[I'm Popeye!]

How this towering pothead can pay America back: 3 years of active duty in the United States military, branch selection of her choice.

[mtdjed]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

Me too. And I give her the benefit of the doubt about her packing her bag in a rush.

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

The punishment was harsh but than again when one travels into a country such as Russia one should be very careful what you pack.

Quite frankly, there are likely many persons throughout the world incarcerated because they chose to defy a law in a country they are/were visiting. I have a hard time sympathizing with any of them. There should be no expectation that our government should bail them out. Trading prisoners is participating in blackmail and will ultimately encourage more of the same. It takes a civil infraction and turns it into a government issue. How many of our tax dollars were used on this deal? Probably paying for her trip home. Perhaps the government should bill her for their costs like a private lawyer would.

[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.

[Kelevision]

Originally Posted by I'm Popeye!

How this towering pothead can pay America back: 3 years of active duty in the United States military, branch selection of her choice.

[Kelevision]

Originally Posted by Kelevision

The Marine was left behind…….
Obviously, nobody wants anyone to be in a Russian prison. Paul Whelan is an interesting situation… he was arrested on espionage charges. That’s a huge deal. Yes, he’s a former American Marine but he was born in Canada and has citizenship in Canada, Britain, Ireland and the USA.

[Dan2020]

Family of Marine veteran Paul Whelan backs Griner prisoner swap

[Worldseries27]

Originally Posted by keefelane66

retired usmarine was issued a bad conduct discharge relating to larceny.
Arrested on charges of espionage and convicted he carries american, canadian. Irish and british citizenship a real james bond?

surely the cia would not use a discredited american to participate in an american spy operation in russia? Who would believe it? They should make a tv series

[RiderOnTheStorm]

I recall that Griner was very much anti-American before she discovered that she was not above Russian laws while in Russia. Nonetheless the State Department went to extraordinary measures, including passing on a detained US Marine, to spring her from her 9 year prison sentence. I hope that she kisses the (US) ground upon her return and begins saluting our flag prior to WNBA games, but probably not.

[Cobullymom]

Originally Posted by Rainger99

Griner pleaded guilty and Whelan pleaded not guilty.

So we make a deal for the one who admitted she committed the crime and we don’t make a deal for the one who didn’t commit the crime.

The anti American comes home first, the patriot gets left again after almost 4 years. And more excuses. It's infuriating.

[Byte1]

Hmm, wonder if her being black and a lesbian had anything to do with her getting preferential treatment by our leaders. Seems like we could have gotten a better deal for someone that Russia wanted so bad. Since we don't know exactly what went on during negotiations behind closed doors, I doubt we will ever know the actual facts.

[kenoc7]

Originally Posted by Rainger99

Griner pleaded guilty and Whelan pleaded not guilty.

So we make a deal for the one who admitted she committed the crime and we don’t make a deal for the one who didn’t commit the crime.

The facts - Griner was arrested by Russian officials in an airport near Moscow on February 17, 2022, for drug smuggling after they allegedly found less than a gram of cannabis oil in her luggage. Griner had a prescription for medical marijuana from her doctor,

[Caymus]

Originally Posted by kenoc7

The facts - Griner was arrested by Russian officials in an airport near Moscow on February 17, 2022, for drug smuggling after they allegedly found less than a gram of cannabis oil in her luggage. Griner had a prescription for medical marijuana from her doctor,

Another fact. She violated the laws of Russia.

[Catalina36]

The drug smuggling WNBA player should have been in the Russian prison for at least 4 years just like our U.S. Marine Veteran.
The Biden Administration did not negotiate hard enough.!! The drug smuggling WNBA player should have spent more time in prison to learn her lesson. Now she will come home and probably get interviews on TV shows and write books about her experience making hundreds and millions of dollars while our U.S. Marine Veteran is still in prison for 4 years. REALLY?????

[George Page]

A sign of the times……..
A female black lesbian given preference over a white male veteran.

[me4vt]

Welcome to the New America! Get out and VOTE🇺🇸