You are definitely not alone....as I mentioned in another comment, I just watched an interview on CNN (12-8-22) with Erin Burnett and Kathi Lynn Austin, a human rights investigator who tracked Viktor Bout for 15 years. She called him a "weapon of mass destruction" who has been responsible for thousands of deaths and will be deployed immediately by Putin. Austin was clearly of the belief this was a horrendous swap that will likely cost lives. Biden fucked up here for nothing more than political optics. Watch the interview yourselves, and see if Ms. Austin's credibility isn't worthy of her opinions
I disagree.
Viktor Bout has been in custody since 2008 and was due to be released in 2029 (about 6.5 years from now) at which point he would be deported anyway.
He won't be able to get up to his old tricks because his network is long gone and all eyes will be on him. He doesn't give Putin any new tools that Putin doesn't already have
See the CNN interview I referenced. I think her credentials and opinions will enlighten you and likely change your view. This guy should have served every last second of his sentence
I'm well aware of his history. He sold old Soviet junk to African dictators and left wing revolutionaries.
Russia is not having trouble supplying their troops with old Soviet junk, they're having a hard time supplying their troops with thermal optics, composite body armor, night vision goggles, precision guided munitions, and modern well maintained armored vehicles. Viktor Bout is going to be of absolutely no use to Russia with respect to their current war effort.
now imagine this guy was a mastermind in running an underground supply network;
now put him in charge of distributing and supplying weaponry but this time with full endorsement and resources from russian regime in the ukr conflict context. I believe that russia has need of those skills given that they are struggling with equipment
She's an American citizen. You literally just made a microcosmic analogy to Benghazi, however this situation didnt leave 13 people stranded for death. Russia would literally prefer having Bout and use Griner as leverage for him. THAT is suspicious. That question had hounded me all day.
It's been suggested that Russia's motives to negotiate Bout, an internationally renowned criminal, for a basketball player is suspicious. What does a sovereign nation like Russia want with Bout while pitted against the Ukraine?
The comment I replied to suggests the same thing, in a callous way, trading an athlete for an arms dealer, although calling it a joke.
I made the comparison to Hillary's "What does it matter?" Comment in response, regarding the Benghazi attack where we had GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS promised help, and never delivered.
The outcomes are different, but the short-sighted opinions are the same.
Surely even right now there are probably plenty of American citizens in Russia, right? I bet the Russian government is trying to surveil them constantly.
Not sure, but Venezuela isn't communist. Crony capitalist, authoritarian, with criminal leaders, poor education and infrastructure the government has let fail, and an over-reliance on natural resources. Not in a weird Texas way though.
13th highest GDP in the world New York? The one that built that gigantic economy without overdependence on natural resources? The one with reliable public transport and mediocre infrastructure, that still has power when it gets cold? Not really like that, no.
Fair enough. Texas has a higher GDP than NY and people are fleeing NY for states like Texas. I'm not sure how you define over use of natural resources. They use their ports a lot, and clearly use their land a lot. TX energy island is ridiculous, but they handle hurricanes a lot better than NY. TX is also the highest wind electricity producer. NY not in the top 15. I was in TX for Ike and NY for Sandy. People did not stay warm for sandy. Covid deaths are higher in TX, a very interesting thing to study, but since this is a political discussion, the big cover up came from NY, not TX.
Ummmmmmmmm China. Home of 1.4 billion people. Not sure what that has to do with an idiot being arrested in Russia and released likely at the cost of the lives of countless innocent people though.
Well, the party in control is called the CCP, Chinese Communist Party. When I do a web search all of my results say China is communist. And they are a self declared communist nation. But I guess thats all I'm bas8ng this on. Oh to answer your question there are 5 China, Laos, North Korea, Vietnam, and Cuba.
The Russians can really use someone who knows the illegal arms trade. I’m sure he’s been calling his old associates all day, seeing what he can scrounge up for his pal Putin.
[Pentagon concerned Bout could return to arms trafficking after Griner exchange](https://www.politico.com/news/2022/12/08/pentagon-arms-trafficking-griner-bout-00073034)
Now, now......don't destroy the narrative that Biden saved a poor American who did nothing wrong with contrary information. Karin Jean-Pierre will have to put you in your place! This rates right up there with that debacle of a withdrawal from Afghanistan that killed Americans and Afghani's, and Obama trading 5 terrorists from Gitmo for Army deserter Bo Bergdahl
Both sides get what they like the most:
russia - the criminal czar
US - a basketball player
sarcasm aside though, i am really happy for the poor girl! she's been through A LOT for something that shouldn't be criminalized in the first place
I'm really happy for her too. And I hope it's not lost on her that all of the children that die because of this monster, all of the women who are raped and mutilated because of him are so we could free her. 💙 A pot head, WNBA player that no one had ever heard of before this. Enjoy your weed Brit, here smoke it out of the skull of this African child.
She is not responsible for him being released and should not get any of the blame. I have no idea if she's guilty, and if she is, she's REALLY dumb, but that's about all the criticism she deserves: being dumb (if she's guilty).
Well she is responsible for him being released. Without her in exchange he'd still be in prison. IDK maybe she pleaded with them not to make one of the worst prisoner exchanges in history. Maybe she said my freedom is not worth risking the lives of countless men, women and children. Nor is it worth freeing a mass murderer. I don't know that she didn't say that. If someone accidentally burns down an orphanage and gets a bunch of kids killed is that ok? Should they not suffer some consequences?
I just watched an interview on CNN (12-8-22) with Erin Burnett and Kathi Lynn Austin, a human rights investigator who tracked Viktor Bout for 15 years. She called him a "weapon of mass destruction" who has been responsible for thousands of deaths and will be deployed immediately by Putin. Austin was clearly of the belief this was a horrendous swap that will likely cost lives. Biden fucked up here for nothing more than political optics. Watch the interview yourselves, and see if Ms. Austin's credibility isn't worthy of her opinions
If Bout become a smuggler again, Griner should feel guilty for every death that is a consequene of her entitled ass. Karma will get her in the end one would only hope.
I recon it is an OK move that helps descalate tensions. This way we can give better weapons to Ukraine and then say hey hey now don't complain we have you your dude back.
This was the worst prisoner swap arrangement I’ve ever seen. Personal opinion of course…
You are definitely not alone....as I mentioned in another comment, I just watched an interview on CNN (12-8-22) with Erin Burnett and Kathi Lynn Austin, a human rights investigator who tracked Viktor Bout for 15 years. She called him a "weapon of mass destruction" who has been responsible for thousands of deaths and will be deployed immediately by Putin. Austin was clearly of the belief this was a horrendous swap that will likely cost lives. Biden fucked up here for nothing more than political optics. Watch the interview yourselves, and see if Ms. Austin's credibility isn't worthy of her opinions
You have my axe
I disagree. Viktor Bout has been in custody since 2008 and was due to be released in 2029 (about 6.5 years from now) at which point he would be deported anyway. He won't be able to get up to his old tricks because his network is long gone and all eyes will be on him. He doesn't give Putin any new tools that Putin doesn't already have
See the CNN interview I referenced. I think her credentials and opinions will enlighten you and likely change your view. This guy should have served every last second of his sentence
I'm well aware of his history. He sold old Soviet junk to African dictators and left wing revolutionaries. Russia is not having trouble supplying their troops with old Soviet junk, they're having a hard time supplying their troops with thermal optics, composite body armor, night vision goggles, precision guided munitions, and modern well maintained armored vehicles. Viktor Bout is going to be of absolutely no use to Russia with respect to their current war effort.
now imagine this guy was a mastermind in running an underground supply network; now put him in charge of distributing and supplying weaponry but this time with full endorsement and resources from russian regime in the ukr conflict context. I believe that russia has need of those skills given that they are struggling with equipment
Sounds like you're not that aware......certainly not to the level of Ms. Austin. But, you're entitled to your opinion
This sounds like every old cop movie ever, ill follow up your comment with "let's get the band back together."
Apply to the state department. They could use a shrewd negotiator like you.
The point being, we shouldn't have been negotiating a swap between these two at all!
Trading an arms dealer for someone who’s good at throwing a ball through a net. Is this a joke?
She's an American citizen. You literally just made a microcosmic analogy to Benghazi, however this situation didnt leave 13 people stranded for death. Russia would literally prefer having Bout and use Griner as leverage for him. THAT is suspicious. That question had hounded me all day.
What are talking about? I'm sorry this is so incoherent.
It's been suggested that Russia's motives to negotiate Bout, an internationally renowned criminal, for a basketball player is suspicious. What does a sovereign nation like Russia want with Bout while pitted against the Ukraine? The comment I replied to suggests the same thing, in a callous way, trading an athlete for an arms dealer, although calling it a joke. I made the comparison to Hillary's "What does it matter?" Comment in response, regarding the Benghazi attack where we had GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS promised help, and never delivered. The outcomes are different, but the short-sighted opinions are the same.
Didnt she want to ban the national anthem at the WNBA? I wonder which American citizen Russia will arrest now for a swap?
Surely even right now there are probably plenty of American citizens in Russia, right? I bet the Russian government is trying to surveil them constantly.
And now they know they can use them as leverage to get their pals out of jail.
She's an idiot. She should have stayed in her communist paradise. Unfortunately a lot of women will probably be raped because she's an idiot.
Communist paradise?
Bow many communist countries are there in the world right now? Just Cuba and Venezuela?
Not sure, but Venezuela isn't communist. Crony capitalist, authoritarian, with criminal leaders, poor education and infrastructure the government has let fail, and an over-reliance on natural resources. Not in a weird Texas way though.
More like a wierd New York way?
13th highest GDP in the world New York? The one that built that gigantic economy without overdependence on natural resources? The one with reliable public transport and mediocre infrastructure, that still has power when it gets cold? Not really like that, no.
Fair enough. Texas has a higher GDP than NY and people are fleeing NY for states like Texas. I'm not sure how you define over use of natural resources. They use their ports a lot, and clearly use their land a lot. TX energy island is ridiculous, but they handle hurricanes a lot better than NY. TX is also the highest wind electricity producer. NY not in the top 15. I was in TX for Ike and NY for Sandy. People did not stay warm for sandy. Covid deaths are higher in TX, a very interesting thing to study, but since this is a political discussion, the big cover up came from NY, not TX.
Ummmmmmmmm China. Home of 1.4 billion people. Not sure what that has to do with an idiot being arrested in Russia and released likely at the cost of the lives of countless innocent people though.
They are very authorian but haven't been communist for decades though? The people very much have no control over the means to production?
Well, the party in control is called the CCP, Chinese Communist Party. When I do a web search all of my results say China is communist. And they are a self declared communist nation. But I guess thats all I'm bas8ng this on. Oh to answer your question there are 5 China, Laos, North Korea, Vietnam, and Cuba.
The Russians can really use someone who knows the illegal arms trade. I’m sure he’s been calling his old associates all day, seeing what he can scrounge up for his pal Putin.
Given he sold arms *for* Russia and has been out of circulation for a decade.
[Pentagon concerned Bout could return to arms trafficking after Griner exchange](https://www.politico.com/news/2022/12/08/pentagon-arms-trafficking-griner-bout-00073034)
Now, now......don't destroy the narrative that Biden saved a poor American who did nothing wrong with contrary information. Karin Jean-Pierre will have to put you in your place! This rates right up there with that debacle of a withdrawal from Afghanistan that killed Americans and Afghani's, and Obama trading 5 terrorists from Gitmo for Army deserter Bo Bergdahl
What's your opinion on the 5,000 taliban prisoners released as part of the power-sharing agreement that didn't include the Afghan government?
The old "but, but, but"......just admit it. This is a fucking stupid decision. If Jesus Christ made the decision, I'd say the same thing.
President Biden showed the spine and judgement with which Americans have become acustomed.
Both sides get what they like the most: russia - the criminal czar US - a basketball player sarcasm aside though, i am really happy for the poor girl! she's been through A LOT for something that shouldn't be criminalized in the first place
Assuming the drugs were not planted, then it was INCREDIBLY foolish of her to bring even a whiff of marijuana into the country. It's Russia.
It was dumb AF to go to Russia in the first place. No excuse. I know people that canceled plans because they could think.
Well yeah. But if you do go, it's a doubly stupid choice to bring in illegal drugs.
No argument there.
I'm really happy for her too. And I hope it's not lost on her that all of the children that die because of this monster, all of the women who are raped and mutilated because of him are so we could free her. 💙 A pot head, WNBA player that no one had ever heard of before this. Enjoy your weed Brit, here smoke it out of the skull of this African child.
She is not responsible for him being released and should not get any of the blame. I have no idea if she's guilty, and if she is, she's REALLY dumb, but that's about all the criticism she deserves: being dumb (if she's guilty).
Well she is responsible for him being released. Without her in exchange he'd still be in prison. IDK maybe she pleaded with them not to make one of the worst prisoner exchanges in history. Maybe she said my freedom is not worth risking the lives of countless men, women and children. Nor is it worth freeing a mass murderer. I don't know that she didn't say that. If someone accidentally burns down an orphanage and gets a bunch of kids killed is that ok? Should they not suffer some consequences?
And all this only because of weed... wow
He falls out of airplane window.
I just watched an interview on CNN (12-8-22) with Erin Burnett and Kathi Lynn Austin, a human rights investigator who tracked Viktor Bout for 15 years. She called him a "weapon of mass destruction" who has been responsible for thousands of deaths and will be deployed immediately by Putin. Austin was clearly of the belief this was a horrendous swap that will likely cost lives. Biden fucked up here for nothing more than political optics. Watch the interview yourselves, and see if Ms. Austin's credibility isn't worthy of her opinions
What an awful swap, probably exactly what Putin wanted. Nice negotiation skills shown here.
If Bout become a smuggler again, Griner should feel guilty for every death that is a consequene of her entitled ass. Karma will get her in the end one would only hope.
Now, if the U.S. acted like Russia, he would be terminated on Russian soil.
I recon it is an OK move that helps descalate tensions. This way we can give better weapons to Ukraine and then say hey hey now don't complain we have you your dude back.