The US has recently offered to free one of the most notorious arms dealers in the
entire world, known as the “merchant of death.” Someone who sold weapons to terrorists
and militants all around the world. He also recently schemed to kill American civilians.
And in return for this, the Russians have to free a baseball player who got into trouble in
Russia.
These two figures are in no way comparable, yet the Biden administration has
proposed trading the Merchant of Death for Griner and an ex-marine held in Russian
custody for espionage charges. Whether or not the swap would go through is yet to be
confirmed at this time. The Secretary of State has also made the offer public in order to
reassure the families of Griner and the marine that the US are doing everything they can to
free them.
The disclosure has raised questions about whether or not there should be any
standards when governments decide to trade prisoners. This debate also becomes more
complex when the government aren’t trading spies or soldiers but civilians who were in the
wrong place at the wrong time and criminals.
Even thought there is a lot less value for the trade, the CIA has stated that even
though Victor Bout, the arms dealer, is a “big fish” the US values their own citizens more
than a foriegn criminal. “We will do anything to save an American life,” says Jeremy Bash,
a former CIA chief.
There have also been many questions on Russia intent on freeing Bout so long after
his capture. “There are a lot of hints in Bouts biography, even in his wikipedia page, that he
has had close ties with Russian intelligence,” says a former US ambassador, and since Putin
has ties as well, he might want to “liberate” his comrade.
It’s been getting harder and harder for years to try and recover hostages, and in this
time, there should be an attempt to stop hostage taking. “we just keep trying the same
failing approach” says Genser.
entire world, known as the “merchant of death.” Someone who sold weapons to terrorists
and militants all around the world. He also recently schemed to kill American civilians.
And in return for this, the Russians have to free a baseball player who got into trouble in
Russia.
These two figures are in no way comparable, yet the Biden administration has
proposed trading the Merchant of Death for Griner and an ex-marine held in Russian
custody for espionage charges. Whether or not the swap would go through is yet to be
confirmed at this time. The Secretary of State has also made the offer public in order to
reassure the families of Griner and the marine that the US are doing everything they can to
free them.
The disclosure has raised questions about whether or not there should be any
standards when governments decide to trade prisoners. This debate also becomes more
complex when the government aren’t trading spies or soldiers but civilians who were in the
wrong place at the wrong time and criminals.
Even thought there is a lot less value for the trade, the CIA has stated that even
though Victor Bout, the arms dealer, is a “big fish” the US values their own citizens more
than a foriegn criminal. “We will do anything to save an American life,” says Jeremy Bash,
a former CIA chief.
There have also been many questions on Russia intent on freeing Bout so long after
his capture. “There are a lot of hints in Bouts biography, even in his wikipedia page, that he
has had close ties with Russian intelligence,” says a former US ambassador, and since Putin
has ties as well, he might want to “liberate” his comrade.
It’s been getting harder and harder for years to try and recover hostages, and in this
time, there should be an attempt to stop hostage taking. “we just keep trying the same
failing approach” says Genser.
