Pittsburgh area teacher remains in Russian prison (house, legally)

[h_curtis]

In late 2018, Trump released Abdul Ghani Baradar, one of the top leaders of the Taliban, along with 5000 other Taliban fighters, in exchange for... *checks notes*... nobody.

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by h_curtis

In late 2018, Trump released Abdul Ghani Baradar, one of the top leaders of the Taliban, along with 5000 other Taliban fighters, in exchange for... *checks notes*... nobody.

Originally Posted by h_curtis

The real shame is that Trump didn’t get Paul Whelan released when he was President.

Lol. It’s always because Trump…and let’s not ignore the Aghan debacle by Sleepy Joe. There was peace with foreign leaders because Trump. Can’t be said with the current regime. And releasing the Merchant of Death for poor Griner is priceless….but muh gun control

Sleepy Joe could’ve done that and the local man from Oakmont. Why did he only swap for Griner, especially with such a lopsided trade?

[h_curtis]

Originally Posted by gg

You can’t make this stuff up. We get a kneeling spoiled hash smoking basketball player for a big time Russian arms dealer while a local teacher is still serving time in Russia. I’m so tired of stuff like this, but people eat it up. Sad. They will sure do anything for a vote. Geez.

https://www.wtae.com/article/marc-fo...ussia/42189259

As a counter all to the knee-jerk negative reactions and people casually tossing around "Most Dangerous Man in the World" and "Merchant of Death" as if Bout were some sort of supervillian at the peak of his powers, I'll just defer to one of the experts:

https://www.politico.com/news/magazi...-bout-00044556

"So why even consider the potential offer? First, Bout is a spent force who will be out of jail in a few years anyway. His business depended on personal relationships and trust among the parties. After being out of the business for more than a decade, Bout has neither of those left in the shadowy world in which he once operated. Second, Bout needed access to a global network stretching from Afghanistan to Europe, Africa and South America. That network has morphed through several generations of new actors, markets and gatekeepers. Bout has no currency in that world now.

Finally, Bout depended in the early years on the gross negligence of the former Soviet states to allow him to simply fly out aircraft and weapons in a spree of de facto privatization of one of the world’s most advanced arsenals. In his later years, he was reined in by the Russian state under Putin, no longer able to freelance at will and without unfettered access to massive caches of weapons. It is unlikely he would have any freedom of movement in the weapons trade unless he was in the direct service of the Russian intelligence services, and now he is burned beyond the ability to be useful in any significant capacity."

- Douglas Farah, president of IBI Consultants, LLC, and co-author of Merchant of Death: Money, Guns, Planes and the Man Who Makes War Possible

[erieguy]

Great stuff trying to downplay his moniker.

The truth is unpopular, and this is so true:

“Merchant of Death: Money, Guns, Planes and the Man Who Makes War Possible”

[guy2073]

I am surprised russia didn't get a plane full of cash to go along with the "Merchant of death". I am sure he is not getting a job at the 7/11 when he gets home. But as the liberal here said "spent force who will be out of jail in a few years anyway" guess what, he made people money. When you can do that you are not spent.

[h_curtis]

Originally Posted by erieguy

Great stuff trying to downplay his moniker.

The truth is unpopular, and this is so true:

“Merchant of Death: Money, Guns, Planes and the Man Who Makes War Possible”

Yes the truth (see my post above) is unpopular with you because it doesn’t fit your narrative. You’re so transparently bad at this dude.

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by guy2073

I am surprised russia didn't get a plane full of cash to go along with the "Merchant of death". I am sure he is not getting a job at the 7/11 when he gets home. But as the liberal here said "spent force who will be out of jail in a few years anyway" guess what, he made people money. When you can do that you are not spent.

Bingo

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by h_curtis

Yes the truth (see my post above) is unpopular with you because it doesn’t fit your narrative. You’re so transparently bad at this dude.

Not unpopular but funny with the rationalization on when he was going to get out and especially how you try to downplay the moniker of a man that sold terrorists weapons, especially while folks are crying “assault weapons” which are fully automatic weapons, and what what he sells, lol

[S6T1R]

Juwanna Mann should’ve stayed in the gulag.

But gee, such a feel good story that he’ll be back for Christmas! Yay creepy Joe, totally got my vote now!!

[h_curtis]

Originally Posted by erieguy

Not unpopular but funny, especially how you try to downplay the moniker of a man that sold terrorists weapons, especially while folks are crying “assault weapons” which are fully automatic weapons, and what what he sells, lol

Lol. You’re so filled with frustrations as the losses mount. The special prosecutor. The red wave that ended up more like a dribble down the pant leg. Dr oz. Herschel. I’d feel bad for you if you weren’t so pathetic. Lol