- It is always good to get an American citizen back on home soil. Those who cannot rejoice in this need to examine the condition of their souls.
- Viktor Bout is a bad man and will likely go on being a bad man, but prisoner exchanges with our enemies seldom yield otherwise. Those who are outraged should bone up the history of prisoner exchanges by both Democratic and Republican Administrations.
- Paul Whelan's release was not an option at this time as Russia insisted only Griner's release was on the table. The Whelan family supports Griner's release.
- Negotiations over Whelan's release will continue. There are additional things the Russians want. Stay tuned.
- A Reminder: Paul Whelan was arrested by Russian authorities in 2018 when Donald Trump was President who was unable to secure his release. That's not to fault the former President. It's just to say that Whelan was taken on Trump's watch. Putin did offer Trump an exchange of Whelan for Bout, which he rejected.
- In 2020, former President Trump freed 5,000 Taliban fighters in exchange for 1,000 Afghan government officials. That may have been a necessary exchange, but it was hardly a one for one deal.
- The irony of people questioning Brittany Griner's patriotism, who supported or at the very least dismissed the significance of the January 6th insurrection, would be laughable if it wasn't so infuriating.
- If we must offer verbal vitriol, we should direct it where it is deserved-- Vladimir Putin. He is currently one of the bad actors on the world stage.
- I cannot fail to note that Paul Whelan is a white male and former Marine (received a bad conduct discharge) while Brittany Griner is an athlete, black, and a lesbian, which may have something to do with the vitriol toward the latter. While no doubt some will complain that I just played the race and gender cards without warrant, considering the company Donald Trump keeps and the support he has from white nationalists and supremacists; and that many of his supporters approve of legislation that targets LGBTQA+ folks as well as the suppression of teaching black history and voter suppression of minorities, it is not unreasonable to broach the subject.
- OK. I believe that is all...for now. Wait... one more thing. If you're an American, I would advise against traveling to Russia.
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