Discussion: Russia: Too Early To Consider Swap Of US Spy Suspect For Maria Butina

Uh… Shyster, Grifter, lying dirtpag.
Thanks for you kind offer but we don’t want him back
Nice try though

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Trump fan, dishonorably discharged former Marine, defense contractor.
And oddly, Trump has not made a peep about this.

I smell SETUP.

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Paul Whelan established an account on VKontakte, a social media service similar to Facebook that is popular among Russians, which showed he had scores of contacts in Russia. Many attended universities affiliated with the military, civil aviation or technical studies. Many share his interest in sports and firearms.

And in quadruple citizenship.

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Has there ever been a more obvious con job than this Putin-Trump “spy” exchange nonsense?

Fat Nixon and the GOP need another key witness out of the way, toute de suite.

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I wonder if Trump is learning anything from this. Also wonder if all Russian spies are so attractive.

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Anna Chapman had valuable spy tradecraft, ummm, assets.

Yeah, assets, that’s the ticket.

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Yes, neither he nor the White House has made a statement.

Pompeo said a few words, asking “what it is [Whelan] is accused of”:

“We’ve made clear to the Russians our expectation that we will learn more about charges and come to understand what it is he is accused of. And if the detention is not appropriate, we will demand his immediate return.”

As for Huntsman, we are told only this and only by his spokesman:

“Ambassador Huntsman expressed his support for Mr. Whelan and offered the Embassy’s assistance. Due to privacy considerations for Mr. Whelan and his family, we have nothing further at this time.”

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Too Hollywood. It’s deeper than that.

Think about it. We know so little of what’s going on — “no collusion” — but all of the sudden we get front row seats (courtesy of Putin) to a 1940’s classic political drama?

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This all makes me think that Trump’s shutdown has made thousands of federal employees economically vulnerable, some even desperate.

Access to government computers is likely a very valuable thing they have. The Chinese and Russians probably appreciate that weakness.

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They probably picked the wrong guy. From what I’ve read of him he’s probably telling them to “bring it on” and means it. This is a game that’s been played for 75 years. America ought to be good at it now.

They won’t seriously hurt this guy. As in leave physical signs of it.

Virtually everything that comes out of Russia’s mouth is bullshit ( that why Russia and Trump are such a good match )

They will cave if you play it right. I’m sure that’s what Whelan wants America to do.

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Yes, this whole thing smells like a can of sardines left open on the back porch for several days.

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Could the moron unilaterally do a swap? He doesn’t need any other sign-off? If so, then this is absolutely a set-up. Since she’s been indicted, I would think law enforcement has to weigh in, but if that means brainiac Whitaker, then forget it.

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a security director for an automobile parts manufacturer? Who knew the world of muffler making was so cutthroat?

but, I think he just might be a casual agent - the kind of guy who is on a couple of country’s payrolls and picks up stuff and passes it along

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i think you’ve called it

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like 'huge tracts of land"?

@ralph_vonholst

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Trump’s shutdown has made thousands of federal employees economically vulnerable, some even desperate.

If Trump will do this to hard working citizens but then trade away Butina for a slime ball with a bad conduct discharge I think that would show where his interests are. It could be a case of swapping one Russian agent for another Russian agent.

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do you not have cats in your part of town?

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Why do they think we want him back? I guess it had not occurred to me he was actually a spy.

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Butina is looking at less than 6 months in the can. That’s why Russia was in such a hurry to grab an American. State, with assistance from CIA usually work out the details of a swap. I suppose Trump can call is buddy Vlad and do it that way too. Remember, that would get Butina out of the USA where she could no longer be of assistance to Mueller or do Trump harm. This thing gets a whole lot clearer if you look at it that way.

Any other POTUS would have slammed a 100% travel ban on Russia. They aren’t taking Americans hostage in Cuba.

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