Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They left the marine behind.

Why on earth would anybody volunteer for the military under these leaders?

He’s not a Marine. He is an ex-marine. He received a bad conduct discharge. He’s no great American hero.

And Biden has pledged to keep trying to bring him back to America. Guess he's not that bad

He has to because republicans have latched onto him and he’s an “American”. Clearly not a top priority though as he still isn’t out and even trump didn’t bother working to get him back.

This is false, according to John Bolton.

https://nypost.com/2022/12/08/trump-turned-down-viktor-bout-for-paul-whelan-prisoner-swap-john-bolton/

Yes, the merchant of death is truly THAT BAD.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They left the marine behind.

Why on earth would anybody volunteer for the military under these leaders?

He’s not a Marine. He is an ex-marine. He received a bad conduct discharge. He’s no great American hero.

And Biden has pledged to keep trying to bring him back to America. Guess he's not that bad

He has to because republicans have latched onto him and he’s an “American”. Clearly not a top priority though as he still isn’t out and even trump didn’t bother working to get him back.

I work for the US govt overseas and if I knowingly committed a crime they’d let me rot. Good for her!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They left the marine behind.

Why on earth would anybody volunteer for the military under these leaders?

He’s not a Marine. He is an ex-marine. He received a bad conduct discharge. He’s no great American hero.

And Biden has pledged to keep trying to bring him back to America. Guess he's not that bad

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good for Griner for getting out, but there is no need to lionize her as a great American. She has a horrible history and track record, apart from this incident.

She’s a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist for the United States. I’m sure you’ve made equally significant contributions and will share them with us here.

NP
An Olympia. Guilty of domestic abuse and bringing an illegal substance into Russia hardly makes her a role model?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m not overly enthused with the seemingly flippant, masculine energy she exudes in those stone faced pictures we’ve all seen of her, but it’s nice to get an American returned home.

Here you go, PP. Not so “stone faced” here!

The problem with the conservative PPs in this thread is that they see that picture and hate her even more.

You are projecting your own hatred towards republicans.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the swap was a mistake and not in the best interest of our country. But, put yourself in the parents' shoes - my baby didn't do anything. It's just marijuana. She's innocent.
I hope she learned from that and don't mess up her life again in another country or in the U.S.A.
I also think the Russians are not going to release a former marine who was also working for them whether he knew it or not. He knows too much of both sides. Russians gain nothing keeping her. They also lose nothing returning her.

Pretty much. They gained. We're going to lose.i don't fault Britney and her family at all in this.

*yawn*

Wake us when this trade destroys the country.

Anonymous wrote:I think the swap was a mistake and not in the best interest of our country. But, put yourself in the parents' shoes - my baby didn't do anything. It's just marijuana. She's innocent.
I hope she learned from that and don't mess up her life again in another country or in the U.S.A.
I also think the Russians are not going to release a former marine who was also working for them whether he knew it or not. He knows too much of both sides. Russians gain nothing keeping her. They also lose nothing returning her.

Pretty much. They gained. We're going to lose.i don't fault Britney and her family at all in this.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Daily Mail is saying that MBS brokered the exchange.

Even shadier if true.
I'm indifferent on Whelen
Good for Grindr that she gets to go home.
Confident that this deal will go down in history as a major mistake.

Fascinating that your device autocorrects to Grindr. Hmm

So many “experts” here lmao

Yeah it is fascinating, since I've never been to the site or ever had a reason to talk about it until now.

What I find interesting instead of addressing issues because you're an expert you chose to make homophobic digs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m not overly enthused with the seemingly flippant, masculine energy she exudes in those stone faced pictures we’ve all seen of her, but it’s nice to get an American returned home.

Here you go, PP. Not so “stone faced” here!

The problem with the conservative PPs in this thread is that they see that picture and hate her even more.

Anonymous wrote:I’m not overly enthused with the seemingly flippant, masculine energy she exudes in those stone faced pictures we’ve all seen of her, but it’s nice to get an American returned home.

Here you go, PP. Not so “stone faced” here!

The State Dept and the Whelan family understand that Paul Whelan was not going to be released in this trade. As Biden said in his press conference he had a choice of bringing 1 American home or none. He made the decision to bring home one American.

Bout was a serious problem when he was convicted. He was around 40 and at the height of his connections and reputation. But he's now 56, been out of the black market for 15 years and has lost most of his connections who have moved on with their business. It's going to take him years to get back, get his life under control and he'll be in his 60's before he could go back to business. If he tries to go back, he'll be 20 years out of the business, in a business that takes years to get rolling and ramp up your connections. He's pretty much washed up in the black market. At this point, his release is a political win for Putin, but that's about it. He's not likely going to be a big player in the arms market even if he can possibly get back into it. He wasn't worth that much other than political capitol, same for Griner.

Paul Whelan, on the other hand, is worth more to the Russians. He is a suspected and convicted spy (not saying that means he's guilty, but he was prosecuted and sentenced as guilty). It will take a lot more concessions by the US government to negotiate his release. Biden and the State department have both said that they will continue working to secure his release, but the current deal did not give them enough leverage to buy his release. They'll need something bigger.

The Biden administration made the right call in this case. And the Whelan family, while disappointed, understood that.

Anonymous wrote:Good for Griner for getting out, but there is no need to lionize her as a great American. She has a horrible history and track record, apart from this incident.

She’s a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist for the United States. I’m sure you’ve made equally significant contributions and will share them with us here.

Good for Griner for getting out, but there is no need to lionize her as a great American. She has a horrible history and track record, apart from this incident.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They left the marine behind.

Why on earth would anybody volunteer for the military under these leaders?

He’s not a Marine. He is an ex-marine. He received a bad conduct discharge. He’s no great American hero.

He was court-martial conviction in January 2008 on multiple counts "related to larceny", he was sentenced to 60 days restriction, reduction to pay grade E-4, and a bad conduct discharge. This is your typical maga supporter.