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Originally Posted by Brian Swartz
You did? Where? What I saw was you quoting me talking about the lack of common ground specifically with another poster on this forum, and then saying we don't have that common ground because the discussion hasn't taken place in a vacuum, etc. So ... I guess it's just a big giant misunderstanding?
By the way, I think your characterization of the wider internet is ... really off. Over half the news I've seen on this has been talking about it in the way I did, same framing although often coming to a different conclusion. Lots of talk about how Biden took the deal that was available, not the ones that weren't, the merits or lack thereof of 'hostage diplomacy', and so on. What I consume is pretty mainstream, so it leaves me wondering what you are seeing about it and where are you getting it from?
I didn't take any of this as a personal attack. But I've read the same thread here as you have. Your quote above equates the discussion here on the forum with what you've read on the wider internet, but again ... who here has said those things about Griner? I haven't read anyone on this forum saying 'shouldn't trade for an NBA player' etc. I mean, by my count on this forum there's more people in favor of the trade than against it. So I'm left honestly having no idea what you're talking about.  |
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Originally Posted by NobodyHere
A basketball player for an arms dealer, I guess they have equal value in American society.
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I was not the only one who read it as a negative as this was the next poster replied with a "fixed that for you" replacing basketball player with American citizen.
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Originally Posted by henry296
Were other American citizens also released from Russian custoday in exchange for Russian Arms Dealers? While not publicized, I'm sure Griner isn't the only American being held in Russian jail.
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Originally Posted by Edward64
No mention of others. Paul Whelan has been imprisoned for 3+ years. He's accused of espionage which is more serious vs recreational drugs.
It comes down to how much damage the Russian guy can do now. He's been out of the game for a while, will he resume his activities which (presumably) hurt US interests?
Biden is in a tough spot. Bringing Gringer out without bringing out Whelan (or others) doesn't sit well with me e.g. the LIFO model. But she did get disproportionate sentencing because of Biden's support of Ukraine so there's some justice there.
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This reads like why Brittany as opposed to someone else jailed in Russia, no?
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Originally Posted by Swaggs
I've struggled with the Griner situation, too. Glad to see others have mixed feelings about it.
On the one hand, it is horrible that she was detained, it was a questionable violation (vape cartridges with cannabis) and it was probably largely due to her celebrity. On the other hand, it is an exceptionally entitled and dumb move to think you can go through airports or customs with anything cannabis related. And it absolutely seems terrible that her celebrity/wealth put her in the front of the line, when there are other folks being detained.
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This is not meant as to cast any aspersions on any of the posters I quoted. They are entitled to their opinions. But I don't think I am being unreasonable to read these comments and have the impression that they think BG had less of a case to be traded than the others detained in Russia. I think she does. That is why your comment stood out because you were the one who questioned the trade no matter which of the candidates would have been selected.