BREAKING: US has traded Russian arms dealer, Viktor Bout (Merchant of Death) for Brittney Griner

[Schiff for Senate]

Ah yes it's great that we freed the literal Merchant Of Death to get an athlete back. I don't care that this is a terrible trade. Luuuuv her identity categories, slaaaay qween!

For the record, I'd oppose this even if it was both Whelan and Griner. Viktor Bout should not be freed under any circumstance.

This, except for the very last part: "under any circumstances," in theory, is a very extreme statement to make. Say we were talking Russia releasing 50 American civilians in exchange for Bout - that's definitely a deal worth considering if not immediately accepting. Of course, if we're restricting it to only "under any realistic circumstances," then yes.

If this was the best deal we could get, well, we shouldn't have done it. Objectively, a basketball player - NBA, WNBA, I truly don't care who it is and from which organization - is not worth this very dangerous arms dealer.


EDIT: that said, I also think you're reading too much into the identity politics aspect. I do truly believe it had little to do with Griner's race/gender/sexuality. Of course, it's a bad deal nonetheless, and a poor decision on Biden's part.

[Schiff for Senate]

Paul Whelan seems to have become a living embodiment of whataboutism.

Nothing against him personally, I hope a deal can be worked out to get him home too, but he is unwittingly being used as a shield to manipulate the right into making them think this was somehow an either or situation where a basketball player (no dog-whistle there, of course) was prioritized over a veteran who the Biden administration apparently doesn't care about rotting in a Russian prison.

Can't we just be happy that an American at all was finally rescued from such a nightmare?

Brittney Griner's attitude towards her country has made that difficult for many.  She's brought that on all by herself.   I'm happy she's home because 9 years in prison for weed is cruel and unjustified,  so it's doing the right thing,  all things considered.

I'm happy that an American citizen was ransomed.   And everyone here would want the government to move Heaven and Earth for THEIR  loved one,  and would want everyone to put aside their past ingratitude if they were guilty of that.

Truly, what are you ever referencing? Is there a specific incident you're referring to, or what?

[Schiff for Senate]

Biden really having an incredible run here. Again, getting us into more sh*t done.

Amazing for Brittany and her family.

Fixed it for you (though the "again" part isn't really true since most of Biden's actions have been good, this one being more of an exception than the rule).

"Amazing for Brittany and her family." Sure, but what about Bout's next victims, and their families?

This deal was NOT worth it. We're releasing a highly dangerous arms dealer, who's going to definitely be the reason behind many more deaths (I mean, his name is literally "Merchant of Death!") for a basketball player? Really? Yes, I get that she's American and she was being treated unjustly. But this deal was truly not a fair deal, and if this was the best we could get, Biden should have absolutely turned him down. We didn't need to get Griner at all costs. More like, we need to keep this dangerous arms dealer who we captured with great difficulty locked up at all costs. And now we've released him, all for one civilian? Believe me, even if she was a star NBA player, I would oppose this. Even if the Russians offered Griner+Whelan for Bout, it wouldn't be a fair deal (though it would obviously be better than the one we got).

[Schiff for Senate]

Some of you people just need to admit that you would rather have seen her rot in a Russian prison because she happens to be a Black, relatively butch lesbian.

If you are going to make absurd and outrageous claims like this, you need evidence.

Some of the loudest critics of Biden's move here are notorious racists and homophobes, so why should they be given the benefit of the doubt that their objections are not based on bigotry?

Because there are plenty of reasons to criticize this decision? Are we supposed to never criticize anything involving a black woman or a person who is LGBTQ?

This! Again, I want to firmly say, for the record, this would be a TERRIBLE DEAL even if we got Whelan instead of Griner (honestly it'd be terrible even if we got BOTH of them back). I mean just look at what Fuzzy's said on this subject. I rarely agree with him, and he appears to detest Griner (and I detest him, largely for his belief in the Big Lie), but he's said again and again he fundamentally supports this and is happy for her since she is an American and what would've happened to her in Russia is unjust (I still do think his incessant whining about Griner hating her country and the like is very irritating, but the point stands that he SUPPORTED this decision and is ultimately HAPPY that Griner's out). As for me? I opposed releasing one civilian, whether they're a basketball player, even king/queen of the (W)NBA, whatever, in exchange for this highly dangerous arms dealer we captured with great difficulty. It was a terrible decision on Biden's part to agree to this deal and while we all may celebrate short term Griner's release (I highly doubt anybody, even this forum's most virulent bigots, are actually unhappy about the fact itself that Griner has been released - only about who we left behind in her place, and who we gave up in exchange for her...with me it's more of the latter), I have a terrible feeling there will be much more suffering and pain caused by Bout's release.

[Schiff for Senate]

As for me? I opposed releasing one civilian, whether they're a basketball player, even king/queen of the (W)NBA, whatever, in exchange for this highly dangerous arms dealer we captured with great difficulty.

Had you ever previously heard of this guy about whom you have such strong opinions now?

No, I have not, but then, neither did many who are now supporting this swap (and I suspect some of them didn't know who Griner was, either).

And just searching him up, looking at his Wikipedia page - it's plain to see that he is, in fact, very dangerous. Really. You don't have to take my word for it. Just search Viktor Bout up, and you will doubtless see for yourself that the name "Merchant of Death" isn't unwarranted. He was caught conspiring to kill Americans and providing material support to terrorists, among other things. Now we've set him free to finish of what he started, all in exchange for one basketball player. I don't know how much of a factor her gender/sexuality/race was in the decision - I do doubt it made much of an impact - but it was still a terrible decision either way.