There's really nothing at stake now since the midterms are over and Russia is losing the war against Ukraine. Just a matter of what Putin wants in terms of a swap.
Not exactly good news but a vastly different picture of the prison Griner is in emerges from this article. There was a change in administration at the prison so it may be less barbariec than in the past.
This is going to be tough politically for Biden - Paul Whelan who has been locked up for 4 years was left behind. The MAGA crowd will be going off on this, but I think the Russians wanted it this way. Still it was the right move and it's great news she is on her way home.
This is going to be tough politically for Biden - Paul Whelan who has been locked up for 4 years was left behind. The MAGA crowd will be going off on this, but I think the Russians wanted it this way. Still it was the right move and it's great news she is on her way home.
I'd be curious to know why Whelan isn't part of this when it seemed like it was always going to be a 2-for-1 swap?
CNN has said that Russia didn't want Whelan with this trade and the Biden is working on another deal to bring him home. Just proves that Russia detained her simply as a pawn.
Interesting and probably not at all a coincidence that this comes literally not even two full days after the final race in the midterms (Georgia senate) was completed. And it's just a 1-for-1 Bout for Griner deal, probably one of the original deals talked about from the beginning.
Now comes the uphill climb for Brittney and Cherelle of just putting BG's life back together and getting her mental (and possibly physical) health in one piece again. Thank god the climb can even start, but it's probably not gonna be easy for BG or her loved ones. And healing doesn't necessarily happen in a straight line.
Interesting and probably not at all a coincidence that this comes literally not even two full days after the final race in the midterms (Georgia senate) was completed. And it's just a 1-for-1 Bout for Griner deal, probably one of the original deals talked about from the beginning.
Now comes the uphill climb for Brittney and Cherelle of just putting BG's life back together and getting her mental (and possibly physical) health in one piece again. Thank god the climb can even start, but it's probably not gonna be easy for BG or her loved ones. And healing doesn't necessarily happen in a straight line.
Yep, how ironic that she gets released with the midterms now over AND without a red wave occuring. As fans, everyone is hopeful she'll play in 2023, but let's hope she takes care of herself before opting to jump back into the game too quickly.
Not to completely steer this in a political direction, but, Whelan has been imprisoned since the end of 2018, when Trump was still President. Especially given that Trump was supposedly """close""" with Putin, Trump had two full years to help Whelan but certainly didn't. People who have all this anti-Biden energy for not getting Whelan out this time ought to keep that same energy with Trump. Also, as people on twitter are rightfully bringing up, Trump released 5000 Taliban fighters for nothing β where was the energy for that back then from the same faction of 'people' criticizing Biden for trading Bout for Griner now?
If you're going to criticize Biden for doing this swap, that's absolutely fine and valid. But if simultaneously you aren't criticizing or didn't criticize Trump for those transgressions β or at least acknowledging them β you're not actually being serious and shouldn't be taken seriously!