Putin Releases Americans Gershkovich and Whelan in Prisoner Swap Deal

[iRONic]

If true, the Navalny twist is a gut punch.

 

[Indus]

Not the only one. Alito recently hinted at retirement. Waiting to see if Harris wins.

Word of advice for anyone. Don't travel to Russia.

And China. And North Korea. And African countries in general.

Seen horror stories about some rich asian tourists getting grabbed in Africa and getting shipped off to Russia to be sent to the front if they don't pay millions in hostage money.

 

[iRONic]

In the mid 80s I worked for a company that had a contract with Aramco. We delivered and assembled a dozen Bell 412 helicopters in Daharan. I had to stay there for three weeks. I could not get out of that sandbox fast enough!!!

 

[Indus]

In the mid 80s I worked for a company that had a contract with Aramco. We delivered and assembled a dozen Bell 412 helicopters in Daharan. I had to stay there for three weeks. I could not get out of that sandbox fast enough!!!

The local color sucked?

 

[HomerJS]

This sounds like even Putin thinks Trump will lose.

 

[Amused]

JD Cushion-pushing Vance credits Trump for exchange.

https://www.cnn.com/?refresh=1

 

[eelw]

Huh? Jeff Flake is Turkey ambassador? Didn’t realize Biden nominated a R RINO

 

[pmv]

Was going to post about this, but fortunately tried the 'search' function first.

Russia frees Evan Gershkovich and others in biggest prisoner swap since cold war

Numerous foreigners and Russian political prisoners released as Germany frees hitman Vadim Krasikov as part of exchange

www.theguardian.com

The detail that intrigued me was that the swap included the children of Russian "deep cover" spies in Slovenia. Now that's a weird start in life.

 

[alien42]

The spin is in on Fox, with Burgum suggesting the deal went through because Russians think Trump will win, which would somehow undermine Russia's current position.

I believe there is some truth to that. The most important Russian to be released was held in Germany. We all know a Trump admin is not likely to work with European allies on a deal like this. That doesn't mean that Russia thinks trump will win though.

 

[kage69]

Maybe that's why Nalvany was murdered right before he was supposed to be discharged; Putin wasn't about to let a political threat like that be included in the deal. Giving Americans back is one thing, but the most worrisome dissident there is, released to now owe his life to pro democracy foreign powers? Not going to happen.


This is really good news though. We needed to get Whelan out of there. His health is failing thanks to Russian hospitality and in a setting like that once you are too weak to defend yourself things get bad fast. For awhile I was starting to doubt he'd make it. Grats to Biden and Harris for making this happen. I don't like seeing Russian hostage taking work for them, but when it's down to life or death you have to act.

I'd love to see Congress make a law specifically for dealing with hostage diplomacy. Example: if an arrest is deemed bullshit by a panel of people at State, host government gets 1 million USD in assets frozen every 24hours. American citizen dies in custody? That's going to cost you a satellite or sea going vessel of our choosing. Russians only understand costs so start charging them pain.

 

[Brainonska511]

I believe there is some truth to that. The most important Russian to be released was held in Germany. We all know a Trump admin is not likely to work with European allies on a deal like this. That doesn't mean that Russia thinks trump will win though.

That seems like a real stretch. If Trump was back in office, Russia could likely have gotten a whole lot more concessions from the US.

 

[ivwshane]

Biden was asked about Trump saying that if he was president he would have gotten the prisoners back with nothing in return for Russia.

Biden responded, “why didn’t he when he was president”.

Lol head shot!

 

[APU_Fusion]

Biden was asked about Trump saying that if he was president he would have gotten the prisoners back with nothing in return for Russia.

Biden responded, “why didn’t he when he was president”.

Lol head shot!

That is the best reply. The most beautiful reply. Many people tell me that reply was the best since Lincoln.

 

[eelw]

Vance doing his orange butt kissing. Russia rushed the deal because they wouldn’t like the terms for when the orange monkey gets back into office

 

[Brainonska511]

Biden was asked about Trump saying that if he was president he would have gotten the prisoners back with nothing in return for Russia.

Biden responded, “why didn’t he when he was president”.

Lol head shot!

We're waiting on so many things from Trump:

Best, super secret healthcare plan
Infrastructure Week
Best foreign policy deals
Fixed immigration

He had 4 years, got very little done and caused lots of chaos, and now he's asking for 4 more years to continue not following through.

 

[iRONic]

The local color sucked?

Umm, sand is brown…? Dunno what that means but we were isolated on a compound and watched everywhere we went and everything that we did. The food was military shit, we slept in Quonsut huts on cots, and I had sand it every fucking crevice of my body for weeks!

 

[Indus]

Umm, sand is brown…? Dunno what that means but we were isolated on a compound and watched everywhere we went and everything that we did. The food was military shit, we slept in Quonsut huts on cots, and I had sand it every fucking crevice of my body for weeks!

local color is a slang created by people who are tourists to judge 4 things:

1. Availability of good sex
2. Availability of good language
3. Availability of good food
4. Availability of good money conversion/ transfers

But from your comment, it's obvious Iran isn't Bahrain/ Kuwait or even Dubai.

 

[Lost_in_the_HTTP]

The spin is in on Fox, with Burgum suggesting the deal went through because Russians think Trump will win, which would somehow undermine Russia's current position.

Somewhere I read the opposite. That Vlad has given up on Donny getting back in and wanted to get the deal done soon so he can cut those ties.

 

[iRONic]

local color is a slang created by people who are tourists to judge 4 things:

1. Availability of good sex
2. Availability of good language
3. Availability of good food
4. Availability of good money conversion/ transfers

But from your comment, it's obvious Iran isn't Bahrain/ Kuwait or even Dubai.

I've never been to Iran. Aramco is a Saudi Arabian company.

 

[trenchfoot]

So I wonder how many other Americans are still within Putin's grasp in Russia so he can offer them up at his swap meets. What with our supporting Ukraine's fight for freedom, I'm assuming any American without diplomatic immunity has already cleared out? If not, shouldn't they assume full responsibility for their choices and not expect the American gov't, their families and loved ones to bail their asses out should they be rounded up and put up for sale or trade?

 

[Indus]

I've never been to Iran. Aramco is a Saudi Arabian company.

Hmm I thought Daharan was in Iran. My mistake, must have a similar named city somewhere in Saudi Arabia!

Actually that makes sense.. when I was growing up.. one of my high school friends moved away with her dad to Saudi Arabia. She hated the place and came back a year later although her dad stayed for the money it made for their family.

 

[alien42]

That seems like a real stretch. If Trump was back in office, Russia could likely have gotten a whole lot more concessions from the US.

You are ignoring the Germany factor here.

 

[kage69]

Hmm I thought Daharan was in Iran. My mistake, must have a similar named city somewhere in Saudi Arabia!

Actually that makes sense.. when I was growing up.. one of my high school friends moved away with her dad to Saudi Arabia. She hated the place and came back a year later although her dad stayed for the money it made for their family.

Yup, close. Dhahran. Basically Aramco City. Much more tolerable for Westerners than Riyadh, more to do for sure. Decent diving. And you can always just drive to Bahrain if you need a break.

 

[eelw]

You are ignoring the Germany factor here.

Yes and no. The orange monkey would threaten them to get his way.

 

[HomerJS]

Biden was asked about Trump saying that if he was president he would have gotten the prisoners back with nothing in return for Russia.

Biden responded, “why didn’t he when he was president”.

Lol head shot!

Good shoot