• grue@lemmy.world
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    7 months ago

    It annoys me that something as stupid as a marijuana vape gave Russia an excuse to secure the release of Viktor Bout without giving us Paul Whelan in return.

    Frankly, Griner should’ve been the one to bear the costs of her fuck-up, not Whelan.

      • grue@lemmy.world
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        7 months ago

        I was unaware of that, but fair enough.

        Still, surely there was some higher-value political prisoner they could’ve asked for as a fairer exchange for someone as notorious as the “Merchant of Death.” I mean, sure, it’s nice that we’re helping out random basketball players and other such normal citizens, but unless Griner is an undercover CIA operative or something it doesn’t seem worth the trade.

        • RGB3x3@lemmy.world
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          7 months ago

          I think the official US policy is and should be that US lives are more important than maintaining control of political prisoners. It’s unfair to say the Griner wasn’t “worth it,” and it’s especially not okay for the government to make that determination.

          If the US government was ever at risk of saying (publicly) that someone “isn’t worth getting out of political prison” they’d lose all credibility in these negotiations for US citizens’ lives

            • stanleytweedle@lemmy.world
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              7 months ago

              Right, and Russia always applies laws equally and impartially. No politically motivated selective enforcement here, no sir!