We’re hearing from all sides that President Joe Biden — the only Democratic candidate for president who’d stood toe-to-toe with Vladimir Putin — had two choices, he could get Brittney Griner released from prison in exchange for the “Merchant of Death,” or he could get nothing. Here are just a couple of takes that happen to be on this editor’s screen as he writes this:
Trading Brittney Griner for an arms dealer was a good deal https://t.co/i5WHOI0DSd
— Eugene Robinson (@Eugene_Robinson) December 8, 2022
Hey, he’d served 10 years, and even the judge in the case thought that was fair.
Sometimes when you have one option, you take it. https://t.co/ZUVrKXIanV
— Slate (@Slate) December 8, 2022
Slate argues that “diplomatic relations are otherwise totally stalled.” NSC Coordinator John Kirby made the rounds of the media Thursday to answer questions about the prisoner exchange, and what he said wasn’t very comforting:
NEW: "Does the U.S. negotiate w/ terrorists?" @chucktodd asks after the U.S. traded a Russian arms dealer for basketball star Brittney Griner. "How does this not only encourage more kidnappings?"
NSC Coordinator Kirby: "Sadly … there will be more [kidnappings] going forward." pic.twitter.com/zIMjcSL7jH
— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) December 8, 2022
Kidnapping? She was busted on a minor charge; did she deserve prison? No. But we wouldn’t say she was kidnapped.
.@marthamaccallum: "This kind of policy of letting people go who are dangerous in order to get Americans back—Does this not encourage more abductions…?
Kirby: "To some degree, that ship has sailed." pic.twitter.com/fdHoIr30Yt
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) December 8, 2022
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So, just setting expectations here, we should expect Russia to take more American prisoners under the Biden administration.
She did commit the crime
— Dave Scott (@dscott0123) December 8, 2022
But she did committ a crime against Russian law.
— Kathy Wills (@thecatsblack) December 8, 2022
"For a crime she didnt commit"? What the flip is he talking about??
— Lorenzo Kess (@KessLorenzo) December 8, 2022
More weakening of America by these scumbags.
— Kyle Kincaid (@KyleKincaid75) December 8, 2022
Once upon a time in the United States an honorable man would have resigned in protest over this travesty – “Admiral” John Kirby endorses it. America is collapsing before our eyes.
— David Robinson (@davidl515) December 8, 2022
When did that ship pull away from the dock? Maybe when we traded 5 Taliban terrorists for one AWOL traitor
— Jim Satala (@JimSatala) December 8, 2022
So Biden's playing by Putin's playbook? Thanks for admitting that. Trump knew how to negotiate a deal.
— RichOlon (@OlonRich) December 8, 2022
So keep encouraging it, even though you understand the tactics…
— Al Rich2 (@Rich2Al) December 8, 2022
If Biden’s so proud of standing toe-to-toe with Putin, why would Putin even entertain the idea of imprisoning an American?
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Related:
Biden didn’t mention something in his statement on release of Brittney Griner (and didn’t take Qs) https://t.co/sPJvEqP8pj
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) December 8, 2022
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