She has been released from Russian prison in exchange for arms dealer Viktor Bout. A man convicted of conspiring to kill Americans, acquire and export anti-aircraft missiles, and provide material support to a terrorist organization for a basketball player jailed for cannabis oil that was found in her luggage. Yeah, that's a fair swap. This will no doubt set a precedent. We arrest a terrorist, they arrest a tourist and demand an exchange. God help us.
I would have let the amazon rot. She shouldn't even have been there - now, how do we pay for all the hoopa that had to occur to get her out?
Even in places where pot is legal it's still illegal to travel with it. If I buy some weed here in Oregon I'm not allowed to take it out of Oregon, not even to Washington which borders us and also has legal weed. So If you're traveling to another country where it's still illegal you need to make damn sure you have nothing on you or in your luggage. If you don't you're stupid. Still, nine years for smuggling a small amount of pot oil is insane. But so is the Russian penal system. When traveling you must be aware of the laws of the country you're traveling to. Don't give them any reason to arrest you or you'll wind up as a prisoner/hostage waiting to be exchanged.
Pretty much came to say this. Cannabis products for personal use shouldn't be a big deal, but it's generally not something I'm going to get in a picket line for. Ms. Griner should've kept her fun juice at home and enjoyed it there. Instead it's the reason the Ruskis were able to make an example out of her. This should not have happened to her. She did not deserve this in the least. But the fact is it happened and at a particularly disadvantageous time for her in the history of our countries. She knew the consequences if caught. This country doesn't fuck around. Now the US had to swap her for a literal supporter of terrorism, so I hear. Someone who has plotted to kill Americans for a basketball player who likes to get high. The thing is the Russians probably think it's a fair exchange given how much against weed they probably are lol. I'm genuinely glad Ms. Griner is home and away from that shithole. I imagine she will need some therapy and I hope she gets it! But it would've been wise if she didn't take anything, as trivial as we normal folk see it, that really oppressed people have a shitfit over. I'd never go to countries like Russia, China or Singapore, where you get arrested for chewing gum, or at least you used to. I'm afraid I'd do something innocent like pick my nose or fart and all of a sudden I'd get the death penalty because it insults the king or his mom.
This puts a certain perspective on the issue. It's a strong argument the trade actually was equitable.
Well, that guy's been out of commission for over ten years, compromised, I don't think he's going to jump right back into the cloak and dagger department. Maybe she could spend some time doing some helpful things for the cause since she's caused so much strife. Maybe she can pick up trash along the highways, or start a kids keep out of jail by, of course, playing basketball...
Viktor Bout may be out of touch with the current arms trade but that doesn't mean he can't learn. But is he still willing to do it? Extremely few people will take part in acquiring heavy armaments and selling them to terrorists. So when they get someone who is willing, Putin wants to hold onto him. While Bout can't return to the U.S. he can work with other arms-manufacturing nations or with illicit dealers. I just hope the 14 years he spent in prison took the wind out of his sails.
So you think someone hasn't filled the void left by Viktor? No arms have been sold to terrorists in 14 years?
What did the US give up? Not much as Bout isn't relevant in the arms trade anymore. Griner's sport isn't as big as other women's sports. (ie: Tennis, Golf, or UFC) So we have a sports celeb and a armament celeb being traded. Oh well, next week we'll be onto something else.
I'm sure they have. Viktor Bout isn't the only ambitious psychopath around. But someone caught doing this deserves severe punishment. He served 14 years in prison but should have served the 11 more. We traded away someone who has done great evil for someone who made a dumb mistake. I'm glad Brittney Griner is free but we paid too high a price for her. We got ripped off.
