wellway
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,022
Jun 25, 2014 20:50:09 GMT
|
Post by wellway on Dec 8, 2022 13:35:09 GMT
I've been following this story and always figured she was being used as a pawn. There has been a prisoner swap and she is on her way home. May she have a lovely Christmas with her family and friends. www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-63905112
|
|
carhoch
Pearl Clutcher
Be yourself everybody else is already taken
Posts: 3,028
Location: We’re RV’s so It change all the time .
Jun 28, 2014 21:46:39 GMT
|
Post by carhoch on Dec 8, 2022 13:44:09 GMT
That’s great news
|
|
lisaknits
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,483
May 28, 2015 16:14:56 GMT
|
Post by lisaknits on Dec 8, 2022 13:50:04 GMT
I just heard this on The Today Show. What great news!
|
|
|
Post by mikklynn on Dec 8, 2022 13:51:25 GMT
Thank God for that. I am so happy for her and her family.
|
|
|
Post by auntkelly on Dec 8, 2022 14:19:33 GMT
This is great news. I hope that she can resume her career and have a happy private life after this horrific experience, but I’m sure it will be difficult. She will probably always feel like Russian agents are watching her every move and could cause her to have an “accident” at any time. I will always believe those drugs were planted, even if she says she accidentally carried them with her.
|
|
peppermintpatty
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea #1345
Posts: 3,947
Jun 26, 2014 17:47:08 GMT
|
Post by peppermintpatty on Dec 8, 2022 14:20:47 GMT
It is wonderful news but the prisoner they swapped her for is a really bad guy. He is called the Merchant of Death and is the largest arms dealer in the world. The US screwed that one up. They should have also gotten out the other US prisoner for this guy.
|
|
|
Post by Merge on Dec 8, 2022 14:25:32 GMT
It's wonderful news, full stop. I'm disinclined to quibble about the prisoner who was released on our side. Unlike Russia, we don't usually round up innocent people and throw them in prison for years on trumped up charges, so we don't really have a cache of similarly harmless people to trade. ETA: It's pretty funny how all same people who have been armchair epidemiologists and constitutional law experts over the past few years are now also experts in foreign policy and negotiation. Y'all really do get around!
|
|
janeliz
Drama Llama
I'm the Wiz and nobody beats me.
Posts: 5,641
Jun 26, 2014 14:35:07 GMT
|
Post by janeliz on Dec 8, 2022 14:32:06 GMT
I’m so happy to hear this.
|
|
oh yvonne
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,062
Jun 26, 2014 0:45:23 GMT
|
Post by oh yvonne on Dec 8, 2022 14:41:10 GMT
I woke up to this wonderful news. I'm so happy for her. IDC who they swapped for, there was no other way she was going to be able to come home alive.
After the horrific treatment of Otto Warmbier I was so scared Brittney would share that same fate. Thank God.
|
|
|
Post by mom on Dec 8, 2022 14:44:07 GMT
Honestly, I have mixed feelings about this. But for her safety, I am glad she is going to be able to go home.
|
|
|
Post by epeanymous on Dec 8, 2022 15:06:26 GMT
I am really happy for her, her wife, and the rest of her family.
|
|
|
Post by onelasttime on Dec 8, 2022 15:10:10 GMT
Maybe instead of claiming the US screwed that one up, especially since none of us were involved in the negotiations, we should be glad that a deal that was able to be made. And know that the Biden Administration will continue to work to bring Whelan home as well.
|
|
|
Post by myshelly on Dec 8, 2022 15:14:43 GMT
I don’t think this is good news at all.
We gave up a really bad guy for a druggie. Why?
I hate this.
Another strike against Biden for me.
|
|
|
Post by christine58 on Dec 8, 2022 15:20:09 GMT
It is wonderful news but the prisoner they swapped her for is a really bad guy. He is called the Merchant of Death and is the largest arms dealer in the world. The US screwed that one up. They should have also gotten out the other US prisoner for this guy. I completely agree
|
|
|
Post by Bridget in MD on Dec 8, 2022 15:20:22 GMT
It is wonderful news but the prisoner they swapped her for is a really bad guy. He is called the Merchant of Death and is the largest arms dealer in the world. The US screwed that one up. They should have also gotten out the other US prisoner for this guy. OMG I totally agree. Russia really made out on this trade.
|
|
pinklady
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,922
Nov 14, 2016 23:47:03 GMT
|
Post by pinklady on Dec 8, 2022 15:23:12 GMT
Personally, I think she should have done the time for her crime. Those drugs were NOT planted on her. She knowingly and willingly took illegal drugs into another country. Into fricking RUSSIA!
I think the outcry for her imprisonment was ridiculous. And what an unequal trade.
I hope she gets a big fat bill from the US government for this and she better keep her damn nose clean for the rest of her life. If she's caught breaking any law, this was all for nothing because clearly she didn't learn her lesson.
|
|
naby64
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,224
Jun 25, 2014 21:44:13 GMT
|
Post by naby64 on Dec 8, 2022 16:05:08 GMT
I was listening to one of the news channel on my way to work. I don't remember the players involved but she said while she wasn't happy with the choice of the swap, the man going back to Russia was going back to a different Russia than when he was there before. Because of all the "tightening up of things" due to the Ukraine invasion, he wouldn't have the same access he had to arms, funds, etc. as he had before. Whether that is true or not, who knows? I think we don't really know what happens behind closed doors for these swaps. Nor should we.
|
|
|
Post by cindosha on Dec 8, 2022 16:08:06 GMT
Personally, I think she should have done the time for her crime. Those drugs were NOT planted on her. She knowingly and willingly took illegal drugs into another country. Into fricking RUSSIA! I think the outcry for her imprisonment was ridiculous. And what an unequal trade. I hope she gets a big fat bill from the US government for this and she better keep her damn nose clean for the rest of her life. If she's caught breaking any law, this was all for nothing because clearly she didn't learn her lesson. I completely agree with you, she is an American hating idiot who brought illegal drugs to Russia. She should have done her time. This administration screwed up again.
|
|
Just T
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,812
Jun 26, 2014 1:20:09 GMT
|
Post by Just T on Dec 8, 2022 17:35:11 GMT
I think we don't really know what happens behind closed doors for these swaps. Nor should we. Exactly. How do we know that Biden didn't try to get Whelan?? I'm sure looking at it from Putin's view point, he'd rather give up a low level drug user than a US Marine. If he's been a prisoner since 2018, are all you slamming Biden right now also slamming Trump for not getting him home?? I'm guessing no. I do have mixed feelings. But, it also seems a bit extreme to put someone using pot into the harshest prison in Russia to be tortured and worked to death, too. I don't understand why any American would go to a country like Russia and break the law, either.
|
|
|
Post by peace on Dec 8, 2022 17:40:12 GMT
And how does anyone KNOW she brought anything into that country?? Russia lies. A lot. It's kind of what they do. I will be zero surprised if we find out she had nothing on her and it was all just a plan to get their bad guy back. I cannot fathom what negotiations are like and I think they did the right thing. We are bringing someone home from a country that openly hates gay people. And she doesn't hate America- that's so ridiculous. Right wing loonies are all in on this one.
|
|
|
Post by papersilly on Dec 8, 2022 17:46:22 GMT
Personally, I think she should have done the time for her crime. Those drugs were NOT planted on her. She knowingly and willingly took illegal drugs into another country. Into fricking RUSSIA! i agree with this too. i know it's not a popular opinion but that's how i feel too. if I did the same thing, i would probably die in russia. the US would have no political motivation to come get me. i would rot in some camp because i don't have any fame or status to use as leverage to get me out.
|
|
|
Post by Merge on Dec 8, 2022 17:48:15 GMT
I think we don't really know what happens behind closed doors for these swaps. Nor should we. Exactly. How do we know that Biden didn't try to get Whelan?? I'm sure looking at it from Putin's view point, he'd rather give up a low level drug user than a US Marine. If he's been a prisoner since 2018, are all you slamming Biden right now also slamming Trump for not getting him home?? I'm guessing no. I do have mixed feelings. But, it also seems a bit extreme to put someone using pot into the harshest prison in Russia to be tortured and worked to death, too. I don't understand why any American would go to a country like Russia and break the law, either. Your last sentence is a pretty compelling argument for why she probably didn't. All these people here acting like Putin was offering Biden choices, big handfuls of prisoners to return, and Biden just turned it down. Ridiculous. We also don't know what else may have been part of the trade that can't be reported on for national security reasons, and we never will. When reading commentary on this topic online, I'd encourage everyone to remember that a big part of this country are now Putin apologists. And they're parroting the Russian bots and disinformation purveyors who want the world to believe that Putin really got one over on Biden here.
|
|
|
Post by bc2ca on Dec 8, 2022 17:50:46 GMT
I've been following this story and always figured she was being used as a pawn. I'm disinclined to quibble about the prisoner who was released on our side. Unlike Russia, we don't usually round up innocent people and throw them in prison for years on trumped up charges, so we don't really have a cache of similarly harmless people to trade. to both of theses. I'm also impressed to read the swap deal was made last week and everyone kept it quiet until she was on the plane.
|
|
|
Post by disneypal on Dec 8, 2022 17:51:34 GMT
It is wonderful news but the prisoner they swapped her for is a really bad guy. He is called the Merchant of Death and is the largest arms dealer in the world. The US screwed that one up. They should have also gotten out the other US prisoner for this guy. I 100% agree...I am really surprised they made this deal because the Russian prisoner is a true terrorist ! I am glad for her and so glad she is coming home but I am very sad for Paul Whelan's family, because he continues to remain a prisoner in Russia.
|
|
|
Post by myshelly on Dec 8, 2022 17:52:27 GMT
Exactly. How do we know that Biden didn't try to get Whelan?? I'm sure looking at it from Putin's view point, he'd rather give up a low level drug user than a US Marine. If he's been a prisoner since 2018, are all you slamming Biden right now also slamming Trump for not getting him home?? I'm guessing no. I do have mixed feelings. But, it also seems a bit extreme to put someone using pot into the harshest prison in Russia to be tortured and worked to death, too. I don't understand why any American would go to a country like Russia and break the law, either. Your last sentence is a pretty compelling argument for why she probably didn't. All these people here acting like Putin was offering Biden choices, big handfuls of prisoners to return, and Biden just turned it down. Ridiculous. We also don't know what else may have been part of the trade that can't be reported on for national security reasons, and we never will. Putin didn’t have to be offering choices for Biden to say “no deal” and walk away. I don’t care one iota about BG one way or the other, I do care that Biden gave up the merchant of death to Russia.
|
|
|
Post by Merge on Dec 8, 2022 17:53:52 GMT
Your last sentence is a pretty compelling argument for why she probably didn't. All these people here acting like Putin was offering Biden choices, big handfuls of prisoners to return, and Biden just turned it down. Ridiculous. We also don't know what else may have been part of the trade that can't be reported on for national security reasons, and we never will. Putin didn’t have to be offering choices for Biden to say “no deal” and walk away. I don’t care one iota about BG one way or the other, I do care that Biden gave up the merchant of death to Russia. And your expertise in this field and extensive knowledge of the situation comes from ....?
|
|
|
Post by Merge on Dec 8, 2022 18:00:42 GMT
Alexander Vindman
Keep in mind also that Bout had apparently served 10 years of his 13 year sentence. It's not like he was going to sit in our prison system indefinitely.
|
|
|
Post by myshelly on Dec 8, 2022 18:04:09 GMT
Putin didn’t have to be offering choices for Biden to say “no deal” and walk away. I don’t care one iota about BG one way or the other, I do care that Biden gave up the merchant of death to Russia. And your expertise in this field and extensive knowledge of the situation comes from ....? We have to present credentials to have a political opinion now? Does that extend to showing qualifications to vote? I believe BG went to Russia when she shouldn’t have. I believe she had drugs when she shouldn’t have. I believe if you are stupid enough to do those things, you should be left to rot in jail, even if it’s a Russian jail. I don’t believe Biden should be negotiating at all with Putin about anything right now. I believe Biden cares more about approval ratings amongst minorities than about doing what’s best.
|
|
|
Post by katlady on Dec 8, 2022 18:31:00 GMT
Griner is no stranger to Russia. She plays basketball there during the W.N.B.A. off-season. She should have known what she should have not brought in to Russia. I do think her punishment though was too harsh for the crime. But we know that some countries have very harsh punishments for drugs. I am glad she is coming home, but also torn about the swap.
|
|
|
Post by cindyupnorth on Dec 8, 2022 18:38:13 GMT
And your expertise in this field and extensive knowledge of the situation comes from ....? Wait one second. We arn't entitled to an opinion on here anymore?? unless we are an expert? come on! Freedom of speech girl.
|
|