@no1marauder saidThen why arrest Blout at all if he was just some replaceable mouthpiece? Why did Russia need him at all, why not get any Putin stooge to negotiate weapon sales?
Gee so did the US government.(well probably to more murderous groups than those).
Like I said, grow up, if he wasn't in the picture, someone else would be filling the void.
And Brittany Griner would still be in a Russian prison. Yes, I "feel good" that injustice was rectified at no real cost.
And just like that everything you said falls apart.
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@vivify saidLMAO!
Then why arrest Blout at all if he was just some replaceable mouthpiece? Why did Russia need him at all, why not get any Putin stooge to negotiate weapon sales?
And just like that everything you said falls apart.
Read the Business Insider article and stop making a fool of yourself.
You can answer the question I asked in the later post any time you wish.
EDIT: It was:
"So if the Russian government wants to sell weapons to the Houthi in apparent retaliation for US support of Ukraine, you think they wouldn't IF Bout and Griner were still in prison?"
@no1marauder saidThat's like saying if Pablo Escobar wasn't selling drugs, someone else would. Bout was just as much of kingpin in the arms trade. He had an unmatched talent for weapons trafficking and circumventing arms embargoes:
So if the Russian government wants to sell weapons to the Houthi in apparent retaliation for US support of Ukraine, you think they wouldn't IF Bout and Griner were still in prison?
https://abcnews.go.com/International/viktor-bout-convicted-arms-dealer-held-us-prison/story?id=86543907
In the same way not any drug dealer could be Escobar, not just anyone could be Bout. Why else do you think the U.S. government went out of its way to set up a sting operation for him specifically? Why isn't every arms dealer one of the most wanted in the world?
This is the second time I've asked you and I predict a second dodge, which will prove my point.
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@thedogandthecello
Is she the basketball player, the one that still won't stand for the National Anthem and badmouths the USA? That one?
@vivify saidThey did a sting operation, arrested him and sentenced him to 25 years which with good behavior credits amounts to 21 years.
That's like saying if Pablo Escobar wasn't selling drugs, someone else would. Bout was just as much of kingpin in the arms trade. He had an unmatched talent for weapons trafficking and circumventing arms embargoes:
https://abcnews.go.com/International/viktor-bout-convicted-arms-dealer-held-us-prison/story?id=86543907
In the same way not any drug dealer could be Escobar ...[text shortened]... ?
This is the second time I've asked you and I predict a second dodge, which will prove my point.
He didn't get a life sentence and he served 14 years in prison. His release benefited the US more than his and Griner's continued incarceration ever would.
Pretending he's some sort of super criminal ala Lex Luthor is silly. Nor was he then working directly with the Russian government in service of their foreign policy goals.
Now answer my question and tell me why Brittany Griner should be rotting in a Russian prison when it would have zero effect on the foreign policy machinations of that government.
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@no1marauder saidThen why arrest Blout at all if he was just some replaceable mouthpiece? Why did Russia need him at all, why not get any Putin stooge to negotiate weapon sales?Why else do you think the U.S. government went out of its way to set up a sting operation for him specifically? Why isn't every arms dealer one of the most wanted in the world?
They did a sting operation, arrested him and sentenced him to 25 years which with good behavior credits amounts to 21 years.
He didn't get a life sentence and he served 14 years in prison. His release benefited the US more than his and Griner's continued incarceration ever would.
Pretending he's some sort of super criminal ala Lex Luthor is silly. Nor was he then w ...[text shortened]... Russian prison when it would have zero effect on the foreign policy machinations of that government.
I predicted you'd dodge this yet again, proving my point. Right on target.
Regarding Griner, I don't think she should be in prison. I'm glad she's home. Should we have released someone like Bout to get her? I don't think it was a good idea. The bleeding-heart-liberal part of me is glad the trade happened. The part of me that looks at the world continually diving deeper into hell is worried about that decision.
@vivify saidI didn't dodge anything.
Then why arrest Blout at all if he was just some replaceable mouthpiece? Why did Russia need him at all, why not get any Putin stooge to negotiate weapon sales?Why else do you think the U.S. government went out of its way to set up a sting operation for him specifically? Why isn't every arms dealer one of the most wanted in the world?
I predicted you'd dodge this ye ...[text shortened]... rt of me that looks at the world continually diving deeper into hell is worried about that decision.
Sure, we'd like to arrest illegal arms traffickers (if only to eliminate the competition) but at some point Bout's incarceration was going to end anyway. Why not end it when it benefited a US citizen who was unjustly imprisoned esp. since Bout had already served about 2/3 of his prison time?
The one dodging is you; you've failed to meaningfully respond to my question and you probably didn't even read the Business Insider article I provided. The whole premise of this thread is BS; Bout's release is tangential to the scheme the Russians are pursuing with the Houthis (and shedding tears for the Yemenis likely to be killed by these automatic rifles is stunningly hypocritical when the US has been providing sophisticated weapons to the Saudis to conduct a bombing campaign in Yemen that has killed thousands of civilians there):
"Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have also led an unrelenting air campaign, with their coalition carrying out over twenty-five thousand air strikes. These strikes have caused over nineteen thousand civilian casualties,"
https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/war-yemen#:~:text=The%20blockade%20has%20been%20at%20the%20center%20of%20the%20humanitarian
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@Cliff-Mashburn saidI think she stands now.
@thedogandthecello
Is she the basketball player, the one that still won't stand for the National Anthem and badmouths the USA? That one?
@no1marauder saidIf it was Trump releasing Bout for Stephen Miller, would you still feel the same way?
I didn't dodge anything.
Sure, we'd like to arrest illegal arms traffickers (if only to eliminate the competition) but at some point Bout's incarceration was going to end anyway. Why not end it when it benefited a US citizen who was unjustly imprisoned esp. since Bout had already served about 2/3 of his prison time?
@Cliff-Mashburn saidAnd I don't suppose you could even hazard a guess as to why all those black sports figures (and a few white ones in support) took a knee in protest? Can the reason why even penetrate your consciousness?
@thedogandthecello
Is she the basketball player, the one that still won't stand for the National Anthem and badmouths the USA? That one?