Prisoner exchange, WNBA star returns to US, Marine veteran remains in Russia
Team Biden offered to give the Russians Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer, in exchange for both Britney Griner (WNBA star) and Paul Whelan (Marine veteran). When the actual deal was reached, Griner was swapped for Bout. As a refresher, Griner was accused of having cannabis in her bag, and Whelan was accused of espionage. According to Whelan’s brother, this appeared to be a second missed opportunity to secure Paul Whelan’s release.
From Fox News:
President Biden’s prisoner exchange with Russia secured the release of WNBA star Britney Griner on Thursday but left U.S. Marine veteran Paul Whelan in Russian custody.
Whelan has been in Russian custody since 2018 when he was sentenced to 16 years in prison on espionage charges. Griner had been in Russian custody since February after authorities discovered cannabis in her luggage.
Biden’s administration had initially sought the release of both Griner and Whelan in exchange for notorious arms dealer Viktor Bout, a Russian citizen serving a prison sentence in America. Known colloquially as the “Merchant of Death,” he was convicted in 2011 of conspiracy to kill Americans and sentenced to 15 years in prison.
The Biden administration ultimately agreed to exchange Bout for Griner alone, leaving Whelan behind in Russia.
Nevertheless, Whelan’s brother, David Whelan, congratulated Griner on her release in a Thursday statement, but lamented the Biden administration’s failure to release his brother.
“There is no greater success than for a wrongful detainee to be freed and for them to go home. The Biden Administration made the right decision to bring Ms. Griner home, and to make the deal that was possible, rather than waiting for one that wasn’t going to happen,” he wrote.
“She will be reunited with her family. Brittney is free. And Paul is still a hostage. But how many more times do I need to write that?” he continued. “Despite the possibility that there might be an exchange without Paul, our family is still devastated. I can’t even fathom how Paul will feel when he learns. Paul has worked so hard to survive nearly 4 years of this injustice.”
His statement went on to note that the Biden administration notified the Whelan family that Paul would be left behind in the exchange. David’s statement noted that it was the second time the Biden administration had left Paul behind in a prisoner exchange, with the last instance coming in April.
Fox News has additional details.
Category: "Teh Stoopid", "The Floggings Will Continue Until Morale Improves", Veterans in the news
America hating WNBA player for someone playfully called “the Merchant of Death”.
Sounds good.
Merchant of Death for a Gay Drug Mule, in the common core commie left playbook, it does make sense if you throw all reason and logic out!
How soon before he’s off pedaling his wares in Ukraine? I’d say long enough to give his wife ‘the pickle tickle’ then he’s off to Donetsk.
Any more proof needed that Biden hates America? I bet he’ll talk about his dead son if asked about Whelan.
As always, Fuck Joe Biden.
Joke Biteme uses his dead Son every time he sees fit; he has even claimed he died in Iraq while the truth is he died Stateside.
We got her… for (as portrayed by Nicholas Cage) this guy:
All about gender and race. It’s a shame that the low information voters only listen to the lame stream media 3rd political party and do not look into the whole story.
Paul Whelan’s plight would’ve been highlighted more from the so-called “News” media outlets if he would’ve been a transgender Marine or some other member of the Alphabet mafia.
Russkies had him do a phone interview with CNN to make up for that.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/paul-whelan-brittney-griner-biden-released-russian-custody-163802268.html
She was not wrongfully detained. She broke their drug laws. She hates America and knelt before her job playing games. She needs to rot in hell.
She will, unless she repents of the carpet munching.
She was targeted by Russians and set up for the same CBD vape that the Russians knew she brought before without anyone saying anything. The Ruskies executed their plan to free MOD Bout based on her known habits and we fell for it while the Russians keep Whelan to get more info out of him.
BOHICA!
On the plus side, we will no longer be subjected to Facebook postings showing up on our pages regarding her unjust detention. Now they can get back to us lamenting how WNBA players are underpaid compared to their male counterparts in the NBA. If they are really as skilled as they think that they are, why don’t they try out for the NBA?
If there is no difference between a man and a woman other than what you want yourself to be, then there is no need for a WNBA. It should be dissolved.
No lie. So tired of Fb’s “suggested for you” offering up this useless creature. The only reason I didn’t comment on that feed was because I didn’t want even more of it.
Hack Stone embraces these posts popping up. He does not seek them out, but he does have the WNBA Memes thrust upon. And when he does post a comment, inevitably he will be called racist.
I think Dennis Rodman is eligible for the WNBA…
WNBA Season Opener.
Bullsh^t! But then again, that describes the entire biteme admin.
So we exchanged a man that is about as close to a James Bond villain as you can possibly have in real life for a dumb ass that won’t even stand for the national anthem. And seriously we couldn’t get a two for one? Look up Victor Bout he’s an evil genius and he’s going to go right back to work. All we got is a giant lesbian that hates America.
Brandon and crew at their best.
Exchanged a doper for a criminal that is responsible for the pain, suffering and death of millions.
And you can best believe Bout will be helping the Russky war effort in Ukraine.
And the dummies that voted for this crap will just continue to clap like dumbass seals.
I’m sorry to most Americans today are dumber than dirt. If you don’t believe me go to one of the busier DMV and people watch, it’s freakin scary.
Business Insider, winner of the “Duh!” award:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/pentagon-fears-viktor-bout-called-150005776.html
Do you suppose she will spit on the flag when they welcome her home at the airport?
Dollars to doughnuts you won’t see any American flags in the crowd; likewise, you won’t see her praise America. Hopefully, when she again kneels for the national anthem, she’ll be booed vociferously.
As long as LeBron says it was a good move, we’re okay.
Bet there will be a WH ceremony. I’d say in the Rose Garden like Bergdahl but it’s too cold.
The Marine needs to identify as a female and that will be his ticket out so we can celebrate the diversity.
Yup. You’d think Biden would learn from mistakes like Bergdahl.
It’s impossible that Biden could be so wrong on every single foreign policy. He’s not incompetent. It’s intentional.
“…Biden…learn“?!
You’re drunk already today?
I’m jealous.
You are naive if you think Gropey Joe made this decision by himself. Based on how his staff physically leads him around and instructs him, I doubt he makes any important decisions on his own.
We’re on the same page, rgr.
He was a dumb ass, now he’s a bitter senile one.
The Biden/Obama crowd don’t see Bergdahl as a mistake. He was treated as a hero by them and they still think of him in that light. So from their point of view, there is no lesson to learn.
Oh no, he really IS that dumb. If he hadn’t been the yes-man and water carrier for the banks and credit card companies in Delaware, nobody would have ever heard of this clown. Oh why, oh why didn’t his late wife ask Joe to run errands that day?
She ran the stop sign, yet it was the other guy’s fault, according to old Joe.
While I agree that Biden is a greedy racketeer whenever he can be, Hanlon’s razor still applies to most of his decisions.
He’s been a very successful grifter, not a particularly gifted one.
You don’t have to be smart. Just take the sack of cash and introduce the bill that your patron wrote for you (Senator Biden).
The current administration and media hate this country, and Britney Griner also hates this country – plus, she hits all the leftist requirements:
African American female? Check.
Lesbian? Check.
Drug User? Check.
Hates the U.S.? Check.
So, how do you know she is female? You are not a biologist or a gynecologist. Anyway, so far as we know. Although, if you have watched enough internet pron, you may qualify as an amateur gynecologist. A few hundred hours of watching girl on girl prom, and you will know one when you see one.
Aww, y’all know what I meant. Apple thinks I was trying to comment about a prom.
I’m glad she’s not in a Russian prison…I don’t like seeing any Americans held by totalitarian shit bag nations.
I’m not a fan of hers by any stretch of the imagination.
I am disappointed that our negotiating skills in this trade were about as well executed as the withdrawal from Afghanistan. A monster for a moron is hardly equal value.
I suspect I should not be surprised that this is the best this administration could do with their limited skill set.
I am thoroughly disappointed that Mr. Whelan has been left behind, and I would like to believe that State is working feverishly to swap him out as well.
Hopefully Ms. Griner has learned that working in a nation that is not a US ally comes with a risk/reward ratio that is never stacked in the favor of the US citizen. I wouldn’t work in Russia, China, or a host of other shit hole nations simply because I’m not interested in being caught up in their disputes with my country.
Sometimes principle outweighs monetary reward.
How do we know that she is really on an airplane coming into a place she hates. Wouldn’t it be Boss if the Russians faked Herr biden out and she is not on the plane at all. I would love it. What ever happened to we never leave a Marine behind. OH, this is the hate AmeriKa and the Military one party Regime now.
“Principle”? She has none. Never did, never will.
The Principle referred to in that last sentence is my own, I will not work in a foreign commie shit bag nation for any amount of money period.
Clearly Ms. Griner’s “principles” are somewhat suspect.
After retirement from the Army, my principles won’t allow me to work outside the continental US. Already did all that!
First thing on her mind is some good weed.
She is going to need that to get her shit together for the next protest.
We should have left her to rot.
I think we all agree with you sentiments, except for possibly the commie cuttlefish.
Sometimes principle outweighs monetary reward.
Not for creatures like Griner…
And the highly lucrative “Britney Griner: American Hero” book and movie deal offers start rolling in in 3…2…1…
Don’t forget the new Britney Griner “American Girl” doll.
A whole new series of dolls with gender identity issues who hate America. Of course, the Sam Brinton doll will be stealing the clothing of the other dolls.
Well, now she can star in a show called “Locked up abroad” if she can’t get her job back.
The Russians can also make a show about it, and call it “Locked Up A Broad.”
Actually, “Locked Up A Broad, Or Did We”?
Then there’s this…
Hope Whelan gets back also, but it seems the ex-Marine card gets played a lot in his favor.
Then there’s this…
The Marine Corps released Whelan’s service record, showing that he was convicted in a 2008 court-martial on charges related to larceny.
He joined the Marine Reserves May 10, 1994, and was an administrative clerk and administrative chief. He rose to the rank of staff sergeant in December 2004 and was deployed in the war against Iraq for several months in 2004 and 2006.
He was convicted at a special court-martial in January 2008 on several charges related to larceny and was given a bad-conduct discharge in December 2008 at the rank of private.
Yeah, he allegedly worked as a police officer but only a sparse part time records could be found on him. He had a whole Walter Mitty thing going on, making him the most easily disposed of patsies.
I hate to see an American locked up for nothing in Russia but he kind of was asking it for it.
Russkies let him (not happy) do a phone interview with CNN from the gulag to rub it now, too:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/paul-whelan-brittney-griner-biden-released-russian-custody-163802268.html
Supposedly his Russian is self-taught according to some of the posts on the language school site; he isn’t ‘one of ours’. N\But one has to wonder if an American spouting odd stories shows up speaking Russian of a sort wouldn’t tickle ALL of the FSB’s ivories? “Comrade, we got a live oneski here!”
Of course, I recall another former Marine who liked Russia enough to teach himself Russian. Lee Harvey something…
Can anyone else confirm or deny this?
If your referring to Whelan’s Court-Martial here’s a link to his appeal decision.
https://www.jag.navy.mil/courts/documents/archive/2008/WHELAN,%20P.N.%20200800152%20PCE.pdf
UNITED STATES NAVY-MARINE CORPS COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS WASHINGTON, D.C.
Before D.E. O’TOOLE, F.D. MITCHELL, J.F. FELTHAM Appellate Military Judges
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. PAUL N. WHELAN
STAFF SERGEANT (E-6), U.S. MARINE CORPS
NMCCA 200800152 SPECIAL COURT-MARTIAL
Whatever his prior crimes, he’s being held for espionage – a case he has consistently and vehemently denied and is unrelated to anything he might have done while enlisted. He may be guilty of espionage (and perhaps for some third party), but he’s always denied such. If he truly were a part of the US IC, I imagine it would have been handled much more quietly. If we expected that he was working for someone else, he might have been disavowed years ago with any colorful service history as a nice buffer.
Griner ADMITTED guilt in her case. She was never “wrongfully detained” and was never some political prisoner. She committed a crime and got caught.
She was a political exchange, and I cannot believe that Russia gave a damn which of the two they gave in exchange for Bout. Identity politics over principle.
I just read a tweet from some moron “journalist” who claims Whelan is a “retired Marine.” The tweeter is a White House correspondent for CBS News. Moreover, even Fox News is implying he is some military hero. Yet, the dude was a dud in the Corps. He received a bad conduct discharge for attempted theft, making false statements under oath, dereliction of duty, stealing someone’s SSN, and writing numerous bad checks.
With that record, I have a difficult time thinking anyone recruited him as a spy and sent him to Russia. But then maybe the CIA needed an undercover cashiered admin clerk.
Haven’t you seen “Spies Like Us”?
As of today, Sunday 11 DEC, NBC is still referring to him as a “retired Marine”.
Oh great, we get the America hating crack ho back. wonderful piece of negotiation.
What’s worse, the WH will never figure out it doesn’t have any leverage if it decides to negotiate for the release of the other Americans detained in Russia.
Russia got the guy they wanted…and they know Biden doesn’t have anything to offer in trade for the others.
Fuck her fuck everything she stands for fuck the entire WNBA fuck all the liberal assholes bring her back to United States and let her serve the next 12 years at Rikers
Ditto. And the Russkies will let the arms dealer go back in business.
This “privileged” gender-bending jackass got what she deserved. This is what happens when you think another nation’s laws don’t apply to you, because you think you’re “special.” She found out that she’s not “entitled” just because she’s an overpaid pro athlete, who bounces a ball around on TV for dozens of viewers. And releasing a dangerous Russian arms dealer for this freak is a travesty.
Exactly. Any other US citizen ,on the same charges, without any connections or fame would still be in Russian prison and not even a blip in the news cycle.
Taking a knee along with the other assholes and her hate for my adopted America, FUCK HER!
Nothing about this surprises me.
Get rolled again.
PINO Joe: I did that!
Chlamydia Harris: We did it, Joe!
All that shit just to get another LGBTQWERTYUIOP quota back for a PC media orgy for the left. Excuse me for yawning!
Looks like sleepy Joe left a man behind.
And when the Democrat Public Relations Service (also known as the liberal media) tries to question Joe Biden about the swap, he literally turns his back on them and ignores them:
The Post Millennial on Twitter: “Biden ignores reporters as they try to ask him questions https://t.co/cRtpHMh6AI” / Twitter
Can you imagine the media feeding frenzy if a Republican president treated them with this degree of dismissive contempt?
Not that they’re not entirely deserving of it…
Damm
Dat’s teh ugliestest bitxh I have evah siin in my lifef.
You say that, and beg the jackasses among us to post pics of Manning, Jenner, Whitmer, Schumer, Pelosi, Hillary, and all the other visual-impaired political bitches.
Why would you do that to us?
You mean like….?
Quite a bit milder than anticipated, but, yeah.
I will read your upcoming obituary with great sadness, Brother Roh!🤣
Don’t threaten me with being called home, Lord Willing, from the hell that is Bidenmerica!
A memorial service will be held midnight at Fort Marcy Park.
Sorry, I can’t attend. Please convey my regrets.
The local Fox affiliate in SC just reported that she has landed on US soil and currently undergoing a health assessment at the medical facility on Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio. Why is someone with no military affiliation granted access to a military hospital? Will she be reimbursing the government for the examination?
You know damn well that biden’s administration would sell out their grandmother to bring grinner back. After all she has the premier qualities as a demokrat. She is black, female and gay. As a result far more attractive to the propaganda machine than a white straight Marine still in russian custody.
I hope this disgraceful and inept administration didn’t just let an arms dealer go who is about to do great harm to us and others around the world in exchange for an athlete in a bottom feeding league no one even cares about.
Wait… of course they did. Idiots will brag it up as a great success, just like the Afghanistan withdrawal and so many other colossal fuckups.
Whelan received a bad conduct discharge from the Marines.
I don’t know the details of the case, so I am not trying to say he is a bad person…but it is relevant to the “former Marine claim”.
I think “ex-Marine” is more accurate.
Though he still is a “Marine veteran.”
But that does not inherently make you more valuable as a citizen worthy of protection while arrested and accused of a crime by a foreign power.
The Russians were not willing to release Whelan in a direct exchange. They wanted Germany to release a spy and assassin.
It’s been discussed and linked to, see upthread.
You are correct: ex-Marine.
……
Many have hinted at it here, and given the fact he stayed employed by a S&P 600 company, there is not a 0% chance that he was sheepdipped (by way of UCMJ) and/or committing industrial espionage.
Any way you cut it, he’s now a damn good pawn.
Damn shame he’s in this predicament, whether or not he’s guilty.
So, when they recruit you in the Corps for espionage, they make you an admin clerk supervisor and then the CIA has you court martialed for theft, dereliction of duty, and writing bad checks. Wow, that is a cover story. I guess these guys that get sheepdipped are picked as potential spies in boot camp.
I get it. It’s stupid. Stop hitting me! {smirk}
He was employed by some pretty heavy international corporations. Strange why they’d ‘look past’ indiscretions, hence sayin ‘industrial spying’.
Theory is all.
Probably the same reason that Phil Monkress would keep someone with a history of racist and misogynist statements, alcohol related incidents and multiple bankruptcies on the payroll as a senior executive in the Reston VA office. It’s always good to have a dim witted fall guy nearby to goad into covering up your indiscretions.
THe CIA must have been busy recruiting assets in the 1980’s and 1990’s. So, all of those Marines who were punished for bouncing checks on Okinawa and giving it to their girlfriends oit in Kinville were really just setting up a smoke screen? Nice to know that PFC Wallace bounced $6000 in checks, lost all of his 782 and couldn’t dress himself properly was really a secret agent.
I keep seeing him referred to as a “retired Marine” in various news reports. Yeahhhh I don’t think a BCD counts as retirement.