Talk about the Art of the Deal.
In a historic Prisoner Swap involving seven nations, the United States and Germany were able to secure the release of 16 individuals incarcerated in Russia under false pretenses.
Of the 16 prisoners released by Russia and Belarus, four are coming home to the United States and 12 to Germany. Eight prisoners, including one of Putin’s assassins, are going to Russia.
The prisoners coming back to the United States are:
- Russian/American Journalist Alsu Kurmasheva.
- Marine and Business Executive Paul Whelan.
- Wall Street Journalist Evan Gershkovich.
- Washington Post Columnist Vladimir Kara-Murza.
Seven of the people going to Germany are noted Anti-Putin Russian Dissidents as well as five of their own citizens who were unlawfully detained.
Please click here to read the full list.
Before speaking to the American People on the joyous occasion, the President and his team made two social media posts highlighting the event.
Afterward, the President, along with family members of the four prisoners spoke to the press.
In his remarks, Mr. Biden praised diplomatic efforts and the alliance system that, unlike his America First predecessor who has thumbed his nose at it, helped deliver the releases today, commenting:
“This is an incredible relief. For all the family members gathered here. It’s a relief to the friends and colleagues all across the country who have been praying for this day for a long time. The deal that made this possible was a feat of diplomacy and friendship friendship multiple countries helped get this done. They joined a difficult complex negotiations and my request. And I personally thank them all again and I thank them personally and I thank them again all told Russia has released 16 prisoners. 8 Russians who were being held in the west will be sent home as well. These 16 prisoners from Russia have that Russia has released include 4 Americans. 5 Germans 7 Russian citizens who are political prisoners in their own country.”
“This still would not have been made possible without our allies. Germany Poland, Slovenia Norway, and Turkey. They all stepped up. And they stood with us. They stood with us. And they made bold and brave decisions. Release prisoners being held in their countries who were justifiably being held. And provided logistical support to get The American’s home. So for anyone who questions with allies matter they do. They matter. And today is a powerful example of why it’s vital to have friends in this world. Friends, you can trust work with, and depend upon. Especially on matters of great consequence and sensitivity like this. Our alliances make our people safer.”
In another dig at Mr. Trump, The President stated that he had secured the release of 70 hostages during his administration, including several taken prisoner during his predecessor’s administration.
In a tender moment, the President asked the gathered staff and press corp to join him and the family members to wish Alsu Kurmasheva’s daughter Miriam a happy birthday.
As he was departing, a reporter asked for the President to comment on Mr. Trump’s assertion that he could have gotten the hostages out without giving Russia anything. Mr. Biden smiled, went back to the podium, and said into the microphone:
“Why didn’t he do it when he was President?”
President Biden and Vice President Harris will greet the returning prisoners at Andrews Airforce Base this evening.
Vice President Harris posted on social media:
This is another achievement in a long list of accomplishments from a historic President and Administration that has set itself above the Presidencies of the last 55 years. It is a shame the American People, including some fair-weather Democrats, could not see Mr. Biden’s wisdom and stellar governance past his elderly demeanor.
Total shame.
Discover more from Blog for Arizona
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Barack Obama and his fans (of which I am one!) may offer a different opinion.
Maybe he makes 2nd or 3rd best in that period, behind Obama and, just maybe, Carter (who I believe was underrated as POTUS and has easily been the best ex-president ever).
Of course, any POTUS subsequent to Cheeto may benefit from low expectations.
I’m old enough to remember Vietnam, Watergate, and Nixon. Lordy, there were tapes. That drunken racist creep should have died in prison sharing a cell with Kissinger.
Carter was an intelligent and decent man trying to do what was best for the country right around the same time the right decided they were permanent underdogs and went feral, and the proof is them electing Ronald Wilson Reagan.
Reagan was an amoral man of limited intelligence but also trained actor who could deliver a line at a B movie level, good enough to save his ass from prison for literal treason.
The Reagan White House had the most felony convictions of any POTUS, but I think convicted rapist and felon Trump’s team may have taken the crown by now, or should have.
Bill Clinton is human scum who, in spite of 8 years of “peace and prosperity”, did a lot of damage, was pretty much “republican lite”, and we’re still under corporate dem control because of him. We should have banished him to Haiti years ago, where he could live with the people who’s country he helped destroy.
And how the Clinton’s treated women….yeah, HRC too, disgusting. Sleaze. Made me sick voting for her in 2016.
Bush/Cheney… there’s a reason the GOP doesn’t talk about them and they don’t seem eager to travel abroad, you know, where they may end up being shipped off to The Hague.
Two more creeps who should spend their lives in prison.
Obama was/is aware of how race mattered to his presidency and held back some because of it. That’s on the racists, not him. Racism has always been a boat anchor holding America down.
But holy smokes, what an actual BFD (nod to JB) the ACA is, and what a amazing job Obama and Pelosi did getting that passed.
Then we go from an intelligent, one wife and family man to….
Convicted rapist and felon Donald J Trump allowed 400,000 Americans to die because he thought the optics of the pandemic made him look bad, stole government secrets, betrayed our allies while he and his family helped themselves to some double helpings of corruption, ran America like a reality TV show, and put Pee Wee German (Stephen Miller) in a position of power, when he should have been working the ferris wheel in some carnival.
Biden did some great things and some bad things, but what gets him in the top three is him stepping down.
Not many people would voluntarily give up the most powerful job in the world for the good of the country.
I’d just put Carter, Biden, and Obama in the top three in no particular order.
I’d like to see Harris win, serve for one term, then help elect someone even younger. I’m hoping the enthusiasm and small donor money will help convince the DNC to unclench, give the multinationals and billionaires the bird and get the Democratic party back in line with FDR.
FDR’s second bill of rights should be the party platform for 2028.
Carter has always been our best ex-POTUS, I’ll bet Joe, if he’s healthy enough, will be as good.
@Sharpie – I’ve always thought that Baby Bush and his adherents were happy to see Cheeto come along because W was no considered to be the worst POTUS in history.
arrggghhhh! “not” instead of “no”!
{Bleeping} typos!