[Blackbird45]

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

[Worldseries27]

Originally Posted by brianl99

whelan was in the marine reserves and was dishonorably discharged, with at least 10 counts against him at the court martial. (larceny, fraudulent checks, stealing social security numbers, etc.)

additionally, he's lied on his resume, saying he had a bachelor's degree and an mba ... He has neither, nor did he ever serve as a police officer, in the communities he claimed to have worked for.

He holds passports from (4) different countries. Canada, usa, ireland & gb.

Every in-depth news article about him, insinuates he has a rather unusual attraction to much younger men in uniform and goes to great lengths to cultivate relationships with them.

To suggest borg-warner would have hired him and placed him in charge of "world-wide security", considering his background, is ludicrous on its face. There's way more to paul whelan, than him being an ex-marine, serving time in russia.

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

[rrtjp]

Originally Posted by JohnN

and the Marine is still in a Russian prison.

who didn't see this coming, raise your hand.

PS - this is not a political post, just sayin'

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.

[Keefelane66]

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

[djplong]

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.

[WharfRat]

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!

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by djplong

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.

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.

[tvbound]

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.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by djplong

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.

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.

[bp243]

Originally Posted by RedChariot

Oh I saw this coming all right. Anyone want to speculate why she got home first before our Marine????

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

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by djplong

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.

"Minuscule amount"...

To the rest of your post...

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by tvbound

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.

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...

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by djplong

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 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.

[tvbound]

Originally Posted by JMintzer

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...

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.

[Bay Kid]

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