Brittney Griner and Trevor Reed are back home, and that’s a good thing. But you do have to wonder about the timing. Reed, a Marine and former presidential guard in the Obama administration, languished in a Russian jail for close to three years and was finally released two months after the Russians scooped up Griner. Biden had to get Reed first or open himself to criticism. The Russians knew that. Back to the wall, Biden gave up a Russian drug dealer with deep ties to international drug trafficking into the US for Reed. Putin had tried for years to get this guy back. He also wanted Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer dripping in blood. He got him for Griner. One domino and then the next.

Video shows Trevor Reed swapped for Russian drug trafficker (nypost.com)

Trevor Reed: American released from Russia in prisoner swap | CNN Politics

Trevor Reed: Family of American imprisoned in Russia believes he was targeted over past military service | CNN Politics

But what about Paul Whelan, who currently occupies a Russian jail cell? Whalen is a naturalized US citizen, as well as a citizen of England, Ireland, and Canada. Is he the third domino? Hard to tell. This is where the story of Americans held in Russia gets strange.

The US Marines booted Whelan for theft. After that, an international car parts company hired him to handle global security. I guess they figured it takes a thief to catch a thief. As a Marine stationed in Iraq, Whelan had started vacationing in Russia. Seems an odd choice. After the Marines suggested he should seek a new career path, Whelan continued to spend a lot of time in Russia, apparently guarding car parts and breathing the fresh Russian breezes.

Russian authorities picked up Whelan, claiming that a thumb drive in his possession contained national secrets. He said a friend had given him the thumb drive of wedding pictures. Whelan is either the most inept, technologically challenged spy who believes thumb drives are cutting edge, or a terrible judge of character who doesn’t know how to spot a real friend.

Of the four countries that gave Whelan passports, none seems to want him back. Very strange. While he’s not particularly admirable, they did give him those documents. You know, I wouldn’t be surprised if he claims he is just a patsy. Moral of the story? Stay out of Russia.

Paul Whelan: The strange case of the ex-marine jailed for spying in Russia - BBC News

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