# Brittney Griner released in prisoner swap **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [December 8, 2022, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brittney-griner-released-in-prisoner-swap/976202 "2022-12-08T13:19:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2022, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brittney-griner-released-in-prisoner-swap/976202/101 "2022-12-09T18:27:40Z")
Well, her supporters are free to honor her if they wish. Which I am sure they will and this will piss off her detractors. And so it goes. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2022, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brittney-griner-released-in-prisoner-swap/976202/102 "2022-12-09T18:29:11Z")
It seemed an odd choice of a word. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2022, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brittney-griner-released-in-prisoner-swap/976202/103 "2022-12-09T18:50:45Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I _sincerely_ doubt Russia lacks contacts with arms dealers. I thought Bout sold Russian arms to third world countries after the fall of the USSR. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2022, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brittney-griner-released-in-prisoner-swap/976202/104 "2022-12-09T19:19:49Z")
I would agree it sounds strange, I don’t see her in any way being a hero to be honored. Perhaps a victim of a brutal regime to be consoled would be my way of describing how she should be treated. Definitely not deserving of being questioned for her actions and re-victimized in her home country. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2022, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brittney-griner-released-in-prisoner-swap/976202/105 "2022-12-09T19:21:33Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I thought Bout sold Russian arms to third world countries Correct. Sometimes to both sides of an armed conflict. > **[Who is Viktor Bout? Russian arms dealer known as the "Merchant of Death"...](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/viktor-bout-russia-arms-dealer-merchant-of-death-brittney-griner/)** > > The Russian arms dealer has been released from U.S. prison in a one-for-one swap to free WNBA star Brittney Griner, a U.S. official confirmed. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2022, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brittney-griner-released-in-prisoner-swap/976202/106 "2022-12-09T20:40:56Z")
So they don’t need him to obtain weapons, they are just rewarding him for making Russia money. I guess he can continue to sell. Which brings up the point, can the USA arrest him again if they find him selling more arms? ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2022, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brittney-griner-released-in-prisoner-swap/976202/107 "2022-12-09T20:42:22Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Which brings up the point, can the USA arrest him again if they find him selling more arms? Of course. But I think the odds of him ever setting foot outside of Russia again are quite, quite low. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2022, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brittney-griner-released-in-prisoner-swap/976202/108 "2022-12-09T20:44:29Z")
Let us hope Brittney takes the same advice. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2022, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brittney-griner-released-in-prisoner-swap/976202/109 "2022-12-09T20:50:37Z")
If you mean that she never sets foot in Russia again, I’m pretty sure that’s a certainty 🤔. If you mean outside the USA, nah. WNBA players make much of their money overseas and there are numerous places that are vastly more safe than Russia (if not necessarily as lucrative as Russia once was) to play in. She has played in China before (many WNBA players have, again quite lucratively), but I think potential PTSD triggers if nothing else would argue against trying another authoritarian, repressive regime. I might even avoid Turkey (another common destination). ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2022, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brittney-griner-released-in-prisoner-swap/976202/110 "2022-12-09T20:52:06Z")
Not returning to Russia is what I meant, but In her situation, I’d be scared spitless of going anywhere near a country that was even remotely pals with Russia. I’ve heard they can be somewhat vindictive. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2022, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brittney-griner-released-in-prisoner-swap/976202/111 "2022-12-09T20:56:56Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I’d be scared spitless of going anywhere near a country that was even remotely pals with Russia. She also may want to consider what she puts in her luggage before she leaves home. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2022, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brittney-griner-released-in-prisoner-swap/976202/112 "2022-12-09T20:57:43Z")
Indeed. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2022, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brittney-griner-released-in-prisoner-swap/976202/113 "2022-12-09T21:00:34Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I find it hard to believe that the guy could have gotten a clearance from the CIA or and other spy agency after disgracing his uniform. Isn’t someone that you couldn’t believe be a spy the best spy? ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2022, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brittney-griner-released-in-prisoner-swap/976202/114 "2022-12-09T21:15:07Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I’ve heard they can be somewhat vindictive. I doubt that Russia, Putin or any of his allies harbor any ill will towards Griner. She was a convenient pawn that they used for political gain. Now that she has served her purpose they’re done with her. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2022, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brittney-griner-released-in-prisoner-swap/976202/115 "2022-12-09T21:52:30Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > so why did Putin care so much about him? That moustache. ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2022, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brittney-griner-released-in-prisoner-swap/976202/116 "2022-12-09T22:12:45Z")
Tell it to Paul McCartney. He took nearly half a pound of Mary Jane in his suitcase to Japan in 1980 , because he “forgot it was in there.” He got arrested and held for ten days before his arraignment. He pled guilty, was released and told never to return to Japan. FTR, that lasted about ten years. I’m glad Griner is home. I’m sorry Whelan couldn’t be released as well. Politics Is The Art of the Possible. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2022, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brittney-griner-released-in-prisoner-swap/976202/117 "2022-12-09T22:41:39Z")
So will this FINALLY put an end to the whole “If she was a straight white man she’d be out by now!” Because we got a straight white man still over there! ---
**Author:** ![Win\_Place\_Show](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/win_place_show/32/13469_2.png) [@Win\_Place\_Show](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Win_Place_Show)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2022, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brittney-griner-released-in-prisoner-swap/976202/118 "2022-12-09T23:13:32Z")
If you believe this, I’ve actually seen the twisted logic today (on the cesspool that is Facebook), that the only reason that they DID work so hard to get her released was that she is Black and is gay. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2022, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brittney-griner-released-in-prisoner-swap/976202/119 "2022-12-09T23:14:18Z")
No. Of course not. Now, it’s a matter of Biden and the woke left and their anti-cisgender, anti-heterosexual, anti-white bigoted agenda. Or something like that. I get a headache … ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2022, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brittney-griner-released-in-prisoner-swap/976202/120 "2022-12-10T01:44:49Z")
No, what we have instead, from racist conservatives who cannot express joy at the release of an American prisoner from Russian custody is: We gave up an arms dealer and we got back a dirty pothead. This is because Republicans are shitty fucking people. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brittney-griner-released-in-prisoner-swap/976202.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brittney-griner-released-in-prisoner-swap/976202.md?page=7)