Laughing at some of the comments I’ve heard since the release of Brittney Griner seemed to be the correct approach as opposed to being upset or disgusted. I wasn’t surprised that sooo many “patriotic” Americans were outraged that the U.S. government negotiated to get an “athlete” back home over an “American patriot”. Oh, and part of the specificity for why they were so mad is because of the individual we swapped Griner for. While at first glance one might say, “damn, why the fuck did we trade this guy for her?” A closer and more educated analysis would bring to light the consciousness needed in this matter. You’re trading with an enemy, who has despised you for decades, why would you think they’re going to accept a nominal, low level person in return. Consider the facts, if B.G. was a man, she would be world known far more than what she is. Her resume is unquestioned in terms of its greatness, yet, she has to hoop in Russia to make the money she should make in the States because of the devaluing of the WNBA game.

Put yourself in their shoes for a moment and tell me you wouldn’t do the same thing. You have an American asset that is high value, and very notable who has broken one of your laws. You throw the hammer and demand a kings’ ransom to get her back. That’s what they did and that’s what we did. Stop pretending for this ignorant ass outrage and cries of make it make sense. An arms dealer for a basketball player. That underscores your lack in political and international understanding. It was always going to be a high price to pay for her release because of who she is. And true to American nature, we couldn’t resist gas lighting the situation at against the urging of the top officials. The more you show your hand how valuable an asset is, the higher the price you pay. That’s negotiation 101. The moral argument that her name needed to stay in the news so that no one forgets is nice, but highly unnecessary. She was never going to be forgotten, and while in the end the same price may have been paid to extract her freedom, I have to wonder if we could’ve gotten Paul Whalen and B.G. for the dealer if the gas lighters had kept quiet.

Understanding the story of Whalen and many other Americans held captive by Russia accused of crimes that seem so farfetched, until you understand the chess moves these countries make against each other on a daily basis. Could Whalen truly be an American spy, hell yea he could. And to sit and try to say otherwise just because the government says so is stupid. We know that these countries use mundane, simple covert covers for their spies in other countries. The Americans do it all over the world and so do all other powerful governments. I have no information to support Russia and their claims, nor do I have any knowledge to support the U.S. and its claims. What I do know is that the freedom of B.G. should not have any attachment to Whalen, unless it’s truly known that he’s innocent and we really had a chance at a swap realistically. You bargain from a position of strength, and if you can’t do that you at least try to make the strongest hand possible.

What we now know is that these governments are enthralled in a fabulous game of chess. The pieces are Americans and Russians who are innocent and guilty. We know that Russia is a dirty adversary who wants its knights, rooks, and bishops back to reassemble a strong chess board. For the U.S., at this point, it seems we are just trying to get pawns back, while our rooks, knights, and bishops are safely being deployed. High powered pawns sucking up the oxygen reserved for more valuable chess pieces is a weakness that the U.S. gets exploited on because of the “moral values” expounded upon by the President and rest of the government. Do your homework, read up on these things and obtain a better understanding, then return to this discussion.

Love and respect