A nine-year prison sentence for a basketball star or releasing one of the most notorious arms dealers in history: this is the unfortunate dilemma that the U.S. has been put in.
Brittney Griner, a decorated WNBA star, was given a nine-year sentence in Russia for drug charges. The U.S. is looking to have a prisoner trade for Griner: the Biden Administration has proposed to trade Griner and former marine Paul Whelan for the convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout.
It would still be an uncomfortable trade for the U.S., as Viktor Bout, commonly known as the “Merchant of Death”, sold weapons to terrorists, rebels, and militants, and conspired to kill Americans.
And to make matters even worse, Moscow doesn’t seem like it wants to take the deal, viewing it as unequal, wanting two Russians instead of one.
However, it looks like the U.S. might release two prisoners, as Jeremy Bash, former chief of staff at the C.I.A stated “We value our own citizens a thousand times more than we value the foreign criminal,” also saying ”We will do almost anything to save an American life.”
For now, it seems the U.S. might have to settle for the more uncomfortable choice, even if it means releasing a notorious criminal.
Brittney Griner, a decorated WNBA star, was given a nine-year sentence in Russia for drug charges. The U.S. is looking to have a prisoner trade for Griner: the Biden Administration has proposed to trade Griner and former marine Paul Whelan for the convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout.
It would still be an uncomfortable trade for the U.S., as Viktor Bout, commonly known as the “Merchant of Death”, sold weapons to terrorists, rebels, and militants, and conspired to kill Americans.
And to make matters even worse, Moscow doesn’t seem like it wants to take the deal, viewing it as unequal, wanting two Russians instead of one.
However, it looks like the U.S. might release two prisoners, as Jeremy Bash, former chief of staff at the C.I.A stated “We value our own citizens a thousand times more than we value the foreign criminal,” also saying ”We will do almost anything to save an American life.”
For now, it seems the U.S. might have to settle for the more uncomfortable choice, even if it means releasing a notorious criminal.
