best deal since… // (Scott Johnson).

The trade of Brittney Griner, WNBA star, for Russian “Merchant of Death”, Viktor Bout amounts the best deal of its type since President Obama traded Bowe Berdahl to five Taliban leaders at Guantanamo. As I recall, Susan Rice, Obama’s national security adviser, stated that Bergdahl had been a “honorable and distinguished” soldier (before he left). Susan Rice is currently back at the White House, working for President Biden. It would be great to hear her thoughts on Griner-Bout.

Paul Whelan, a former Marine, was left in Russia by Biden’s deal. He is currently being held on espionage and conspiracy charges. The AP has the unfiltered story here of the administration on this subject, and The Hill has more here. The swap is bad in more ways than one. The Washington Free Beacon claims that the deal is a disgrace this editorial. It is only possible to see it as an advantage Putin, pending confirmation from Susan Rice.