Why are so many Americans upset Brittney Griner has been freed?
LA TimesU.S. basketball star Brittney Griner has been freed by Russia in a dramatic high-level prisoner exchange, with the U.S. releasing notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout from custody. The freeing of women’s basketball star Brittney Griner from her Russian incarceration Thursday in a prisoner swap for notorious arms dealer Viktor Bout should have led to a unified nationwide cheer. “This was not a choice of which American to bring home,” said President Biden in a national address, later adding, “Sadly, for totally illegitimate reasons, Russia is treating Paul’s case differently than Brittney’s, and while we have not yet succeeded in securing Paul’s release, we are not giving up, we will never give up.” America should continue to mourn the fate of Whelan and the many other citizens being wrongfully detained around the world. “Negotiations for the release of wrongful detainees are often very difficult, that’s just the reality… immediate results can feel unfair or arbitrary,” said White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, adding, “The president felt a moral obligation to bring Brittney home…we’re not going to apologize for that.” The third question is about perceived patriotism.