Biden negotiates prisoner exchange … a mixed blessing
Kudos to the Biden administration for negotiating a successful multi-person prisoner exchange with Russia. We can all engage in celebratory joy in seeing so many innocent victims of Russian “justice” released to safety and their families.
As is always the case, however, it is a lopsided exchange. That does not take away from the success in getting American hostages returned from their unjust incarceration. On the American side, we secured the release of individuals who have been unjustly arrested, prosecuted and incarcerated. They were not taken into custody because of the crimes they are alleged to have committed. They were arrested for one reason — to serve as bargaining chips to gain the release of Vladimir Putin’s favorite murderers, assassins and terrorists. America wins the release of good people. Putin gets back his evil thugs.
While that does not seem like a fair bargain, it is the nature of such exchanges. That is because of the difference in American and Russian values. We value the lives of American citizens – and have a sense of justice. On the other hand, Putin values the work of his killers. We win the release of people who should not be in jail and surrender those who should be. If we did not do that, there would be no prisoner exchanges.
In theory, we should never agree to these exchanges because it puts future Americans at risk – to be seized as bargaining chips in future negotiations. We saw that in the arrest of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. His arrest was a necessary component that led to the current exchange – and the release of Putin’s personal hitman and assassin, Vadim Krasikov. It was a similar deal that exchanged Brittney Griner for Russian arms merchant Viktor Bout.
Whenever a Western democracy arrests and holds any of Putin’s high value henchmen, the Madman of Moscow will simply keep grabbing innocent individuals until he has enough chips to get his killers back. Because of the value we put on hostages as victims — and the value Putin puts on hostages as bargaining chips – we enter into these agreements over and over again.
The dynamic will not change. Terrorists and assassins will do their dirty work in the future. The United States and our allies will catch some of them – and through a fair judicial process, they will be tried and incarcerated or put on death row. AND – murderous authoritarian leaders like Putin will grab enough American citizens to win freedom for his high-value terrorists, assassins and heinous murderers so that they can be returned to their deadly occupations. In fact, Putin is still holding American hostages, including teacher Marc Fogel, who did not make the cut for this exchange.
The multi-national, multi-person exchange of prisoners was an impressive diplomatic achievement by the Biden administration. But … we have to keep in mind that it was only possible by giving Putin what he wanted — and who he wanted.
It is a happy day for Americans and other international hostages, but a sad day for justice and the future security of traveling Americans and the future victims of those released to Putin.
So, there ‘tis.
Horist leaves out what Trump said in the debate: “I will have him out very quickly, as soon as I take office, before I take office. I said by literally as soon as I win the election, I will have that reporter out. He should have had him out a long time ago. But Putin is probably asking for billions and billions of dollars because this guy pays it every time.” Apparently Joe’s poker face is a demented, stuttering one…. How did he hold it in?
Then Joe is suffering the debate effects, Democrat calls to step down, he’s got covid, he’s calling everyone as he preps his resignation, and he’s doing the final negotiations on this deal. Yeah, too old. Too slow. Too Joe, that’s what it is.
Whelan was taken in 2018 and Trump did nothing in 2018. Trump did nothing in 2019. And, of course, Trump did nothing in 2020. And for a guy who says he can get them out in a wink, he’s done nothing for four years because he’s not King and he must be King to do the right thing….
I wonder what Putin is thinking to make Trump look so stupid, impotent, and powerless. Horist does not comment on that angle.
Hoirst also leaves out that this was a multinational effort with Germany noting: only with Biden would this be accomplished as in Germany would have never pulled this off with Trump. In total, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, and Turkey were involved. Trump probably would have asked them to pay their bills first…..
Why did Putin do this to Trump and why didn’t Putin wait for Trump —– or does he know something we don’t?
A good day and great to have them home and anyone should pause and consider before entering Putin’s sphere of influence.
Frank Stetson … Gad! Can you not control your psychotic obsession to criticize….lol I give Biden kudos and you still rant against your imaginary Larry Horist. LOL You even claim I did not mention it was a multi-national effort –but I did and even mentioned the bad dude Germany gave up. It must be that old reading comprehension problem again.
Mr. Horist: GADZOOKS!! I am not a psychotic. I am not obsessed. I just don’t know why you feel the need to demean a faithful reader who comments on your thoughts. Isn’t that the idea? Or do you just want a mutual admiration club? My reading comprehension is just fine. There is no reason to call me names, I called you none. Unless you are attempting to pick a schoolyard fight?
Nor does the word “German” or “Germany appear ANYWHERE in your story. You did mention the man’s name in one place, muti-national at the end, and Germany nowhere.
Frankly, I did not even mention or criticize your “kudos” to Biden given you backhanded him immediately thereafter — almost, if not every time you begrudgingly ladled your “kudos.” Twas a mulligan and you slapped me silly over it with your name calling.
Like “The multi-national, multi-person exchange of prisoners was an impressive diplomatic achievement by the Biden
administration. But … we have to keep in mind that it was only possible by giving Putin what he wanted — and who he wanted.” ….. “While that does not seem like a fair bargain, it is the nature of such exchanges.” Does not that strike you as a backhanded compliment?
Or: “The multi-national, multi-person exchange of prisoners was an impressive diplomatic achievement by the Biden administration. But … we have to keep in mind that it was only possible by giving Putin what he wanted — and who he wanted.” FYI — you did mention multi-national, but no Germany….. in the second to last paragraph of your “Democrats can’t even get that right” piece. FYI: the countries involved are Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, and Turkey and don’t you want to know the involvement?
Rant — we know who is ranting here. You call it lopsided when we get 16, they get 8. Like in business, if numbers are huge, use them. If small, try percentages. Looks better. So, the numbers go against you and you call it lopsided because they got a useless spy and we got great people. Like percentages versus numbers, you lost on the numbers, so you attempt to measure on “quality.” I think our people are worth more than this spy —- everyone of them.
Here’s the other thing: who was released was never mentioned by Horist, why:
Three American citizens: Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva and Paul Whelan
Six other Western prisoners
Four political prisoners and human rights advocates
Three Russians with ties to Aleksei Navalny
I find these folks to be much more valuable than a bunch of criminals and spies that will be internationally given the scarlet letter pretty much forced to live out their lives behind the Iron Curtain that Putin has installed. Real people. Real value. Good Deal. What a legacy for Biden. And no need to criticize for partisan gain alone. After all the stuff I brought up, your attention turns to how I mistreated you, my perceived problems, and nothing on the facts or issues I brought forth that you seemingly missed.
Frank Stetson …LOL…. You have to be kidding, For the record … in terms of name calling you say, “I called you none.” That is provably absurd. Are you only transactional in you thinking … no memory beyond what you said in latest post? Did you forget “pugnacious prick” on several occasions? You posts are filled with personal insults about my opinions … my age …my mental acuity. You sanctimonious claim is nutty bs. How can you hope to get away with such a blatant lie?
I give you one point for the German correction, I had mentioned Germany in so many other writings and conversations, I mistakenly thought I had in this one.
And for the rest of you criticisms … they are petty and inconsequential. You go to disparate lengths to find a criticism — even distorting the meaning of my writings.
I have not called you a pugnacious prick since I told you I would no longer participate in that low brow sense of extreme free speech anymore. Been awhile sir.
I did not call names on this thread. Nor the last one. Or the one before that.
I would suggest same to all my friends here. And to call out the name callers as they see them. It’s “a more harmonious outcome.”
BUSTED.
Moral of the story is: “If you do not want to be taken hostage, do not visit Russia.”
I don’t see how it’s a mixed bag. The US and several other countries got our/their people back, period.
Some spies and murderers were sent to Russia, rather than remaining in US or European jails. Russia gets it’s spies back, but what advantage is that to Russia? Any intel they had is old and probably has already been sent to Russia, the spies have been burned, and they will never be allowed in the West again. Chances are, burned spies will probably receive a bullet as compensation for publicly failing their mission. Otherwise, Russia has just unleashed a few murderers on its own population. And Russia freed some dissidents that will continue to stir up anti-war sentiments.
As far as Felon Trump is concerned – Biden’s comment that “if he could have done it, why didn’t he?” is certainly telling. Biden, Harris, and a team of negotiators and diplomats have been working on these deals since the beginning of Biden’s administration. Since when did Felon Trump ever actually DO anything that didn’t benefit himself? Much less planning and running a multi-year project to do something good for the country? Or cooperate with another country? Even Felon Trump’s plan to steal the election was something cooked up in the last few months of his term in office. Felon Trump doesn’t have the mental capacity to plan ahead.
Also telling is Putin’s decision to go ahead and give this to Biden. It’s a sign that he doesn’t think that Felon Trump will win the upcoming election and is an attempt to curry favor with the Biden/Harris administration. Not that it will do him much good until he pulls out of Ukraine, something that Felon Trump would have given to him as a gift.
JSB; I hear what you’re saying, but the fact that we make a trade in hostage situation does have a downside. Still think it was the right thing to do, but I think it’s fair to recognize that it has a potential downside.
I do agree that these spies will have a difficult time, leaving Russia. They most certainly have targets on their backs if not nano tracking bots inside. .
I think “nano tracking bots” is still the stuff of science fiction – let’s not go down that particular conspiracy theory rabbit hole… Whether Russia is going to let x-spies out is not the point. They will never be let back into Western countries. Most likely they have all been put on no-fly and immigration watch lists.
I don’t think I would consider them “hostages” as much as “political prisoners”. They are not the same thing. Much like prisoners of war, we do everything we can to bring them home to their families, even if it means an exchange of prisoners. It’s one of the unwritten perks of being a US citizen. I doubt Russia really cares what happens to its people, except for propaganda value. They’ve already sacrificed a half-million of their citizens to a meat-grinder war in Ukraine.
Yes, there are still prisoners left. The Biden administration has gotten over 70 out, and there are still a handful left, which I am sure the Biden/Harris administration will continue working on. I wouldn’t count on lying Felon Trump to do anything to help the situation, before or after the election. Like Biden said, if he could have, he would have.
JSB: just fooling on the nano bots, the technology is too large at this point. Probably could do RFID, however, we may need to shove a car battery up his ass to get enough power. And then only a bluetooth level short range.
Totally agree with most your comments, good stuff. While our Russians could be considered prisoners, the Russians prisoners could be considered hostages. Hoist got that one right.
And, for Americans, you have to agree with Andrew‘s moral. If you don’t want to be arrested, just don’t go there. They do not abide by international law, they may not abide by law at all.
The reason it took so long to happen is Russia was waiting to see what kind of chance Trump
has of becoming President.
The minuet Biden dropped out, every one in the world new it was because he was going to
loose and Trump would take office.
Russia new they could make a better deal with a weak Ass President was still in office.
So the deal finally went through.
This has nothing to do with diplomacy, or negotiation.
It was all fear of Trump!
The next President.
Period.
Darren, I can see your point, nicely crafted, however, it does not seem to ring true during the first three years of Whelan imprisonment during the reign of Trump.
Except at this point it’s Biden Harris and theceffect benefits Harris at the cost of Trump. Period.
Also, neither Putin or Trump does anything that does not profit themselves per transaction. One has to wonder why Putin would basically allow this to happen which obviously disparages Trump from his own statements, made only a few weeks previously.
More likely, Putin may have made this deal at this time because he knew that no multinational deal would ever be possible during the reign of Trump. Trump can only act in unilateral fashion, the concept of partnership or allies is outside his frame of reference.
Or, IMO, he is putting his finger on the scale of the 2024 election prepping for the next election.