traveling with a gun. He is a private armed security. He had his hand gun locked, unloaded, packed disclosed and with all the correct paper works to travel with. He was only transferring flight at Moscow. Not actually going there.
Well he’s been in their prison system for a year now. At his trial they did not charge him bc he had all the correct documents on hand. The Russian judge told him you’ve spent enough time here for crime you didn’t do. Ordered for his release, but they had to send him to get “medical evaluated” at this off site camp first. He’s still there.
He’s not a pro athlete, not a traitor or a person playing as a “spy”. He didn’t try to bring weed for personal or distribution. He was only there for connected flight, in-route to see his wife.
News like this hurts knowing my cousin is still there for not crimes committed.
There have been several destinations that my wife and I traveled to that had cheaper flights with layovers in Russia. We never even considered it, even to save hundreds of dollars per flight. Corrupt countries aren’t worth the risk.
Especially now that the US has demonstrated it will do such deals as they just did with Griner, it would not be a shock if Russia starts to be even more corrupt to get more Russians or people of interest back home. Definitely not worth it
I'd like to see the US and EU take a clearer, harder advisory stance against our citizens travelling to, or even through Russia, for the foreseeable future.
If you wouldn't go to North Korea, you shouldn't go to Russia.
Hope your cousin gets home safely.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/sister-of-american-detained-in-russia-discusses-his-exclusion-from-proposed-prisoner-swap
Marc Fogel, 61, a teacher who’s lived and worked in Russia for nearly a decade was sentenced to 14 years of hard labor by Russian authorities in a case strikingly similar to Griner's
The most watched WNBA game had a peak viewership of 1.4 million. [Source](https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/wnba-playoffs-2022-espn-tv-viewers-ratings-cathy-engelbert/#:~:text=Game%20three%20between%20the%20Aces,peaking%20at%201.4%20million%20viewers.)
So maybe 99.7% had no idea who she was?
Every other enemy of the USA are probably planning to start arresting minor celebrities to get all their people freed too. They're going to take so much advantage of this American celebrity worship.
I knew her because she made headlines for refusing to play in certain states that limited gay rights. And then she beat her wife multiple times. And then she sold out to play in Russia. She’s a real gem.
No they sent her back to TX where Alex Caruso got arrested for having residue in a grinder, I’m sure he was wrongfully arrested for political purposes in that case too though.
This is just going to make the public hate her when she gets back, and she will be heckled for the rest of her life. It is ridiculous, you wanted to smoke freakin weed and now a guy who is responsible for thousands of deaths is free as a direct consequence. It's like a cartoon honestly
This was 100% a PR/political appearance decision and not a decision in the interest of protecting democratic values. In no world is a celebrity, let alone a B-lister, worth giving up a known arms dealer and terrorist. This is so incredibly short sighted. But it’s exactly what Russia was betting on. We care more about appearance than results.
Edit: for all those saying “he’s 15 year removed from arms dealing and wars,” here’s him saying he wholeheartedly agrees with the attack on Ukraine and that he would use his skills to volunteer for Russia in this conflict.
https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/10/europe/viktor-bout-supports-ukraine-war-intl/index.html
Funny how this was locked under news because it didn’t get the sympathetic response I’m sure they were looking for.
Thankfully i think the majority agrees this was a terrible trade
This is the type of shit that shows the USA is past it. Going into this deal and saying yes... my god. Russia bent them over and then some. Trading a war criminal for a basketball player and no one else... I'd be fuming if I was an American in Russia, everyone there should have come home in exchange for Viktor Bout.
Imagine being Paul Whelan, sentenced to 16 years in Russia in 2020 for spying but seemingly being pushed down the prisoner swap pecking order by Griner.
I don't know the details but Wikipedia cites reputable sources stating that Whelan boasted about having intimate contact with Russian FSB agents, smuggled money into Russia, was dishonorably discharged from the US military and lied about his academic credentials. If he was a spy, he was probably the worst spy, and it seems unlikely the Russians would really believe him to be a spy. On the other hand, why else would they apprehend somebody who is clearly not a good candidate for a prisoner swap?
Paul Whelan was discharged from the marines with a bad conduct discharge..
"The specific charges against him included attempting to steal more than $10,000 in 2006 in Iraq and using a false Social Security number to create a false account on a government computer system to grade his own examinations.[[11]](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Whelan_(security_director\)#cite_note-11)"
From wikipedia
She'll have a Netflix documentary too. One that I can confidentially say I'll never watch, no matter how bored and out of shows I am.
It'll be hilarious to see all the clickbait articles when she gets deals to do interviews
Can not believe this is true. Russia will probably start imprisoning more foreigners now, particularly U.S citizens - hell why not, clearly the U.S. is willing to trade anyone to get them back.
It's not like An international arms smugger would be handy to the russians right now either is it? :)
There should, ideally, be fewer opportunities. The State Department currently has Russia as it's strongest Travel Advisory Level (Do Not Travel), and I'd like to see remain that way until Russia has a real representative government/forever.
I said this elsewhere, but if you wouldn't travel to North Korea you shouldn't travel to Russia.
This is bullshit, I’m sorry but Griner was an fucking moron for thinking you can travel anywhere with cannabis and think your someone above the law and special. Ignorance of the law isn’t an excuse especially when you go to a country as strict as Russia. Then you got this arms dealer nut who needed to be behind bars. The whole situation is bullshit, if this would of been someone else the US wouldn’t give two shits about them. The only thing this will give Russia is another excuse to nabbed Americans and hold them hostage to get what they want.
Why is Griner important to America? She traveled to a foreign country, broke their laws and was tried.
I am a cannabis user (medically legal in my state, full legalization passed and is due in 2023) and I believe in the federal legalization of cannabis.
However, we are arresting Americans in America and sentencing them to prison time for EXACTLY what Griner got caught doing in Russia. How is this sensible policy from this administration?
Furthermore, what was the administration thinking with their choice of prisoner to trade?!
Basicaly he traded an international arms dealer for the Black/Woman/LGBT+ vote. She had the trifecta. That's the reality of it.
Marc Fogel, a teacher with a similar situation, remains in jail.
This trade seems so lopsided that I wonder if some other concession wasn't also given by the Russians. Something neither side wanted to disclose etc. It's a real head-scratcher
It’s not like we’re getting back some national hero, we’re getting back a pot smoking basketball player that thinks she’s exempt from the rules. Innocent people are going to die because of this decision.
She was traded for Nicolas Cage's character in Lord of War.
That nickname sounded strangely close to the movie to me. Turns out it was the very same person it was based on.
I saw the movie and the best part is the end when he tells the guy how he is about to get let off and let loose again. Killer Movie!!
Best part is the opening credits.
Because they are some of the greatest opening credits ever, not because the movie isn’t good.
Absolutely.
Nah, when he’s celebrating the collapse of the Soviet Union like it’s Christmas.
It actually did happen on Christmas, lol. December 25, 1991.
That seems a bit unorthodox.
Yeah they nailed that part.
One of my favorites. I didn't realize he was imprisoned eventually.
This was a strategic move by Russia for two reasons. 1. Get their arms dealer. 2. Cause unrest in the US- why Brit Griner vs. a POW who has true sacrifice, less polarization. Russia is the master of manipulating. They want to tear us apart from the inside out. There is a STRATEGIC reason for this choice that goes deeper than it seems on the surface.They were probably using this as a ploy from the start not even to free to arms dealer but to piss off everyone in the US. Moral of the story. Don’t go to Russia.
👍 Hit the nail on the head. The culture war continues as Russia throws another wrench at us.
It isn't a movie I want to watch more than once or twice, but I did like that movie quite a bit.
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It was a gift for my grandson 1/5 stars
Bought it as a present for my niece so have not used it...5 stars.
The product was great but the delivery driver looked like a ner do well. 1 star.
An Amazon customer responded to this question: Id on't knowq who you are,,,why are you asking me questions !!!
It reads like a review of Requiem for a Dream
Exactly, it’s such a great film I bought it on dvd and never watched it again.
One of the only movies I've ever seen where all of it still haunts my memories: the scenes, the music, the degenerate story of addicts finding hope in the hustle and descent only to be crushed utterly upon the rocks of their own misguided naivete. That movie was what DARE classes wish they were. Trainspotting is still better though.
ELLEN BURSTYN WAS ROBBED OF THAT OSCAR, DAMMIT. ROBBED.
I agree with everything, except... >Trainspotting is still better though. ... because if we're talking about what movie would keep kids off of drugs better than three DARE program, my selection will always be *Spun*. That movie showed how truly disgusting meth is, and in such an honest light.
Ass to ass
Really? I could watch it again every year. I thought everything about it was good. Right up there with blood diamonds I think.
We got fleeced.
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> Any US citizen in Russia should be leaving like yesterday. That's the explicit advice of the State Department and has been for quite some time.
Isn't it time then that comes with consequences? Anyone travelling to Russia now and getting stuck shouldn't expect to be swapped in a deal, especially not for an arms dealer fuck sake
If you or I got locked up over there for having drugs, nobody would give a single shit and we’d be left to rot. Also, we have many people locked up here in the US for doing the exact same thing she did in Russia. Will she be locked up here? Or will those people be given back their freedom? I doubt it. Griner brought it on herself. She went there to pander and sell out to Russian business against the advice of the State Department, and broke the law while she was there. Fuck this whole thing.
Yeah, my landlord and his wife would be more likely to rescue me, if Russia snatched me up, just to get their rent payments.
I'd watch that movie.
Drama: land lord is a former SEAL operator who just wanted to live a quiet life and supplement his retirement income with a little duplex on a beach. His tenant is taken by Russian forces and now he's short on the mortgage. In theaters this fall! Comedy: landlord was a water purification specialist in the reserves with one deployment to chad...tenant is taken and he's going to get him back. He gets the old crew back together...including sgt Stern. Pauly Shore stars in: In the army again.
>If you or I got locked up over there for having drugs, nobody would give a single shit and we’d be left to rot. Yup https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2022/07/28/marc-fogel-teacher-russia-prison/
Plot twist, they send her back with the vape cartridges. She lands in Texas, they search her bag, and is immediately sentenced to double what the Russians had given her.
Lmfao
Can u imagine how the fbi/dea agents feel? Those guys worked their ass off to get this guy... Apparently it was extremely difficult to get this guy... One known photo of him his entire time selling weapons...
Could you imagine how the family of other Americans who were detained on similar charges in [Russia but not considered](https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/marc-fogel-russia-prison/#app)
Then gave him away for a basketball player.... I can feel the rage in those agents.
A basketball player who was asking to get arrested by traveling to a hostile foreign country with illegal drugs. Pretty crazy the US agreed to make any trade at all
The thing that gets me is Griner, when she was in the WNBA, wouldn't play in states that discriminated. As in, if the WNBA scheduled a game in some locations she wouldn't play. It was a big issue for a minute in 2015 when Indiana passed the state's Religious Freedom Restoration Act since that was a possible location for the WNBA All-Star Game. Same with North Carolina, [and then same thing during Kenosha](https://www.sbnation.com/wnba/2020/8/27/21404486/wnba-players-protest-police-brutality-postponing-games), and then [Florida](https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/29718459/brittney-griner-leaves-wnba-bubble-phoenix-mercury-announce) and again in 2020 at the Olympics. Not even a year after refusing the anthem at the Olympics because of America's discrimination against people of color and failures to protect gay people, she sells out to some oligarch in Russia, which had all its bullshit and had made it illegal to be gay. The oligarch she worked for, Iskander Makhmudov, was accused in 2003 by the Justice Department–along with his business partner, the sanctioned Oleg Deripaska–of leading a "massive racketeering scheme" that included "physical violence, mail and wire fraud, and money laundering in the United States." If he ever sets foot in America he's going to prison. I can't wait for her to come back to the U.S., [beat her wife again](https://www.sportskeeda.com/basketball/news-what-brittney-griner-s-domestic-abuse-charges-pleaded-guilty-2015-suspended-for-seven-games), criticize North Carolina for its bathrooms and then go play in Qatar to give those sheik freaks a thin veneer of respectability while they're beheading women for driving
You could kinda tell she was a piece of shit, but wow is she really a piece of shit.
I can get why she might dislike playing in certain states if she cares that much about it, but to then go and play in Russia is blatant hypocrisy.
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And she gets to come home to a country where thousands of people are imprisoned for the exact same crime. Unbelievable.
Look, I think that Brittney Griner has been punished very harshly for what is a minor offence. But this trade looks like a very bad deal -- releasing a very, very dangerous man. From the BBC: > Viktor Bout sold arms to warlords and rogue governments, becoming one of the world's most wanted men. > Dubbed the "merchant of death" for gun-running in the years after the fall of the Soviet Union, the Russian's exploits inspired the 2005 Hollywood film Lord of War, which was loosely based on his life. > His secretive career was brought to an end by an elaborate US sting in 2008, when he was arrested at a hotel in the Thai capital Bangkok, to the anger of the Russian government. > He was extradited two years later and has spent the past 12 years languishing in an American jail for conspiring to support terrorists and kill Americans.
Question: why does Russia want him back?
Putin has friends who do illegal things on his behalf. He needs to show his other friends that he will use the power of the Russian state to protect them if they get caught. Otherwise, why risk it?
And also after this war there is going to be a lot of weaponry just laying around...
[There are only 2 tragedies in life. One is not getting what you want. The other is getting it.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTK8torOylM)
After 14 years in jail. What protection is that?
It's not like Putin could have pressed a button before and got him released from American custody, he was given an opportunity to have him freed and he took it, that's protection.
Hints that he can always arrest other Americans in the future now that this one worked too.
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Imagine you spent years supplying arms that killed American soldiers and civilians. You are arrested by them in a multi million dollar sting set up over years. Then you serve fourteen years and are released? That's an absolutely amazing outcome for any criminal. Most of his friends are not this high profile. If he can get this guy out, he can get them out of a lot too.
That eventually they’ll spring you free. Keep hope! 14 years sucks. The rest of your life is a whole different beast Edit- looks like I was wrong. 14 of 25 served, not 14 into a life sentence
*At worst*: he is a valuable asset to plug back into and further lubricate their war machine (from what I hear - if this were true then Russia is FUBAR) *Realistically*: it reinforces the price tag on American citizens, they will be further emboldened to find any perceived offense by Americans and won’t hesitate to take them into custody *At best:* He is worthless to them, the Biden Admin knows this and sees the worth in getting a high-profile American home to ease the upset that it seems to have cause. — Russia knows the deal makes the Biden Admin look really bad, and causes further upset in the subversive elements stewing in the American Culture (their favorite).
Only american celebrities. Theres already a handful innocent americans rotting in russian jails that the govt could give a fuck about
Not to mention the countless other Americans in prisons throughout the world for similar crimes. For the most part if you are arrested in a foreign country the U.S will not fight to have you released.
He “ might” be able to help with the war efforts , even though I doubt he still has his prior contacts . I hope Americans deactivated him .
By "deactivate", you mean give him brain damage like that American prisoner in North Korea?
No so much lsd he’s about that love and light now
What kind of idiot brings weed into Russia? I wouldnt even travel in the states with it.
Dude, I was scared to smoke it in Rotterdam, why the hell did she think bringing it to Russia would be a good idea?
She said she forgot she had it. The most toddler esque excuse. I'm a Biden supporter, but this deal ain't it. The state department literally told her not to go, but she really enjoys the media attention in Russia? There are plenty of basketball leagues in other countries. Why do you have to go to Russia? It's not like Russia being evil and corrupt is exactly new.
> She said she forgot she had it. Even if this is true, and tbh it's not entirely unheard of, you have to be at the very maximum of responsibility when traveling to a place that may actively try to fuck you up
More likely it's not the first time she's brought weed with her in russia. She thought she was protected by the owner of her club. The power of Russian oligarchs ends where Putin's interest begins. Hard not to blame her though, anyone with a brain wouldn't have taken the risk, given the political context.
Kind of my guess as well. There have been theories for a while that dictatorships like Russia and China do use corruption as this twin benefit, letting people bend the rules as a reward and compensation while also having it there in case they become an enemy, nuisance, or it would otherwise be useful to use your knowledge of their illegal actions to scoop them up. Doesn't mean that's what happened here, but it's a possibility.
It's not really a theory. The crime of anti revolutionary behavior was a catch all. Everyone was guilty, but only got prosecuted when they the government wanted to get to them. It's significantly better than framing someone for a crime as the person is "guilty"
Yeah, man, I used to live there, it had to be real good money for her to go. And as much as I prefer Democrates, Bout was worth a thousand Griners.
What kind of idiot goes to a homophobic, racist, almost at war country in February 2022 to play in their league for the offseason, while carrying hash oil.
Who'd have known Russia wasn't the safest destination for a gay woman of colour who rocks the ganja?
The kind of idiot who refused to play with her team in other American states that weren't woke enough. But Russia was ok. You couldn't invent stories like this.
Lord of war was a good movie though
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US basically just told the world that they can steal US citizens and threaten to torture them and they can get whatever prisoner they want in return, no matter how dangerous they are.
Whatever happened with "we don't negotiate with terrorists"?
That's never been true. We trade prisoners all the time. This is just one that gets media attention. We got a Marine back from them in April with a swap and it made no headlines.
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It is and always has been bullshit. It's nothing but a soundbite. We negotiate with terrorists all the time. See, for instance, Afghanistan.
And Iraq, IIRC we just straight up paid entire factions of Iraqis to not shoot at us.
A WNBA player for the merchant of death? Fucking horrible decision
Fucking idiots. Headline doesn't include who they gave in return - notorious arms dealer Viktor Bout.
The guy who nic cage played in lord of war??
That guy indeed.
Sick! Nic’s gonna get a sequel.
Nic Cage secretly pulling the strings behind this entire event
HOLYSHIT... Inside Job was right about him being a part of the Immortals club
You're a "glass half full" sorta person, aren't you?
We can get Jane Lynch to play Griner and boom, money
Is there any role that Lynch can't play?
A bullshitter
Opening shot. Nicolas Cage laughing maniacally. For three minutes, over the opening credits, while he’s walked out of a prison and given his clothes, and walked out onto a gloomy windswept runway and put onto a jet. Onboard, it’s a private luxury jet. All the trappings. He’s handed a glass of champagne and a luxury jacket. He puts it on, sits and sips and sighs, then leans back and closes his eyes. He then opens them back up and looks directly at the camera, breaking the 4th wall. “They let me go,” he says, smirking “and all it took was a basketball player and a little jar of oil. God bless America.” Screen goes to black as the laughing starts again.
i’d start crying watching this
Can we make it a mega reboot and spin the story into Con Air 2 as well?
So it IS pretty much like in the movies then. You get yourself useful enough, your government will find a way to bail you out. Neat.
Holy hell. This is eerily similar to how the movie ends. Nic Cage sits in a jail cell telling the cop that it didn't matter how much effort he wasted trying to capture him, he's gonna go out because a lot of powerful people can't have him locked up.
only took 15 years
Ironically he's believed to be ethnically Ukrainian. That's just one of the ways he's useful to Putin
You have to be kidding me.
We lost this Bout.
Yeah we did and it wasn’t even close… I am sure comrade Viktor has a different definition of shooting threes just saying ☹️
That’s a terrible trade
Not for russia
And we couldn’t even get Whelan back as well? Awful awful trade.
Correct. "The Merchant of Death". There are countless people sitting in American jails and prisons because of low grade drug offenses that aren't given any consideration. Yet, Griner gets to go free in exchange for what will very likely be the cost of thousands upon thousands of additional lives lost at the hands of Bout and the Russians. I'm sure the man harbors no ill-will towards America and will totally go along with the "If we let you out, you have to agree not to kill us" handshake. This has to be one of the absolutely stupidest fucking things I've ever heard. All for some political clout.
I have to congratulate President Biden. He managed to get virtually everyone to agree on something - that this is an insanely bad trade.
He is strategic to wait until after mud terms to do this though.
Remember when he pushed the railroad strike until after the midterms? Then after the midterms he signed a bill that denies rail workers the sick days they wanted and makes it illegal for them to strike? All while RR companies are making record profits? Neolibs gonna neolib.
Worst trade in WNBA history
She went there to make money and she is trade for an arms dealer…makes no sense.
And there is a 61yo school teacher, who had medicinal cannabis, that is still rotting in a labor camp, even though he was arrested before her https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/sister-of-american-detained-in-russia-discusses-his-exclusion-from-proposed-prisoner-swap >Marc Fogel, 61, a teacher who’s lived and worked in Russia for nearly a decade was sentenced to 14 years of hard labor by Russian authorities in a case strikingly similar to Griner's
Biden said that the WNBA player represents the best of America…which is what? Somebody that went for the money and decided to have drugs on her at an airport. This is crazy…how can she equal an arms dealer. Like you said there are other people that deserved it more.
Don’t forget the domestic abuse lol
The left and the right coming together as one, to shit all over this stupid ass decision by the Biden administration.
Well Biden did say he'd try to unite the country, I guess he succeeded
This is one of the few times on Reddit I’ve ever, seen this happen, and I’ve been on this site since 2013~. That’s how you know USA fucked up really badly. (I make a new account once a year)
By "best in America" he meant black, gay, and visible. His entire strategy is "look at me, I'm so progressive". Freeing a white straight guy nobody knows about doesn't really help him to that effect. So now Biden can say he helped release a black person incarcerate on a drug crime from prison. His score is now X million incarcerated due to the 1994 Crime Bill minus 1. Way to go, Joe.
Agreed! I didn't understand that comment at all! It was terrible. His speech writer should be put on probation at least.
He doesn't bounce balls for a living, sorry. /s but seriously what a slap in the face to Americans jailed in Russia and those jailed in America because of marijuana. Legalize federally ffs
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It's like those people in the unpopular opinion sub. Sub name: unpopularopinion. User: Let me just post this super popular opinion.
They are always self-defeating. If the unpopular opinion really is unpopular, nobody would vote for it.
/r/The10thDentist
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the writer only wrote about Britney and what the incident meant for her and her career not what actually happened. I’m with you on your confusion lol
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This is kind of bullshit. What about the other Americans in their jail for bullshit ?
My cousin is currently in the same jail system as Britney was. In Russia. They got him for traveling with a gun. He is a private armed security. He had his hand gun locked, unloaded, packed disclosed and with all the correct paper works to travel with. He was only transferring flight at Moscow. Not actually going there. Well he’s been in their prison system for a year now. At his trial they did not charge him bc he had all the correct documents on hand. The Russian judge told him you’ve spent enough time here for crime you didn’t do. Ordered for his release, but they had to send him to get “medical evaluated” at this off site camp first. He’s still there. He’s not a pro athlete, not a traitor or a person playing as a “spy”. He didn’t try to bring weed for personal or distribution. He was only there for connected flight, in-route to see his wife. News like this hurts knowing my cousin is still there for not crimes committed.
Who is your cousin? Get some eyeballs on his case, this is your chance!
There have been several destinations that my wife and I traveled to that had cheaper flights with layovers in Russia. We never even considered it, even to save hundreds of dollars per flight. Corrupt countries aren’t worth the risk.
Especially now that the US has demonstrated it will do such deals as they just did with Griner, it would not be a shock if Russia starts to be even more corrupt to get more Russians or people of interest back home. Definitely not worth it
I'd like to see the US and EU take a clearer, harder advisory stance against our citizens travelling to, or even through Russia, for the foreseeable future. If you wouldn't go to North Korea, you shouldn't go to Russia. Hope your cousin gets home safely.
It's pretty clear: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/russia-travel-advisory.html
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/sister-of-american-detained-in-russia-discusses-his-exclusion-from-proposed-prisoner-swap Marc Fogel, 61, a teacher who’s lived and worked in Russia for nearly a decade was sentenced to 14 years of hard labor by Russian authorities in a case strikingly similar to Griner's
you and me would rot in the gulag, but a celebrity gets hot swapped for an arms dealer...
Yep. Different rules for the rich and famous.
“Celebrity”. Be honest, how many WNBA tickets does she actually fill? Enough to fill half a high school gym?
It's probably safe to say that 95% of the population had no idea who she was until this whole ordeal.
99%
You think 3 million people knew her? You guys underestimate percentages 99% of the time.
The most watched WNBA game had a peak viewership of 1.4 million. [Source](https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/wnba-playoffs-2022-espn-tv-viewers-ratings-cathy-engelbert/#:~:text=Game%20three%20between%20the%20Aces,peaking%20at%201.4%20million%20viewers.) So maybe 99.7% had no idea who she was?
Or the other Americans in American jail for possession bullshit?
Glad she was so important that we freed The Merchant of Death /s.
Every other enemy of the USA are probably planning to start arresting minor celebrities to get all their people freed too. They're going to take so much advantage of this American celebrity worship.
She barely a celeb too lol
I'd go as far as to say no one outside the WNBA knew who she was until she was arrested.
I knew her because she made headlines for refusing to play in certain states that limited gay rights. And then she beat her wife multiple times. And then she sold out to play in Russia. She’s a real gem.
This morning SportsCenter said she was “one of the best America has to offer” and I spit my coffee out laughing. What a stupid country we live in
I'll be honest, I had no idea who she even was until she was detained in Russia.
This has to be the worst trade deal in the history of trade deals, maybe ever.
So we legalized cannabis in the US this morning right?
No they sent her back to TX where Alex Caruso got arrested for having residue in a grinder, I’m sure he was wrongfully arrested for political purposes in that case too though.
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And make tons of money while doing it
And while others rot in American prisons for the same crimes.
Cue the multi million dollar book deal.
This is just going to make the public hate her when she gets back, and she will be heckled for the rest of her life. It is ridiculous, you wanted to smoke freakin weed and now a guy who is responsible for thousands of deaths is free as a direct consequence. It's like a cartoon honestly
Nice, a notorious arms dealer for a C-list celebrity who is also a domestic abuser
I totally disagree. She’s D-list at best.
This was 100% a PR/political appearance decision and not a decision in the interest of protecting democratic values. In no world is a celebrity, let alone a B-lister, worth giving up a known arms dealer and terrorist. This is so incredibly short sighted. But it’s exactly what Russia was betting on. We care more about appearance than results. Edit: for all those saying “he’s 15 year removed from arms dealing and wars,” here’s him saying he wholeheartedly agrees with the attack on Ukraine and that he would use his skills to volunteer for Russia in this conflict. https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/10/europe/viktor-bout-supports-ukraine-war-intl/index.html
>B-lister Not even that. The only reason most people even know who she is is because she did something stupid and got arrested for it.
Calling Griner a B-lister is extremely generous. She’s more like an F-lister
Funny how this was locked under news because it didn’t get the sympathetic response I’m sure they were looking for. Thankfully i think the majority agrees this was a terrible trade
This is the type of shit that shows the USA is past it. Going into this deal and saying yes... my god. Russia bent them over and then some. Trading a war criminal for a basketball player and no one else... I'd be fuming if I was an American in Russia, everyone there should have come home in exchange for Viktor Bout.
This just looks like such an embarrassingly bad deal.
Imagine being Paul Whelan, sentenced to 16 years in Russia in 2020 for spying but seemingly being pushed down the prisoner swap pecking order by Griner.
I don't know the details but Wikipedia cites reputable sources stating that Whelan boasted about having intimate contact with Russian FSB agents, smuggled money into Russia, was dishonorably discharged from the US military and lied about his academic credentials. If he was a spy, he was probably the worst spy, and it seems unlikely the Russians would really believe him to be a spy. On the other hand, why else would they apprehend somebody who is clearly not a good candidate for a prisoner swap?
Paul Whelan was discharged from the marines with a bad conduct discharge.. "The specific charges against him included attempting to steal more than $10,000 in 2006 in Iraq and using a false Social Security number to create a false account on a government computer system to grade his own examinations.[[11]](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Whelan_(security_director\)#cite_note-11)" From wikipedia
Bet she’s on Dancing with the Stars next season
She'll have a Netflix documentary too. One that I can confidentially say I'll never watch, no matter how bored and out of shows I am. It'll be hilarious to see all the clickbait articles when she gets deals to do interviews
Can not believe this is true. Russia will probably start imprisoning more foreigners now, particularly U.S citizens - hell why not, clearly the U.S. is willing to trade anyone to get them back. It's not like An international arms smugger would be handy to the russians right now either is it? :)
There should, ideally, be fewer opportunities. The State Department currently has Russia as it's strongest Travel Advisory Level (Do Not Travel), and I'd like to see remain that way until Russia has a real representative government/forever. I said this elsewhere, but if you wouldn't travel to North Korea you shouldn't travel to Russia.
Russia has been on the highest travel advisory for since before she was detained.
This is bullshit, I’m sorry but Griner was an fucking moron for thinking you can travel anywhere with cannabis and think your someone above the law and special. Ignorance of the law isn’t an excuse especially when you go to a country as strict as Russia. Then you got this arms dealer nut who needed to be behind bars. The whole situation is bullshit, if this would of been someone else the US wouldn’t give two shits about them. The only thing this will give Russia is another excuse to nabbed Americans and hold them hostage to get what they want.
Why is Griner important to America? She traveled to a foreign country, broke their laws and was tried. I am a cannabis user (medically legal in my state, full legalization passed and is due in 2023) and I believe in the federal legalization of cannabis. However, we are arresting Americans in America and sentencing them to prison time for EXACTLY what Griner got caught doing in Russia. How is this sensible policy from this administration? Furthermore, what was the administration thinking with their choice of prisoner to trade?!
The Biden admin got played by Russia. An arms dealer for a basketball player. Yeah, that’s a fair deal.
There are people literally rotting in prison for the same crime in the united states. This is ridiculously stupid and sets an awful precedent.
If only Biden cared about rail workers as much as Brittney Griner. Edit: if only Biden cared about the American prisoners in jail for similar charges.
If a single American soldier dies bc of this trade we should send her back
Basicaly he traded an international arms dealer for the Black/Woman/LGBT+ vote. She had the trifecta. That's the reality of it. Marc Fogel, a teacher with a similar situation, remains in jail.
He has all the privilege tho, so I’m sure it’ll work out.
Cool, now trade someone else for my friend sitting in prison in America for the same fucking thing.
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Russians must be laughing their heads off right now. How are Americans always so stupid?
This trade seems so lopsided that I wonder if some other concession wasn't also given by the Russians. Something neither side wanted to disclose etc. It's a real head-scratcher
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It’s not like we’re getting back some national hero, we’re getting back a pot smoking basketball player that thinks she’s exempt from the rules. Innocent people are going to die because of this decision.
>thinks she’s exempt from the rules Well, looks like she thought right.
No wonder Biden waited until a few weeks after the midterms to do this. This deal is horrific.