When Russia swapped WNBA player Brittney Griner for a dangerous Russian criminal, many criticized the administration for fear that such a move could set a dangerous precedent for future hostage situations.
According to Breitbart, White House National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby was asked a question along those lines. His answer essentially admitted the scary reality of the Biden administration's calculation on the issue, which could lead other autocrats and dictators to play the same dangerous game.
Americans abroad, especially journalists and celebrities, have never been in more danger of kidnapping than they are under President Joe Biden's weak leadership.
Kirby's admission came during an interview with NewsNation’s "Elizabeth Vargas Reports."
Vargas asked Kirby a simple and justifiable question, as to whether or not other bad world actors might follow Russian President Vladimir Putin's playbook and kidnap high-profile Americans with the hopes of making lucrative trades.
"There were some people who were worried after we swapped Brittney Griner — the WNBA star — for the Russian arms dealer, that we were setting a precedent of swapping, that this would actually encourage other autocrats, other dictators around the world to kidnap American citizens. Do you think those concerns were valid?" Vargas asked.
KIRBY: THE ONLY DEAL WE COULD GET
A bittersweet return as Griner comes home & ‘Merchant of Death’ walks free.
Paul Whelan again left behind.
Was a WNBA star for an intl arms dealer the best deal we could get or did Putin outplay Biden? @DanaPerino gets answers from John Kirby pic.twitter.com/sIiEmJsspN
— America's Newsroom (@AmericaNewsroom) December 9, 2022
Kirby's response was wobbly and downright scary.
"It’s difficult to point to some sort of mathematical case to prove that that happens. I’ve heard that argument before. Certainly, we’re mindful that there are some autocrats around the world that might be thinking that way."
He added: "This is not a new tactic for Mr. Putin to detain Americans and wrongfully so and under ridiculous charges. But we don’t know exactly what’s behind this particular one and — or whether it was motivated by the fact that we were able to negotiate for Brittney’s release."
Under President Biden, yet another American has been kidnapped, this time a journalist, who by all accounts, was wrongfully detained and probably Putin's next chess play to get another "merchant of death" Russian prisoner returned to the Motherland.
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, 31, was recently arrested in Russia and charged with espionage.
Glad to see @TuckerCarlson join the @nytimes etc in calling for Russia to release @WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich.
The left and right in the US media may not agree on much - or anything - but this issue crosses partisan lines. pic.twitter.com/lXen7GWNh4
— Alex Berenson (@AlexBerenson) April 4, 2023
Only time will tell what the White House does on this issue, but it's already extremely tricky, to say the least.
