[Zipperfish]

Yeah, the fact that Trump and the Qpublicans are freaking the frack out is a pretty good indication it was a good deal. I don't know much about Whelan, but Griner is openly gay and black so likely would have been singled out for particular punishment. Hope they get the Marine back another way. Maybe once Trump is jail, we can trade him for the Marine.

[Thanos]

Knowing the Ruzzians the way we do now, Putin probably demanded that the US end all weapon shipments to Ukraine in exchange for Whelan. And, knowing MAGA the way we do now, all the Trumpoids probably think that it's a perfectly reasonable request for their Great Man icon Putin to make.

[Zipperfish]

I'm sure a big part of Putin's strategy is to exact as much political pain as possible. Applying pain seems to be his special gift in life.

[Thanos]

Some only exist to delight in the pain and trouble they cause others. They have no purpose on this world other than to frolic in their own sadism. As with the torturers of the Kremlin so too with the orcs of Mar A Lago. Kindred spirits, each and every single one of them.

[DrCaleb]

Thanos Thanos:

Knowing the Ruzzians the way we do now, Putin probably demanded that the US end all weapon shipments to Ukraine in exchange for Whelan.

That was the 'demands the US would never give' I alluded to.

If I were El Presedente, I would ask that they return Whelan, or I would do the exact opposite. Give more weapons, better weapons, and fat stacks of them to Ukraine. Then put US bases all along the Russian border once Ukraine joins the EU and NATO.

[Thanos]

Announce that in February three combat divisions of the United States Marine Corps accompanied by their full logistical support system will be deploying to Ukraine for some cold-weather "training". And that ALL the A-10 Warthog wings of the US Air National Guard will be joining them to "practice" extremely close air support tactics. Y'know, say it just for the laffs that both the Ruzzian and MAGA reactions would generate.

Then call it all off when Whelan and any other America in Kremlin custody is hurriedly turned over to US officials. They'd probably be more than willing at that point to hand over the traitor Snowden too.

[xerxes]

DrCaleb DrCaleb:

Just an aside - I bet this is the first WNBA trade any one of us paid attention to.

Moreover, she’s probably the only WNBA player anyone can name.

[raydan]

Kia Nurse... and that's the only other I can name.

[Thanos]

Women play basketball? And there's actually a sport called "basketball"?

[JaredMilne]

DrCaleb DrCaleb:

Just an aside - I bet this is the first WNBA trade any one of us paid attention to.

In the words of the great Michael Kelso...

BURN!!!

Seriously though, I hate to sound like an asshole but it takes a special kind of stupid to think you can just take casual drugs anywhere in the world, particularly countries with authoritarian justice systems and hard restrictions on many kinds of drugs, and not expect to suffer any consequences. If they weren't planted by the Russians, I can't understand what Griner would have been thinking in taking that crap to a country that's infamous for its brutal justice system and draconian laws.