WNBA player Britney Griner arrested in Russia: updated: wokes expected sellout crowd, nope lol

As an Australian looking in ... Y'all got FLEECED. I hope everyone defending this deal understands that if you, the average American, swapped places with Griner, your government would not have done ****.

Should have been a no-trade. Griner broke the law in Russia. Regardless of how you feel about Russia, she made her own bed. And now Nicolas Cage is free.

 

Well said. We elect morons unfortunately. This administration might be the worst ever

 

Don’t you have Americans locked up in America for charges similar to what Griner got?

 

don't know how accurate, but I don't have any reason to doubt it:

Griner's return serves as an end to a terrible monthslong ordeal for the WNBA player. However, while Griner got a happy ending after months of separation and possible abuse in Russian detention, it's worth keeping in mind just how many nonviolent drug offenders are serving similar sentences in U.S. prisons with little hope of early release.

While there are no people currently imprisoned in the U.S. for simple cannabis possession—as Griner was in Russia—many are imprisoned on other mar1juana-related charges, such as distribution. Data on how many people are currently incarcerated in federal prisons on mar1juana-related charges are sparse and often unreliable. The Last Prisoner Project, a prison reform group, estimates that there are roughly 3,000 to 10,000 federal cannabis prisoners while noting that getting a precise number on the question is difficult with the currently available information. More broadly, the Federal Bureau of Prisons reports that 45 percent of federal prisoners were convicted of a drug charge—though it is difficult to know how many are imprisoned solely for nonviolent drug offenses.
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https://reason.com/2022/12/08/brittney-griner-has-finally-been-released/

 

Leave no American behind. We got trade r2pe, but it speaks volume for some folks on here who looks so poorly on an administration that saved an American regardless of what he or she might have done.

It's fine to b skeptical that this administration wouldn't do whatever it takes to save us common folks from foreign jail but let's not act like trump or any Republicans are any different.

 

Yes, but this is nothing but pandering to a certain segment. It's sad

 

First, I have never supported Trump. Secondly, while I thought her charges were ridiculous she broke the law in another country. Her stupidity shouldn't be a priority. Biden made a huge mistake here.

 

100% agree with this. I don't know nor care about American race politics and whatnot. The fact of the matter is a person who committed a crime in a foreign country who happened to be famous is being traded for an arms dealer notorious enough that many people of my generation knew him from a Nicolas Cage film ... Just why? It doesn't matter if he's going to be free in a few years (which is stupid to begin with), America got bent over by Russia and now a precedent has been set, and you can probably forget about freeing the other guy.

 

What should happen is that the top NBA players need to band together and bargain in the next CBA agreement that a larger amount of money needs to be invested into the WNBA to allow the league to pay their players a lot more money. NBA players were incredibly outspoken about Brittney. If they care about the women in the league, then maybe they can keep similar pay as now (after all they are making a **** load of money already) and allow some of that revenue sharing to be invested into the women's game.

I doubt that short of a few games, the ratings will go up significantly to allow WNBA players to get paid more, so it's likely other women will continue doing what Brittney does to make more money (I don't follow the league so maybe not that many players do it).

 

I disagree with you. Brittney had a ton of support from a lot of well known people. Her name has been on the headlines a whole lot this year. I'm not saying that the US negotiated with the Russians due to her fame, but I am sure that the outpouring amount of support from many weighed heavy on the administration's mind. Yes, ultimate goal is to bring every American home, but I can't imagine the negotiations being as fluid if it wasn't for the outpouring support in the states.

Granted, Bout was given the minimum sentencing allowable, so it's likely a judge may have wanted to give him less time, but were tied down to federal laws, so the administration justified the trade based on him serving "enough time" in their minds at least. But motivation was there because of the push from the community. How come we haven't heard of Marc Fogels name??? I had not even heard of the guy until @DonnyMost posted about him. Granted, I don't follow current event as well as some you guys. I don't see a big business screaming his name to the world. I'm not indicating that the US is not trying for his release, but to me, for someone with a similar charge as Brittney, why isn't he coming home as well?

As I stated earlier, I am happy for Brittney and her family, it's awesome for them. I am annoyed personally that I feel she was given priority over others.

 

Trades for prisoners are not done with public facing.

It's all done through back channels. Why would you even assume that the state department isn't constantly trying to prove to see if a deal is open for the others?

Putin said yes to one person and I have a suspension why that is also.

I don't know how that is the fault of the Biden administration.

If you don't follow current events why would you be so adamant about states department SOP? Those are careerists, not political appointees doing these negotiations.

 

Why are people then asking to get Whelan and not using the personal responsibility line for him?

 

Do you even know what "retired" means in the military? Only a small percentage of people who serve "retire" in the military.

Stop talking about **** you have no clue about.

 

But why don't we see the same rhetoric about personal responsibility spammed about this dude?

 

You would think that, but then you see Brittney come home, while another individual with a similar charge stayed there. It seems like the department was keyed in on Brittney and Wheelan. It's all speculation on our end, can't help but think of it this way.

I didn't assume that at all, I stated that negotiations may not be as fluid if it wasn't for a big name. I am sure the department is focused on bringing every individual they can home. I don't doubt that at all. I'm only saying that name recognition will provide a boost.

Ok. What's your suspicion? Maybe you shared and I didn't catch it.

I'm not saying it's the administration's fault. I'm refuting your claim that her fame had nothing to do with their being a lot more motivation to push for negotiations. It's human nature to listen to those that are screaming loudest. Brittney had a huge amount of support, despite her actually breaking Russian law. Yes, we all see it as unfair, because as Americans we do see it as a BS charge, but ultimately she broke the law (whether with intent or on accident). That didn't stop an unwavering amount of support to put the administration on notice. There is a sense of urgency regardless if it's politically motivated or not. You don't think politicians were on the state's department ass about this moreso than any other case??? Even ****ing John Cornyn was given credit for this (at least what I heard on NPR).

I didn't say I don't follow current events, I said I don't do it as well as you guys. I follow current events but don't always have the time to follow every single thing like some of you guys do.

 

At the end of the day, the person who has the final say on who is tradable on the Russian side is Putin.

The state department could beg for Whelan as much as they want.

And Putin specifically chose Griner because Putin is savey enough to understand the culture wars powder keg of Griner.


Also I'm still confused on the drastically different way people speak about Whelan vs Griner. I simply don't understand how one person keeps getting attached to the "personal responsibility" rhetoric and the other isn't.

 

Right, I get this. Two different cases. My dispute is purely focused on the US. Putin is smart enough to understand that there is pressure from the people to get Brittney home. Major business were on the administration about this including several organizations. We were getting constant updates from the media. The Russians knew what they wanted and understood Brittney was a valuable chip to stay firm on their demands.

Not sure, not something I have talked about.

 

Sincerely ask yourself why Putin would give a **** about some WNBA activists?

No, he said yes to Griner because he understands the political powder keg she represents. She's a perfect culture wars pawn to fight about in the states.


And can someone give me a straight answer about the WnBA and it's popularity? I keep hearing how no one cares about it yet here it is having enough pull to sway Putin?

What?

 

Is anyone saying that WNBA is popular or are you making that up on your own? I keep saying the NBA. You know, LeBron James, the commissioner, etc. That was a huge business behind Brittney. They made it a point to bring awareness to the situation. Everyone seems to be saying the NBA. We all know the WNBA is not popular enough to make us listen otherwise. The other corporations were the media. I follow several news feeds on Facebook and I kept reading it on the BBC, WaPo, NYTimes, Politico, PBS, NPR, etc etc.

No one in this thread is attributing her name recognition to the WNBA. Quite frankly I don't even know WTF the WNBA did but I am sure there was a lot of support there but not enough to make it famous without the others behind them.

Putin and the Russian government likely didn't know who the **** was Brittney until it became a huge deal over here. Once they realized, they knew they had a huge bargaining chip.