(10-02-2023, 05:36 PM)HURRICANE!!! Wrote:

(10-01-2023, 09:14 AM)mikesez Wrote: So if your brother is visiting Russia as a tourist and gets implicated for starting a bar fight that he (maybe) wasn't even involved in, you'd say, "best of luck, buddy, but we can't get you out until they let Whelan out"
Note that Griner's crime per Russian law was a civilian crime that typically carries a 15 day sentence and she had been held for 10 months at that point.  On the other hand Whelan is charged under military law.

I would have to say that if you visit a country that is currently on the Level 4 - Do Not Travel List, then you are on your own.  That includes Russia.

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/...ries.html/

I agree with you, but if Russia offered him back for $10,000? I'd hope Biden took that offer instead of saying "first in, first out. you have to wait until they let Paul Whelan out."

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(10-02-2023, 07:07 PM)Sneakers Wrote:

(10-02-2023, 03:42 PM)mikesez Wrote: Do you think Biden put a higher priority on getting Griner back because she was black or lesbian or a kneeler? The media definitely gave her more attention because she is an athlete and a political activist, but did that affect Biden's decision? How do you know?  Why do you reject the simpler explanation, that Biden just took the deal that was available?

Yes, yes and yes.  She represented the perfect trifecta, and he seized the opportunity to curry favor with his support base.  Are you really naive enough to believe that was the best/only deal available?

It might have been the best deal.  Or not.  Why are you sure it wasn't? I'm being skeptical. You're being naive, but your naiveté is guided by hatred for Biden.

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