Either give her back, or just put her in the gulag already! The Brittney Griner saga has drug on, pun intended, seemingly longer than the NBA season, and still no solution in sight. Until now.
Despite calling on Joe Biden to spring Britt from a Russian clink, she still sits, cooling her heals awaiting her fate. No wonder they call him “Slow Joe”. Even Lebron James, the most important and smartest black dude in the world hasn’t been able to help.
Today, in a shocking move, the United States made a rare trade offer. Let’s check with MSN for the details:
The Biden administration has offered a deal to Russia aimed at bringing home WNBA star Brittney Griner and another jailed American Paul Whelan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday.
The statement marked the first time the U.S. government has publicly revealed any concrete action it has taken to secure the release of Griner, who was arrested on drug-related charges at a Moscow airport in February and testified Wednesday at her trial.
Truly a shocking turn of events. Griner testified today claiming that she had translation issues when she was arrested, yet another crutch to avoid taking responsibility for breaking Russian law.
Whelan could be an important part of the puzzle, depending on what Russia wants in return. Perhaps a player to be named later? How about Lebron James or Megan Rapinoe? Just ideas.
Blinken did not offer details on the proposed deal, which was offered weeks ago, though it is unclear if it will be enough for Russia to release the Americans. But the public acknowledgment of the offer at a time when the U.S. has otherwise shunned Russia, reflects the mounting pressure on the administration over Griner and Whelan and its determination to get them home.
The Biden administration has offered a deal to Russia aimed at bringing home Brittney Griner and another jailed American Paul Whelan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday.
More: https://t.co/vBZmvAfAXk pic.twitter.com/q1SynUJO7d
— ESPN (@espn) July 27, 2022
Again, another stunner. That the United States offered weeks ago without seemingly any response publicly from Russia couldn’t be good. Is the administration putting pressure on Russia to respond by going public? Who knows, but it seems the Biden White House is finally at least trying to do something.
Blinken said Washington would like a response from Moscow. Russia has for years expressed interest in the release of Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer once labeled the “Merchant of Death” who was sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2012 on charges that he schemed to illegally sell millions of dollars in weapons.
Blinken said he had requested a call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. American officials said the desire for an answer on the prisoner offer was the primary, but not only, reason that the U.S. on Wednesday requested the call with Lavrov.
It’s unclear whether America will give up Bout. His capture and subsequent incarceration were celebrated as a big win against the international arms dealing community.
The more important piece of the puzzle is Whelan. As a 52-year-old in a hard labor camp, he is basically serving a death sentence for trumped up spying charges.
If Brittney Griner does survive this ordeal and returns to America, hopefully she has an improved attitude about her homeland. Maybe a little appreciation for America. Is that too much to ask?
This story syndicated with permission from robm, Author at Trending Politics
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