#Putin #Russia are masters in propaganda/manipulation. They know well that swapping #WhitneyGriner for #ViktorBout would cause division. The activities of this arms dealer has long been overtaken but he had importance to #Russian politics/corruption in high places. A US Marine/ #PaulWhelan swap wouldn't have caused such big problems.
Why always fall for the divide & conquer tactic? - Probably bc it fits anti-democratic agendas.
Deals with the devil are rarely good ones

https://www.npr.org/2022/12/09/1141969755/viktor-bout-is-back-in-moscow-is-he-still-a-national-security-threat-to-the-u-s

#Putin #Russia are masters in propaganda/manipulation. They know well that swapping #WhitneyGriner for #ViktorBout would cause division. The activities of this arms dealer has long been overtaken but he had importance to #Russian politics/corruption in high places. A US Marine/ #PaulWhelan swap wouldn't have caused such big problems.
Why always fall for the divide & conquer tactic? - Probably bc it fits anti-democratic agendas.
Deals with the devil are rarely good ones

https://www.npr.org/2022/12/09/1141969755/viktor-bout-is-back-in-moscow-is-he-still-a-national-security-threat-to-the-u-s