that was supposed to be a clear joke, and it clearly wasn't clear.

like i asked, what effects has his release had?

should have farmed for high runes in jail and created an enigma to teleport out instead. but unfortunately, we don't have time for logical solutions

This post was edited by ChocolateCoveredGummyBears on Dec 8 2022 12:48pm

Considering it just happened it's impossible to know. Give it at least a few days/week before we see information trickle down from the trough

im just confused because u said it has.

Again, I'm speculating with no knowledge, but the point is to back up those who stood with the Russian security services. Otherwise what's the point of getting him at all.

they definitely swapped other “assets” in this exchange. Griner and the arms dealer as the face of this swap are the way to keep people from asking any further questions.

same on blind speculation. i think arresting and holding Griner was just a pure anti-america move. and i think the trade is also a pure anti-america move. its just to make us look bad and/or cause conflict between sides of the aisle in america.

Cause/ Effect isn't really hard to understand.

You said nothing and then "next to nothing" so you change your mind too and you gave a real world example(WNBA ticket sales)

edit: blind speculation you saying that Viktor Bout is NOTHING(ZERO) that's your opinion.

edit: If this was an OOM trade we just traded a 1(Grimes petty criminal)(No one will die) for a 10(Dangerous criminal)(People have died)

This post was edited by SwamiVivekananda on Dec 8 2022 01:11pm

Well I think Putin can count on any move by the Biden administration being criticized by the most popular voices in the Republican party. I don't think that was his main motivation, but it's obviously going to happen. There's no world where Tucker and Hannity give Biden props for getting Britney Griner home.

Whether it's arms dealing or mercenaries, they're effectively extensions of the Russian government. Bout's value isn't personal, he's not going to do any deals, but it's a message that Putin will come and get those who work for the regime.

The US doesn't negotiate with terrorists because they don't want to encourage the taking of American hostages. The Economist ran an analysis a few years back, and true to form, Americans were far less likely to be taken hostage overseas. If the United States won't pay you, and you're likely to get an air strike for your trouble, the cost benefit analysis is pretty clear-cut. The same rule should have applied here. If Russia wants to grab WNBA players for weed, then don't bring weed to Russia, or preferably don't go at all.

This post was edited by bogie160 on Dec 8 2022 01:15pm