On Thursday, Senator Bob Menendez voiced his disapproval of the Biden Administration’s prisoner swap with Russia. WNBA star Brittney Griner was sent to Russia in exchange for the “Merchant of Death,” Viktor Bout. For the United States government, Menendez said in a statement, “This should be a moment of deep reflection to recognize we have a serious problem with hostage-taking of Americans.” Nothing could be further from the truth, he continued, calling the decision to let Bout back out into society “deeply disturbing.”
Menendez also urged the federal government to do more to discourage American citizens from visiting countries like Russia, where they run the risk of being taken hostage. He also encouraged US Marine Paul Whelan, who was not part of the prisoner exchange, from his cell. “The families of all American prisoners in Russian gulags and jails, not just Paul Whelan, have my deepest sympathies. They can count on me and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to do whatever it takes to bring Mr. Whelan home safely and to keep fighting for the freedom of all political prisoners in Russia, including Vladimir Kara Murza, and all other wrongfully imprisoned Americans “Said Menendez.
It’s hard to find good reason to justify trading for a known terrorist in order to free Griner, even though her incarceration is certainly not something to celebrate. Griner is not a terrorist, but neither is she a fan of the national anthem nor a role model. Marines like Paul Whelan, on the other hand, are true heroes for risking their lives to protect the United States. They must be treated with dignity and care, not as bargaining chips in political games.
Concerns about the priorities and values of the Biden administration have been heightened by their handling of this situation. I don’t understand why Whelan wasn’t part of the prisoner swap. Why was it okay to trade Griner for a terrorist like Bout? The government has an obligation to address these concerns and ensure that the brave men and women who serve our country in uniform are well cared for and protected in the future.
The government’s handling of hostage situations involving American citizens has been criticized before. The government’s response to several high-profile cases of Americans being taken hostage by foreign governments in recent years has been inadequate. Obviously, this needs to alter.
Each and every American citizen, whether or not they are serving in the military, deserves the highest level of protection from the government. In the event that they are taken hostage, they must act swiftly and decisively to secure their release, and they must do everything in their power to avoid becoming hostages in the first place. The Biden administration must demonstrate its dedication to this objective and its unwillingness to put the security of the American people at risk for partisan gain.
To sum up, Senator Menendez is correct in his assessment of the Biden Administration’s handling of the prisoner exchange with Russia. Questions about the government’s priorities and values are warranted after the decision to release a known terrorist in exchange for a WNBA player. Americans at home and abroad need more from their government to ensure they are safe and not used as bargaining chips. The government needs to show its dedication to the security of all Americans by taking immediate action to resolve this problem.
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