, whose arms fueled conflicts from Sudan to Rwanda to Afghanistan to Angola, is nicknamed the “Merchant of Death,” and his illicit transactions with violent regimes and militant groups earned him a 25-year sentence in federal prison.After the two passed within a few feet of each other on an airport tarmac in the Persian Gulf on Thursday, a public debate raged in the United States over how the government handles prisoner exchanges for citizens it considers “wrongfully detained.
For months, State Department officials had advocated a swap involving Bout that would include the release of both Whelan and Griner, but Moscow refused unless the United States also secured the release of Vadim Krasikov, a former colonel from Russia’s internal spy agency, said officials familiar with the matter.Krasikov is serving a life sentence for murder in Germany, and Berlin had made clear that releasing him was a non-starter, a U.S. official said.
“This was not a choice of which American to bring home. The choice was one or none,” he said during a news conference in Washington. “We make no apologies for making tough decisions if it results in the return of a wrongfully detained American,” said the official. “And, just as we’re doing that, we’re taking steps to deter other countries from engaging in this practice.”
Oliver North & US district judge Gerhard.
gtconway3d paulwhelanworthmorebecauseheswhite!
gtconway3d I agree it was a mistake. For the humanitarian aspect it was a victory. But I wouldn’t have done it if I were calling the shots.
gtconway3d Of course! A black athlete got freed while a white Marine is still being held. Certain people just can't wrap their brains around that because in their minds, one holds more value than the other. They were detained for entirely different reasons. One's THC, the other's spying.
Popehat I hope they work as hard to bring home Whelan, Fogel and Krivanek.
gtconway3d Gee. I wonder what they think about Lockheed/Martin, Rayon, etc. USA1 arms dealer
Popehat FreeAssangeNOW
Where is the Justice department on charges against the lying, treasonous former president? Asking for millions of Americans.
🖕🏾
I'm not sure if it was a wise swap to do, but if you are the President what right does the DOJ have to stop it. Who elected them.
I'm not sure if it was a wise swap do do, but if you are the President what right does the DOJ have to stop it. Who elected them.
gtconway3d He is a leader. He made a hard decision. I respect him for that. Trump did NOTHING.
CherokeeNative3 It was the right thing to do. She was being held hostage for a misdemeanor at worst and perfectly legal in some states.
gtconway3d Tough call. But he got one American home and one Russian ahole off American support.
This is misleading. DOJ routinely objects to trading people they have convicted in this manner. It undermines the sanctity of their prosecution if they consent and gives the trading partner an ability to state the prosecution was political. The state dept approval is relevant
She was paid to play! Not to indulge and violating Russia's laws! Bring our veterans home...
gtconway3d I haven’t seen it mentioned anywhere that he had already completed 16 years of his 25 year sentence. Guess the drama factor isn’t quite high enough when you throw in that tidbit.
gtconway3d I had always been a Biden supporter, but not this time.
Popehat Am grateful that POTUS brought this American home
SpiroAgnewGhost Good thing the tail doesn’t wag the dog.
Look at all of you who just wanted BG to rot in a Russian camp. Unbelievably anti American
And that's why Potus is empowered to act without their approval. Uneasy lies the head...
Was it a mistake or just an unfair deal? Well if you look at human beings as merely objects then you will come up with either conclusion.
The Commander-in-Chief left the Marine behind ..
Ya think?
Disgusted.
10 month effort? Prove it. Is this a presidential campaign misinformation?
He must be into lesbians
The arms dealer served 10 years in prison; Griner was an American imprisoned wrongly; Biden is a careful politician who made a calculated decision.
Let’s drop the criticism and just be glad she is out of that hell hole. What if it was you? What would you criticize then?
It was a mistake
that's ok. tough decisions are hard to make. glad she's home.
Umm, your headline is misleading. The Justice Dept is ALWAYS against such swaps. Always. But you wouldn’t want to tell that truth in your headline which is what most people read. And you’d be loudly condemning Joe if you later learned US passed on a chance to bring BG home.
The choice should have been to bring no one home right now! This Administration continues to pander for 'positive' headlines!
What about Marc Fogel and Paul Whelan 🤷🏼♂️
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