Yahoo Sports Reports: Russia wants 'Merchant of Death' in exchange for Brittney Griner

[Carlitos Brigante]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by JudyM (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: Yahoo Sports

For the first time since Brittney Griner’s arrest almost three months ago, Russia appears to have publicly signaled its asking price for her safe return, if multiple reports by Russian state media are to be believed.

Russia is looking to exchange the WNBA star in a prisoner swap for notorious convicted arms trafficker Viktor Bout, several state-owned Russian news outlets reported Friday, citing unnamed government sources.

Bout, whose exploits earned him the nickname the “Merchant of Death,” flooded fierce conflicts in Africa and the Middle East with weapons, U.S. authorities say. He was arrested during a sting operation in Thailand in 2008, extradited to the U.S. and sentenced to 25 years for conspiracy to kill U.S. citizens, delivery of anti-aircraft missiles and providing aid to a terrorist organization.

After Bout’s arrest, the U.S. alleged that his Russian allies tried to block his extradition from Thailand to America by bribing key witnesses to give false testimony. Since his 2012 conviction, Bout has been at the top of Russia’s prisoner exchange wish list and has been linked repeatedly in the Russian state media with potential swaps involving jailed Americans that haven’t come to fruition.

Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/sports/russias-asking-price-for-brittney-griner-may-be-notorious-arms-trafficker-004449470.html

[AZLD4Candidate]

1. It is known US policy not to bargain with terrorists. And seeing, now, that Griner is being held as

a political prisoner, that should open the door to more aid to Ukraine to smash Russia.

[PoliticAverse]

2. So in other words - leave Griner to rot. n/t

[hlthe2b]

10. I for one want her released ASAP. But, I also want to know the truth. What, if anything

was she carrying and even if it was CBD and not active cannabis-containing compounds, was she warned against taking anything that could be misconstrued? I traveled to authoritarian areas of the world when my parents temporarily were stationed overseas and when I was more than a decade younger than she was I knew without being told that anything and everything could be misconstrued. Was she really so oblivious? Did the WNBA not counsel their members? Or was this a total set-up? None of this suggests we should not get her released without delay, but it has everything to do with not allowing clueless Americans to put themselves at risk while simultaneously putting our security and foreign policy in jeopardy.

I hope she is well and will be returned home safely and soon. I also hope that if she was reckless that she will speak to this openly and without excuses to try to deter others.

[Lucky Luciano]

15. Exchange her for someone responsible for thousands of deaths and will be at it again?

Very lopsided exchange.

[former9thward]

16. Iran is listed by the State Department as a State sponsor of terrorism.

And we negotiate with them. What we say and what we do are two different things.

[EndlessWire]

3. Oh, FCOL

Do it! We have let go worse than that creep. We want Griner back (throw in that other American guy) and you can have your arms dealer.

Anything could happen to the arms dealer, but we know that Griner is suffering and won't make ten years. Do it before her trial starts in June.

This would be a morale booster for the US. I have no idea really what she is like, but she has a family, and that's good publicity. I think we can get more out of this than the Russians can.

[blue-wave]

6. I agree. But it must the 2-fer deal

And with the caveat that if we ever catch their rat arms dealer dealing munitions again, he will be executed.

[Grokenstein]

4. Sure, hand him over

...in the same condition Russia's been releasing Ukrainians.

[LonePirate]

5. He's been imprisoned for 10 years and in custody for another 4. I say make the swap.

[Tetrachloride]

7. The state of mind of the arms dealer isn't mentioned.

I am inclined to not agree to his release at this time while Putin is in power OR while we don’t know the state of mind of the prisoners.

[C Moon]

8. Russia sounds desperate.

[Ford_Prefect]

9. Troll Hype not worthy of comment.

[3Hotdogs]

11. Arrest Trump and then offer to exchange him for Brittney.

.

[oldsoftie]

12. Sorry but no.

[Magoo48]

14. Not sorry, and yes, yes, yes.

[Mawspam2]

13. We want Griner AND Snowden for Bout.

[Tarheel_Dem]

19. Since when is Snowden a prisoner?

[amb123]

17. Putin wants Bout to do arms deals FOR HIM

and thus prolonging Putin's wars now AND in the future. That's why.

[roamer65]

18. No deal.

[JudyM]

20. Locking

The forum hosts’ consensus is that the truth of this is not well-enough established for posting as “important news of national interest” especially since the article, itself, raises the issue: “if multiple reports by Russian state media are to be believed.” Please post in GD instead, where speculative reports are okay. Feel free to repost there, if you’d like.