American prisoners released from Russia

[rfuerst911sc]

All I will say is it's a great day for the men and their families . Let's just be happy for them with no political BS please .

Russia frees Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan in historic multi-country prisoner swap https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/russia-agrees-free-evan-gershkovich-paul-whelan-multi/story?id=112446743

[KFC911]

+1 on the "not here" ... not the place.

Awesome news for all of them and theirs ... without knowing or caring about the details ....

Simply awesome

[Tobra]

Wonder why this is happening now

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Tobra

Wonder why this is happening now

Because it's August 1st .... and Jesus said it's a good day

[Steve Carlton]

This is great news. It's sad that a major world power is okay with kidnapping trade bait to get back their assassins and criminals.

[Sooner or later]

Good news!

[greglepore]

Originally Posted by Steve Carlton

This is great news. It's sad that a major world power is okay with kidnapping trade bait to get back their assassins and criminals.

This. No easy solution to this. Its like paying ransom, it creates more of the same, but if its your loved one that's been taken, there's really no choice.

[Steve Carlton]

It amazes me that at least two people on this forum think this thread deserves one star.

[rfuerst911sc]

I can't imagine the range of emotions for the men and their families . And what's your first week back on US soil like ? What's your most desired meal ? Do you go back to work ? Go to a ballgame ? Endless possibilities for hapiness.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I've been driving all day and like listening to news channels, this was an historic prisoner swap, the magnitude we haven't seen since the Cold War or ancient history

The whole thing took months to put together with 7 countries participating: United States, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway and Turkey all against Russia. It is the biggest prisoner swap in post-Soviet history.

Germany was a linch pin in releasing Russian hitman Vadim Krasikov. My understanding is that without Olaf Scholz, and Poland, Slovenia and Norway, this wouldn't have happened, so it is great to see NATO working togther to make this all happen.

Apparently everyone got something but Krasikov was the only important figure to Russia. And Putin wanted him badly. The West got a ton of prisoners released basically just for Krasikov.

Slovenia apparently also played a big role fast-tracking the Russian spies they held.

All in all a great day that took months to put together with our allies.

[pavulon]

Good relationships with foreign countries is actually important.

[Baz]

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Awesome pic Baz, thanks for posting!

[greglepore]

Does the State Dept now tell folks that the USSR is off limits until Putin is gone?

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Good stuff, incredible story.

[fintstone]

Glad folks are coming home, but it is open season on Americans when the world knows that we will trade money and criminals/murderers/assassins to get them back (with no repercussions). There was a time when folks knew it was a bad idea to kidnap Americans. Many are still held around the world including by HAMAS. We can/need to do better.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by fintstone

Glad folks are coming home, but it is open season on Americans when the world knows that we will trade money and criminals/murderers/assassins to get them back (with no repercussions). There was a time when folks knew it was a bad idea to kidnap Americans. Many are still held around the world including by HAMAS. We can/need to do better.

This is correct. America First Isolationism, no longer wanting to be the world's policeman and "no new wars" makes the U.S. a paper tiger.

The worst part of the new evolving world order is autocrats/dictators/tyrants are now working together/helping each other to evade U.S. sanctions.

[KNS]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

The worst part of the new evolving world order is autocrats/dictators/tyrants are now working together/helping each other to evade U.S. sanctions.

Apologies - getting off topic but I read an article recently that some Russian missiles targeting Ukraine were shot down and the parts and debris were examined. The missiles were full of high-tech sanctioned US hardware being bought and sold behind the scenes and supplied to Russia.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by KNS

Apologies - getting off topic but I read an article recently that some Russian missiles targeting Ukraine were shot down and the parts and debris were examined. The missiles were full of high-tech sanctioned US hardware being bought and sold behind the scenes and supplied to Russia.

I am not surprised. We all need worry when China gets ahold of the most advanced ASML chips.

This is why allies are so important and everyone needs to wake up to the realities that the rest of world, especially the authoritarians, have caught up to the US while we are sinking into a resurgence of postmodernism on one side and TikTok influencers on the other.

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by Tobra

Wonder why this is happening now

end of the federal fiscal year?