1. People who died defending something aren't veterans. They're dead soldiers. Veterans are the ones who lived to tell about it.

2. They didn't die defending the flag. They died defending the freedom of our country's citizens. This includes the freedom to protest peacefully, and that includes the freedom to kneel.

There is nothing disrespectful about kneeling to peacefully protest when you feel the government is doing something wrong. There IS something disrespectful about pretending otherwise and weaponizing the flag.

The USA will foolishly swap her out for far more valuable assets; Putin will come out way on top in the deal giving up a small time toker for one or more big time thugs. Then she'll find and pay some ghost writer to write a book about her Russian penal adventures and make some bucks and maybe some rubles off it. One thing is for sure, she is now world famous. Frankly I had never heard of her but I cannot remember the last time I watched a basketball game of any league, male or female. I doubt she could have dreamed up a better publicity stunt to make worldwide headlines and eventually cash in big time.

Maybe they'll make a movie of it!

You realize the CIA has been dealing arms to third-world insurgents since the 1950s. But I guess that's ok because they're legally authorized to do covert deals. Very hypocritical to make a big deal out of releasing a Russian arms dealer when our own government has been doing it for decades.

And I thought what she had was just CBD in which there is little or no THC and which is totally legal in the U.S., though I maybe wrong about what she had.

It's all just a political ploy by Russia. She did nothing wrong; she simply made a mistake.

Looks like Griner is in the country club of Russian prisons. No gulag for her! She has her own bathroom and refrigerator and can order food on-line. Inside Brittney Griner's possible new home locked up in Russian prison

So, if one of us responding to this thread decided to go to some country, ignore their rules and laws, and be caught, charged and imprisoned, would we get national attention and prisoner exchange consideration?

Hates the USA, doesn’t want the National Anthem played. Wants the government to bring her “home”. Ooo -Kaaaaaaaaay!

What our flag stands for are the values in the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

I read the article. The country clubs in The Villages are much nicer!

Whether it is legal in the US is irrelevant. She did do something wrong; she violated Russian laws and she admitted it. She has been playing ball in Russia for several years. You would have thought she would be aware of the laws. You don't screw around with foreign drug laws.

She now has 9 years to ponder her poor choices starting with her disrespect of US by kneeling at Nation Anthem.

She should have known what she packed. However, 6 months in a Russian prison might be the same as 2 years here. They haven't been trying to get the man out before now. Why is a basketball player more important.? Her letter went straight to Biden. If I wrote him about HR 82, it would never get to him.

Prison
 

For a non patriot that does not respect America or it's Flag and smuggled drugs, I don't really concern myself. Way more problems here at home to be concerned about.

Just because someone salutes the US Flag hardly makes one a "patriot". All kinds of charlatans play with symbols which mean next to nothing to them.

I would say this woman cares for US values more than most.

Reportedly, what she was carrying was hash oil, which is a super-refined version of marijuana. Much higher THC levels. Think Everclear vs Fireball.

Also, don't forget she PLED GUILTY. This was not some sham trial where she was railroaded by a kangaroo court. Folks may not agree with a foreign justice system or their sentencing guidelines, but she admitted her guilt, and is suffering the consequences within that system.