A list
 

Who was left behind and who wasn't and why at this point doesn't matter. What this government should do today is put out a list of countries Americans should not visit and if they do, they're on their own. Just off the top of my head I would put on the list places like Iran, Russia, and North Korea

Back to the ussr
 

surely the cia would not use a discredited american in a spy operation in russia. Who would believe it. They should make a tv show

There is an old saying “getting the sh*t end of the stick”. America got the sh*t end of the stick on this deal. The powers to be trade a war criminal nick named the merchant of death for an anti American pothead. What a deal, smfh.

Paul Whelan was arrested and imprisoned for so called espionage in 2018. Who was president in 2018, 2919, and 2020?

This is why I changed my mind about moving to the Villages.

A professional athlete with a minuscule amount of CBD oil is an "anti American pothead" while the dishonorably discharged felon with over a dozen convictions of all kinds of fraud is still called a "Marine" with pride.

When it's a brown person committing social security fraud, you want to throw the book at them. But this guy's white and once had an association with the military.

I'm a civilian in the Air Force. MOST of the uniformed men and women I work with are fantastic people - the overwhelming majority. But not all. If they were, we wouldn't still be trying to solve sexual assault issues in the services.

I noticed several posters on this thread are already on my ignore list and rightfully so. Happy to find a few more here to add to the list!

Sorry you didn’t choose to enjoy The Villages.
Basing the decision over the musings of a handful of loudmouths….that bluster on nearly ever topic.
Believe. It, there are many great people living here.

I, just as Whelan's sister/family, am happy that Russia released Griner. I can't help but wonder, given that Whelan was arrested in 2018, why there isn't the same outrage on the impotence of us being unable to get Whelan released - from the time he was arrested? I also wonder, how much outrage now is primarily precipitated on her being a gay, black woman, playing a sport that many denigrate? The Russians made it absolutely clear, that it wasn't a choice of which American was to be traded, it was a choice of Griner - or no one. Why can't "we," as Americans first, be happy that at least we got one of our own back? Never mind, I think the answer to that is pretty obvious.

Here's hoping that we can figure out a way soon, to get the other American (and British/Canadian/Irish) citizen...released also.

Mama always told me if I wasn't willing to actively participate in changing things, then I have no right to complain that they don't change. So when we moved to the Villages and I discovered what it's like (because - where /I/ come from, no one ever asked these questions, we all mostly got along politically, and did/didn't on a personal level instead) - I decided to be the change.

I hint at it here because actual discussion isn't allowed. But I'm pretty active in being that change. If you run away from something you think is detrimental, when you could've stayed and helped improved it - well your motivation to see things remain the same supersedes your motivation to make it change. That's your right. That's what you fought for - the right to change OR to maintain the status quo, as you see fit.

Thank you for fighting for my right to say - you should've stayed and joined the fight. So many people tell me they want to come "except" it's not politically as they'd like. I tell them - it's not politically as they'd like, because so many of you keep insisting that they'd like to come, but it's not politically as they'd like.

BE the change. Or stop complaining.

According to the news, the US was given one choice, Griner or no one. So what are you implying?

"Minuscule amount"... :1rotfl:

To the rest of your post...

https://media3.giphy.com/media/EEnJ7...qsg7/giphy.gif

The arms dealer's own lawyer stated that he was confident the deal would include BOTH Griner and Whelan...

So, it wasn't a "Griner or nobody" choice...

I have met a lot of proud veterans here in the Villages who would also cringe at many of the opinions posted on Talk of the Villages. Do not let the worms destroy your enjoyment of the apple, so to speak. We have been here since June of 2005.

Well, it looks like Bout's lawyer was simply expressing wishful thinking, given that Russia failed to invite him to their negotiating team. lol

It was Griner or no one, so any assertion otherwise - is simply false.

Trade a dangerous gun dealer for a druggie? Shows how dumb our world has become. Shame, shame.