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Pechumes t1_j07j70x wrote

Reply to comment by lessquiet in Oregon governor commutes all 17 of state's death sentences by Slavic_Dusa

Bruh, we released a dude who was actively trying to kill US civilians. We released him for someone who knowingly broke the law and brought weed into a foreign country. There are thousands of people locked up in the US for lesser charges than Griner. Her sexual orientation or race has absolutely no effect. I’d be saying the same thing if it was a straight white male (or any other combo of race and sexual preference).

“In 2011 Bout was convicted by a jury at a federal court in Manhattan, of conspiracy to kill U.S. citizens and officials, delivery of anti-aircraft missiles, and providing aid to a terrorist organization”

That’s it. That’s why people are upset. We released a dude who was trying to kill US civilians for a basketball player who was stupid enough to travel with weed in a foreign country run by a psychopath.

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TenzenEnna t1_j084xfi wrote

He was going to get released regardless, he didn't have a life sentence or anything, we really just let him out 7 years early for the trade.

It's also worth noting that he worked WITH the CIA and none of them went away for working with him while "he was planning to kill U.S. Citizens and working with terrorists."

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Pechumes t1_j0867zd wrote

Again- we released an incredibly dangerous international arms dealer for a dumbass who brought weed into Russia.

As for working WITH the CIA, you realize it was a sting operation right? No duh they’re going to “work with him” until they have enough evidence to convict him, which is what happened

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TenzenEnna t1_j087cpu wrote

It was well documented that he was working FOR the CIA along with working with the Russians. He played the double game until we got tired of him.

Also how is he incredibly dangerous. He's a known person who was taken out of the game before Bitcoin was even invented. His knowledge of where shit was left after the collapse of the soviet union is unquestionably worthless.

I know it's important for the narrative that he matters, but there's a reason we were going to let him out of jail in the first place, because now he's just some random old man.

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Pechumes t1_j08ag7f wrote

How is he incredibly dangerous?! He was one of the most prolific arms dealers in the world. He still has all of his knowledge, his contacts, and probably expanded his criminal network while in prison. But don’t take my word for it, listen to a veteran national security corespondent for Newsweek and Time.

“Braun disagrees with those who argue that Bout is a has-been, that his network has frayed and his business model collapsed. If anything, Braun says, Bout has probably made valuable contacts over the nearly dozen years he has spent in the U.S. prison system.

“Anyone who thinks he’s washed up and [Russian President Vladimir] Putin is not going to push him back into service, it’s beyond me,” Braun said. “People who believe that don’t understand how the real underworld works.”

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2022/12/12/viktor-bout-merchant-of-death-00073422

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lessquiet t1_j0a3uhq wrote

> Her sexual orientation or race has absolutely no effect...

lol. I don't believe you.

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Pechumes t1_j0adil3 wrote

I mean, it’s an objectively horrible trade. One of the most notorious arms dealers in the world vs a WNBA player. Giving up him for her and Paul whelan wouldn’t have been worth it either. He’s been responsible for the deaths of thousands of innocent people. Now, he’s just joined the far right party in Russia, and could potentially run for parliament. He’s now free to help supply Putins army. This has nothing to do with Griner. Am I glad we have an American back home? Absolutely. Do I think she deserved to be locked up? Of course not. Was it worth it to trade her for the Merchant of death? Absolutely not.

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