The sleeping media giants finally see Biden for who he is, but is it a little too late? Biden’s recent swap with Russia could easily become a security risk for the United States and spell doom for a US Marine.
As a result of the Biden administration’s trade of one of Russia’s most dangerous terrorists and arms dealers, Viktor Bout, also known as the “Merchant of Death,” Brittney Griner, an anti-American WNBA player, was released from a Russian prison on Thursday. While most of the leftist media served their usual purpose as being the mouthpieces for the Biden administration and the Democrat Party, shockingly, the “big three” nightly newscasts actually gave voice to criticism since Biden passed over Paul Whelan, a Marine.
ABC’s World News Tonight:
PIERRE THOMAS: Bout was extradited to the U.S. after DEA agents posing as members of the militant Columbia organization known as fark got him to sell missiles. Tonight one of the former DEA agents involved said it’s a mistake to release him.
ROBERT ZACHARIASIEWICZ: It’s a good thing that a U.S. citizen is home. And now we just returned the lord of war to Putin. Makes no sense to me.
THOMAS: Bout was suspected of being a Russian intelligence agent, but he’s been in a U.S. prison for more than a decade. And some officials believe his value as an intelligence asset has long since diminished and swapping him for Griner was the right thing to do, David.
CBS Evening News:
JEFF PEGUES: For any White House, prisoner swaps can be complex diplomatic maneuvers, and this swap for Griner is no different, primarily because of Viktor Bout, the so-called “Merchant of Death” whose exploits packed the plot of a Hollywood movie.
PEGUES: And whose capture was widely celebrated by U.S. law enforcement. Robert Zachariasiewicz who was on the DEA team that tracked Bout down says that today’s prisoner swap puts other Americans in danger. Why was it a bad deal for the U.S. in your opinion?
ROBERT ZACHARIASIEWICZ: I think that we just encouraged false detentions and hostage-taking all over the world. I think we just sent the message out that it is good business to have an American citizen in your back pocket for that day you need a bargaining chip.
PEGUES: According to a new report, the number of U.S. nationals wrongly detained has increased dramatically. In the last decade, the number has spiked 175 percent. The detention of Americans like Trevor Reed, released in a prisoner swap earlier this year, and Griner, offers the Kremlin leverage, which many anticipate Vladimir Putin will use as the Biden administration attempts to secure the release of Paul Whelan.
These swaps are complicated. One former U.S. law enforcement official says that Viktor Bout served years in prison, is no longer a threat to the U.S. This official sees this swap as a win for the U.S., and especially Brittney Griner and her family.
NBC Nightly News:
LESTER HOLT: Andrea, we should note there has been mixed political reaction about giving up Viktor Bout.
ANDREA MITCHELL: Well, tonight there’s overwhelming happiness of course that Brittney Griner has been freed. But you’re right there’s mixed reaction about releasing this infamous Russian arms dealer while leaving Paul Whelan behind with criticism from House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, and Democratic Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Robert Menendez. But some Democrats say negotiating anything at all with Vladimir Putin while the U.S. is arming Ukraine has been incredibly tough. And they are just relieved Brittney Griner is homeward-bound tonight. Lester?
Watch [Video Via Media Research Center]
I think by this point the media giants aren’t shocked that Biden traded off security—like the rest of us, they surely know by now where he stands on Homeland Security. I think this is them just signaling that they’re not going to keep covering for him anymore. What do you think?
Erica Carlin is an independent journalist, opinion writer and contributor to several news and opinion sources. She is based in Georgia.
