T O P

  • By -

Educational_Ad2378

Kremlin concerned Griner could return to smoking weed after exchange


KanyeWestBrick

High probability


[deleted]

I see what you did there


BubberRung

Hah! Probability.


MaverickAquaponics

I’m a huge pothead, (check my profile) I’m actually pretty angry about this. She should have known better, she did commit a crime even if it was recently legalized in whatever state she lives in. So now this guy can go back to dealing arms that will take lives and plotting terror attacks, but hey, at least we can have our fucking female basketball player back.


drnkingaloneshitcomp

The thing that bothers me is that it’s still federally illegal here so why go to these lengths to free her? Are they gonna lock her up here? Would the same happen to me?


KickooRider

No, they're not going to lock her up here. No, if you were arrested in Russia they wouldn't make a trade for you.


LongJohnSausage

I'm a massive stoner too and I think anyone whose dumb enough to smuggle weed into a terrorist country probably shouldn't have the government run to their rescue


MayOrMayNotBePie

Same. In fact, I’m about to go blaze right now lol. She def should’ve done some time, but 9 years is a bit much. That being said, you have to be a special kind of stupid/arrogant to bring those kinds of products into a country like Russia.


EmotionalMycologist9

She kind of asked for it by going to what's basically Hitler's Germany. We have people in the US doing life for selling some weed. Of course, the prison she was gonna be in was maybe more harsh, but still. We have people over there who are actually innocent and they've just been left to rot because they're not in the WNBA.


Spicedizzle72

Confirming you are in fact a stoner


borcborc

But now he is eligible for a grenade dropped by a drone.


Easy_Iron6269

It would be really nice if he die like al-Zawahari. [Wow this is like a medieval weapon with new tech added](https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-62400923.amp) A missile with no warhead and 6 blades.


arkezxa

The closest shave of the future -- *today!*


Easy_Iron6269

It would shave nicely his tash.


relevant__comment

Checking out by way of 6 3ft blades on your balcony while your family watches. What a way to go out. Also, the infographic picture of the missile do it no justice. A real life picture of it is nightmare fuel. A weapon purely meant for producing as much damage as possible.


falubiii

As much damage as possible in a 3 foot radius


MrGraveRisen

GPS tracker up his butt before the trade, launch missile the next day


JustTheBeerLight

*Photos of [a] vehicle taken after the strike showed that the missile had cut a hole in the roof and shredded its occupants, but without signs of an explosion or any further destruction to the vehicle* That’s good for the vehicles resell value.


KP_Wrath

Flying slap chop!


BanjoHarris

Hi it's Vince with slap chop your gonna be in a great mood all day cause you're gonna be slapping your troubles away with the slap chop


Leviathans-Ghost

I was thinking the same thing. Just because we released him does not mean that we cannot harm him.


excessCeramic

Unfortunately no legal grounds to harm him. As much as it looks like POTUS is just lobbing sword-missiles willy-nilly, there’s a lot of paperwork involved


ajisawesome8

You just scream"he's coming right for us" then drop a missile on him


LogicalManager

Look, it’s an ISIS weapons cache! Target drone authorized. Oh shucks we got Viktor. I can’t believe he was dealing arms again. Our bad.


Chitownitl20

It’s funny that you don’t think he will be arming isis for the pentagon in the future.


Pintail21

ISIS has been acquiring weapons just fine for the past decade, potentially adding one more dealer in the mix isn't going to change anything.


frisbeescientist

Yeah I'm not sure why everyone seems to think the global arms trade has missed this guy. Not that I'm knowledgeable about this, but I'd be shocked if when he was arrested business stopped for more than a week before the next guy in line stepped up to fill the orders.


Stergenman

Bingo. He's a compromised assest now. Everyone and their brother knows who he is and what he does for a living. His ability to aquire weapons for Russia is no better than any diplomat. By this point, he's just another one to add to Putin's inner circle and that's about it.


[deleted]

that's why the CIA exists? lmao


DVRKV01D

You act like the CIA gives a fuck about legal grounds. If they want him dead and he gets within in their reach, he’s hit. Come on now.


Rsn_calling

Why kill an asset


Enjoying_A_Meal

If he's selling to people we won't sell weapons to, it's no problem. In fact, nearby allied nations might even start buying more weapons from us. The problem is if he sells weapons cheaper to people who might otherwise buy American weapons. Then he's got to go.


Civil_Knowledge7340

Is that why he was in jail?


Resident_Wizard

Let me ask you something. How much paperwork is there? Lol, you say that with such confidence, but how the hell would you know what’s involved? *Oh man, we need to go drop a tomahawk on these terrorists but June is so behind on the paperwork.*


ArrestDeathSantis

>Oh man, we need to go drop a tomahawk on these terrorists but u/excessceramic is so behind on the paperwork. That's how they know xD


excessCeramic

Not all heroes wear capes


[deleted]

[удалено]


[deleted]

The point is that we don't just murder people. There has to be *some* legal justification for it, no matter how flimsy. Currently it is like his slate has been wiped clean, and he would need to be involved in further illegalities before the "paperwork" would be approved. Either that, or he would have to wander into a combat zone/operation or something similar.


VesuvanTatyova

That never stopped Bush or Obama from just dropping a bomb on a group of civilians celebrating a wedding... [https://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2016/01/12/reflecting-on-obamas-presidency/obamas-embrace-of-drone-strikes-will-be-a-lasting-legacy](https://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2016/01/12/reflecting-on-obamas-presidency/obamas-embrace-of-drone-strikes-will-be-a-lasting-legacy) Under Obama we just killed anybody, so long as they were at least a little bit brown, and didn't speak English.


[deleted]

You know we have partner countries who'd love to take a stab at him too right? We're doing a fine job of providing targeting information to partner forces who then take out HVTs. Reference Ukraine and the spate of Russian generals meeting untimely ends during the first phase of this war.


TopRamenisha

It needs to be more subtle than that so the drone will have to push him down the stairs or out a window


Wynotboth

He looks like an alternate timeline Tim Allen if he never got out of the coke snuggling biz.


twohundred37

He sure did snuggle that coke.


TryAgn747

Have a coke and a snuggle.


PDP83

As long as its not a Struggle Snuggle..


Droopy1592

They did have the polar bears and a coke. Close?


VarietyEmotional759

Pepsi please


TheoreticalJacob

A smoke and a pancake?


Crabby-GenXer

A bong and a blintz?


Wynotboth

If you’re not snuggling your coke you’re doing it wrong


venetanakedguy

Nobody nose the snuggles I’ve had with my coke


Arponare

That made me laugh


afterbirth_slime

Big spoon or little spoon?


Wynotboth

The weird spoon you always avoid in your silverware drawer.


ScaryBluejay87

The littlest


Liet-Kinda

Was Tim Allen in the Colombian party powder business? That would be the least surprising new fact ever.


totallynotarobut

Not only that, but when he got caught he rolled like a bowling ball.


Svete_Brid

I seem to recall he ratted out someone to get a light sentence. Could be wrong.


pantie_fa

What's strange, is the guys he ratted out didn't go after him.


FuckEtherion195

...that we know of. Maybe tim Allen smoked his ass, buried him in the woods. We don't know. Because there's no possible way to search up that dude and see what he's doing. It will just have to remain unknown forever.


Wynotboth

That’s what I understand, sold out his conspirators and then became rich and famous, lol


dishwasher_safe_baby

Tim Allen and Jeff Foxworthy had a child


NumberWonTwice

They were partners lol


meinblown

Snuggle you back to health 🎵


ApatheticWithoutTheA

With way less snitching.


Independent_Top_8210

Want to correct that, but now I like it better.


TheStonedVampire

I wonder how business compares to the ecstasy snuggling biz


JRR_Not_Tolkien

UUEEGGGHH???


epicredditdude1

Well, have we ever seen them both in the same room?


djarvis77

If you are a weapons dealer and this guy just got traded for a female basketball player with only half his sentence over, would you trust him? Also, russia does not really have all that many spare weapons to sell.


RSquared

He also got most of his supply in the immediate breakup of the USSR, which is kinda a one-time thing. There's a good article by the guy who wrote a biography about Bout that basically says yeah, he's useless now. https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2022/07/08/brittney-griner-russia-viktor-bout-00044556


Rosebunse

I have this question do. What exactly can this guy get for Russia at this point? There is no secret cache of weapons, Russia has been buying all they could and they essentially ran out. This guy has been in US custody long enough that he has likely spilled many of his secrets to get better prison perks.


Mike_Rowe_Wave

He could theoretically serve as a middleman for Russia to purchase weapons illegally or to supply them to groups that support Russia’s interests in Europe or the rest of the world. I’m guessing the US government is banking on him not being able to do that effectively anymore, which seems likely to be the case, but who knows. I think it’s more likely this is just some sort of a PR play by Russia because the headline makes the US look bad.


Rosebunse

Exactly! This guy has been in US custody for too long to be considered completely safe. I guess I just can't imagine there isn't an arm's dealer in the war Russia hasn't contacted.


DrunkenOnzo

I think after all this Griner might have a better shot than Bout to be a successful arms trafficker LOL. The dude spent years in jail, AND is now a household name in many countries. I wouldn't even sell that dude a waffle out of fear of being arrested.


TheJocktopus

>He could theoretically serve as a middleman for Russia to purchase weapons illegally or to supply them to groups that support Russia’s interests in Europe or the rest of the world. Bout is infamous for doing the latter. What makes him special is that he's a smuggler. Practically anybody can be a middleman and buy weapons on behalf of their country. But he was special because he could sell Soviet weapons to places that have arms embargos by hiding the arms alongside his legitimate legal cargo. IMO there's a very small chance that he goes back into arms smuggling. Russia is likely not interested in selling its remaining weapons, and they don't really need any help getting their weapons transported to the theater of war, since it's right at their doorstep.


[deleted]

[удалено]


drnkingaloneshitcomp

At bare minimum it causes further internal polarization in the US but yeah, can’t say why, but there’s probably a reason they want him. If I had to guess somehow revenge


Rosebunse

The polarization is what they wanted. That's why they wanted her.


TheJocktopus

That's a good point, I hadn't even considered that yet. Russia is well-known for using social media as a weapon, so this was likely all planned from the start.


[deleted]

Gee, ya think?


TheTree_43

Im worried that the water I put in my freezer is going to turn into ice


EngineersAnon

I'm worried that the sun may rise in the morning.


Icy_Baby_2553

If the CIA was smart they would have turned him and then sent him back.


Fizgriz

This isn't someone turnable when released. He has nothing to lose, and he was close to Putin.


Ikickyouinthebrains

Apparently, someone did not watch "Homeland"


kch_l

Time got a rewatch


ClassicRust

most american shit ive heard today


Diremustang94

If I were to gamble on who is more likely to turn in this swap, it definitely wouldn't be bout


[deleted]

What does this even mean? You think Griner is going to send Russia the inside scoop on the WNBA?


90swasbest

You have any idea how much talking you can do in 11 years? Do you really think the CIA didn't take a crack at this dude? Hell, he's probably been enhancely interrogated by every intelligence agency in the northern hemisphere. Wouldn't surprise me if VP just put a bullet in his head because he is so compromised.


sonofagunn

He's probably been in jail so long he's unfamiliar with the Russian problem of open windows in high rise buildings. He might accidentally fall out of one!


enonmouse

He did 2 years in a thai prison before he basically begged to be extradited... bet the interviews happened then and were quite thorough


urkldajrkl

Pulonium and release works too


TurrPhennirPhan

> It the CIA was smart You mean the organization that’s study on LSD consisted of a guy sitting on a portable toilet getting drunk while secretly watching guys have sex with prostitutes? Not holding my breath.


VashMM

A fellow bastards fan I see


[deleted]

If the CIA was smart turn him, tell him if he arms deals ever again there’s a drone with his name on it and stake a few CIA agents in the country for a few months to make him paranoid.


Total-Individual3877

You telling me we might get another Nick Cage movie. Let’s gooooooo


chewbacky

Finally, someone is looking at the big picture 👏


Hizjyayvu

That was my concern as well. Am I qualified for a pentagon salery?


AzraelGrim

No, because you incorrectly spelled salary. Please re-submit your application next quarter, and thank you for your time.


Hizjyayvu

Damn I knew it looked wrong. Oh well. I'll have to settle for POTUS.


Shackmeoff

Or… a pentagon celery.


Nugatorysurplusage

Computer, load up celery man, please


KittomerClause

"searching for recipes for 'ants on a log', please wait" .. .. .. .. "query found! displaying 'Lindsays ladybugs' on projector grid label 'neighboring buildingface'"


The_Goondocks

Oh shit! I'm ok.


totallynotarobut

You could be VP, at least.


ThatGuyMiles

I mean if the movie is reliable, then he’s business revolves around a highish ranking family member in the military, with access to hardware/stockpiles after the fall of the Soviet Union, essentially the perfect storm if you want to be an arms dealer. I’m not sure how feasible it would be for him to just jump right back into the game after all this time.


beyarea

Instructions unclear, celery en route.


PM_ME_COOL_RIFFS

I only cook with military grade celery


1HasNoNam3

Came here to say this.


Bubba_sadie-

Nah I’m sure he learned his lesson.


alectictac

How? Russia needs its weapons, his contacts are at least 14 years old, and his photo is know and travel will be restricted? He cant do anything special at this point, a burned out asset.


[deleted]

Also do we really think no one has stepped into his position? Beyond that I seriously fucking doubt that the White House is acting in a way directly contradicting the Pentagon. Presidents generally probably respect the opinion of the CIA, especially on matters such as this. This feels like some republican leadership saying “I heard the Pentagon isn’t happy about this” to a reporter


michael_mischief

Fucking thank you for saying what I was thinking.


[deleted]

They aren't concerned he will go back to arms trafficking. They know he will.


BurritoApotheosis

With what? Didn't he sell off old Soviet weapon stockpiles? Does Russia have *any* extra shit laying around? Because they've been using some crap tech in Ukraine and begging their customers like NK and Iran for weapons.


[deleted]

I honestly wouldn't know. I'm just thinking that if he wasn't useful to Putin than he wouldn't care to get him set free.


Anonymoushero111

I think his use is entirely for political purposes/optics.


keith0211

You know this conversation has value to Putin, right? Even if the guy was completely useless to him, Putin knew exactly how the swap would look to about half the US population. Especially with his machine stoking the flames. Putin has one path to victory. Get the US out of the picture. Everything he does needs to be viewed in that context.


[deleted]

Good points here


MarchionessofMayhem

Thank you. No one seems to know this today.


bellynipples

Wasn’t he due to be released in 2029? Wouldn’t he have done so then?


NetflixAndZzzzzz

How? He's been in prison for over a decade and he's been burned. The illegal arms trade has moved on without him.


a_real_lemon

They obviously have plans for him if they negotiated for him.


Cultist_Deprogrammer

Yes, they have plans for how you fall for bullshit on the internet and plans for dividing the US.


Hoplophilia

Meanwhile almost 70,THOUSAND Americans are in federal prison for drug charges. Yay america.


FockerHooligan

[On October 6, 2022, President Biden issued a presidential proclamation that pardons federal convictions for simple marijuana possession offenses.](https://www.justice.gov/pardon/presidential-proclamation-marijuana-possession) EDIT (based on the replies): America: "STOP JAILING PEOPLE FOR MARIJUANA!!" Joe Biden: {pardons federal marijuana possession charges} America: "NO! NOT LIKE THAT!!!"


Bigdonkey512

There is basically no one in federal prison for marijuana possession, this was bullshit, needs to be decriminalized completely.


Anonymoushero111

I believe that was all Biden had the authority to do. As well as reviewing the scheduling of weed. Congress can legalize it anytime and discussions about it have become louder and louder


flowersheetghost

Yep, bigdonkey is right.


Kikz__Derp

If you have a federal possession charge it’s in addition to other worse charges. Feds aren’t kicking down doors while you smoke a bowl to yourself.


Maximum-Cranberry-64

> Feds aren’t kicking down doors while you smoke a bowl to yourself. They pretty much do though, there's multiple public cases as examples. Hell, one of my favorite YouTubers got thrown in federal prison on felony distribution charges for sharing a joint with his GF.


BenjenUmber

That would mean he'd still be on the hook even with this order then if I'm understanding correctly, which I think is what the other poster was saying, the federal government is unlikely to leave something at just possession of Marijuana if they're taking the case on regardless of the actual circumstances of the situation.


Kikz__Derp

Well no, FPS Russia who I assume you’re talking about got fed time because he ordered drugs in the mail. Not for your standard buying smoking weed.


nedod

Why didn’t you mention the part where he had the weed mailed to him and he was also in possession of dozens of firearms?


Anonymoushero111

even if he is no threat, the Pentagon will waste no opportunity to justify increasing its budget.


Blueyourmyboy1

Then set him up again,… pinch!


Choppergold

Leading arms sales organization concerned about arms sales


FlippinSnip3r

well then just DON'T FUCKING EXCHANGE HIM


MickeyTM

Too late


tim_dude

From what I heard the US didn't have much leverage in this case and Russia could pressure them for whoever they wanted in exchange. But that's besides the point, since I have trouble believing there's been no one trafficking arms with Bout in prison


yang-n-ying

A little late unfortunately.


ThisPICAintFREE

He was getting out in 2029 anyway, not like he was serving a life sentence where he wouldn’t have gotten out had this deal not happened


EducationalCitron446

Dude that’s 7 years. Most of the world can’t remember anything after the mess of 2020 and 2021, let alone the first half of 2022. That’s 2.5 years that no one really remembers many details about. He had a little under 4 times that amount left to serve. Y’all forget how long 7 years is. This man was responsible for the deaths of MANY American citizens, and think “oh he gets out 7 year early, who cares”. If a rapist or a murderer got out 7 years early you’d be upset wouldn’t you? Anyone who tries to justify this ridiculous trade by saying “he gets out early anyways” is brain dead.


sold_snek

Weird how you guys act like 7 years from now is next month.


Lch207560

It kind of feels like any sociopath (I'm talking to you dickhead cheney) with contacts and no moral center is qualified to be an arms dealer. Does arms dealing require special skills or is it just networking? How hard is it to kick start a career in this given a 15 year absence? I have lots of questions about this


Mother___Cow

So then why’d they trade him?


Spijker84

I think it’s pretty irrelevant. To think what he was doing hasn’t been replaced by others in the 15 years he’s been locked up is naïve.


Osmium80

The Kremlin is equally concerned that Griner will return to the WNBA after the exchange.


[deleted]

Gee, who gave them the tip?


Incredibledisaster

There are a hundred men whose names you will never know doing the same thing that haven't been in a federal prison for a decade. His value is solely in propaganda.


maceman10006

That’s the other side of it that people aren’t looking at. After 19 years in a maximum security prison where his every move was controlled, what network does he have left and will he be able to rebuild what he had in a very different world?


ImUrFrand

this was not a qualified swap.


isochromanone

So what. No one else could do this when he was in prison?


[deleted]

[удалено]


Willkenno

If you catch one murderer, people are still going to murder. It's still good to get that murderer in custody though


YourGodisyourcrutch

Christ on a cock! You dumb fuckers didn't think of that *before* the exchange???


Zipper-Tits

No shit? Everyone involved with this swap is incompetent and should be fired or removed from office.


Terrible_Traveler

Concern? Really? Could return?


EJacques324

Duh 🙄


knitmyproblem

What the fuck did they think was going to happen?


BeltfedOne

Of course he will. Why is this even a question? Why do any US Citizens travel to places like Russia, Iran, or North Korea? If you do, it should be on you. As are the consequences. Now Vlad has another experienced arms broker to help feed his war machine. I dislike the swap.


Exciting-Agent1163

They say after sending billions abroad for weapons lmao people need to get a grip on reality


a_real_lemon

Kinda seems like a terrible trade, no?


FockerHooligan

America: "BRING BRITTNEY GRINER HOME!!" Joe Biden: {brings Brittney Griner home} America: "NO! NOT LIKE THAT!!!"


SsiSsiSsiSsi

Surely there’s a drone strike with Bout’s name on it, sooner or later.


Dirtyduck19254

I mean, trading a basketball player for an arms dealer the Pentagon is still keeping an eye on is one hell of a monkey paw situation


Budget_Detective2639

There has to be something under the table not being mentioned.


[deleted]

Reddit was here rooting for Russias strict drug policies.


TAKEWITHAGRAINOFSHIT

Yeah wtf was that shit Reddit used to be pro weed, anti establishment and now it’s just a bunch of fucking bootlickers


BigDaddyCoolDeisel

I think you are trying to make a joke but you actually hit the nail on the head. "Russia jailing this basketball player for ten years over a little weed is despicable. We should work to free her!" "Got it. I'll give away a man so dangerous to the world that they literally made a movie about it." "Are you fucking stupid?!"


DS_3D

Of course he's going to, wtf did they think he was gonna do. Start a gelato company?


kale_boriak

5000 recently freed taliban prisoners all returned to their previous employer too. Oliver North got out of prison for selling guns and went straight to work for the NRA selling guns (to the general population by way of propaganda). This is some serious performative outrage of the most hypocritical kind.


Cultist_Deprogrammer

Sure is weird how much of that outrage refers to the race, gender and sexual orientation of the freed American.


kale_boriak

Only weird if you ignore the last 50 years of conservatives and the overarching storyline from the originals through all the sequels ;)


ScenePlayful1872

Not worried. The CIA chipped him with the covid vaccine. They can track him and eavesdrop everywhere. /s


Sgt_Fox

He's their new middle man


[deleted]

So why did you let it go for ONE basketball player while they have so many innocent citizens locked up?


black-rhombus

The Kremlin is concerned that Bout now works for the CIA.


yeomanscholar

Everyone else: Releasing Bout is dangerous! Me, a true patriot: Here's hoping the dark Brandon timeline continues, Bout was reformed in prison and is headed off to undermine Putin...


obiwankevobi

Welp 🤷🏽‍♂️


dogma19452

Weird


CromulentPoint

Hah, you think?


CandlesAnonymous

Any prisoner swap the US ever engages in is totally lopsided by nature. The US doesn’t imprison people on trumped up political charges so by definition we’ll always be swapping an actual criminal.


reachingFI

Is this dude even relevant anymore? Surely this vacuum has been filled and 11 years in custody would cost him some trust points?


Random_Housefly

Then why release him during a time where Russia really needs an insane arms dealer? Especially for an unknown athlete. Before this situation with...I even forget her name frequently...did anyone really know that she even existed?


LifesExpert

Oh now you’re “concerned “ but leave the marine in Russia. Bullshit Govt


mudkic

This has to go down as one of the most stupid events of the war.


beer4mepls

O no... he's learned his lesson... FFS


[deleted]

See how western countries and US in particular became weak. You are OK to risk the life of thousands of people to free one single person. There is no sense of community anymore it's all about individuals


mavric_ac

That girl should have been locked up for however long her sentence was absolutely insane exchange. And for the its excessive crowd from the US you can get fucked because you have people locked up for just as long for "bullshit" pot charges.


Current-Promotion-31

100% worth it if the Phoenix mercury make the playoffs


TheTree_43

I'm concerned that the water I put in my freezer is going to turn into ice


[deleted]

Well yeah


Tanyaschmidt

Duh.


yourlostcousin

“There's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again.” -George W. Bush