His release is only good for domestic propaganda purposes. The story in Russia is that he was framed and Putin will get a cookie for bringing him home just as Biden will for bringing Griner home.
Yeah, this is a lot of it.
There are also rumors (OK, it’s pretty much known) that Bout was a foot soldier for Putin and probably the KGB back in the day. Putin might not give a crap about Bout now, but if Putin wants the people who are currently useful to him to continue to be loyal, he needs to at least give the appearance that he won’t abandon former friends.
Whelan was convicted of conducting espionage in Russia. He knew the penalties for espionage. That’s even more incredibly stupid.
Convicted by a Russian kangaroo court. Is there any actual evidence that he was spying? 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.
Same for both of them.
And your basis for believing Whelen was wrongly convicted, but not Griner is what?
As I recall, Griner admitted to having the items in her bag. It doesn’t make her conviction any fairer, of course.
“In court last week, Griner pleaded guilty and acknowledged possessing the canisters but said she had no criminal intent and said they were in her luggage because she packed hastily in her return to Russia to play for the UMMC Ekaterinburg basketball team during the WNBA’s offseason.”
Admitted under the point of a gun and a lengthy prison sentence while held captive.
The fact that they traded for her and not Whelan just goes to show what the Russians intent actually was.
You just got finished referring to this court as a “kangaroo court” when you were talking about Whelan. Why change your tune for Griner?
Hey, you parse what I’m saying however you like. I’m done here.
No, I want to know why you refer to Whelan’s proceedings as a “kangaroo court”, and then you turned around and quoted Griner’s Russian court proceedings as credible. Help me out, what’s the difference between the two?
From a Russian point of view, maybe it’s just that a US Marine convicted of espionage against Mother Russia is a more serious offense and more politically useful compared to a basketball player with a THC vape pipe.
Also, I’m sure it’s been noted that she isn’t the first American who’s release from Russian prison has been negotiated this year.
The last thing I read about it was that she was having problems with it getting wet and frozen and chose to cut it off rather than spend all winter in a russian jail with cold, wet/frozen hair.
Just glad another American is freed from a foreign jail.
What nouns/adjectives do you feel would best describe Ms. Griner related to her role in this episode? Hero? Victim? Idiot? Others?
I have no objection to her being welcomed home, but I wonder if she will be presented as an example of anything other than careless packing. To the extent her arrest was a self-inflicted wound, her return doesn’t really seem a basis for celebration. Well, unless it is being exploited for political or commercial reasons.
i’m glad it was her choice.
Foolish or Naive. We all have moments in life when we do something foolish and regret it later.
She looks nice with short hair. She looks several years younger.
I’m not sure why not. Even if she suffered a “self-inflicted wound,” it’s still a good thing she’s home and out of a country that punishes such wounds (at least in her case) with draconian sentences. I don’t understand the lack of sympathy for someone who (perhaps) made a mistake. I had never heard of this woman before she was arrested, but I’m glad she’s coming home. Likewise, I don’t know much about the former marine convicted of espionage in Russia, but I’ll be happy if he gets out too.
In fact, except for the violent criminals, I’m usually happy when anyone is released from incarceration. Ms. Griner isn’t a threat to public safety; she should be free.
I hope I’m not doing that. 
Sound like good choices.
No - I was thinking about some things I briefly glanced - re: the White House and WNBA.
Yeah, folk have expressed their lack of sympathy for my lack of sympathy. 
Got it. But IMO, if someone does something foolish and naive (other suggestions), and avoids excessive punishment for their choices, I think good form would involve downplaying the whole incident. Will be curious to see how BG, the media, and others present this in the future.
While I’m pleased that she has been released, I was a bit puzzled when a guest on MSNBC commented that we should be considering how to “honor” Ms. Griner. That was a headscratcher for me.