Hammered by the African American and Gay communities, 79-year-old President Joe Biden finds himself in the hot sea over 31-year-old, 6 foot-nine WNBA start Britney Grinerm, holed up in a Russian jail over cannabis possession on Feb. 17. Griner wrote a handwritten not July 4 to Biden telling him not to forget about her or 52-year-old former Marine Paul Whelan, whose serving out 16-year prison sentence for spying in the Russian Federation. Griner’s case receives much more attention because she’s Black and Gay, two protected groups in today’s U.S., where a variety of lobbying groups can put enormous pressure on the White House. Britney’s spouse, Cherelle, believe the White House or the State Department haven’t done enough to get Britney set free. “I will not be quiet anymore,” Cherelle said,. “They’re not moving, they’re not doing anything,” referring to the Biden White House.
Cherelle wants more action on her wife because she heard in her communications a distress call. “So my wife is struggling, and we have to help her,” Chrerlle said. But what Cherelle and other special interest groups protecting Black and Gay rights not get is that the Biden White House has horrific relations with the Russian Federation. Under the best of circumstances, it would be difficult to cut a deal to get Britney out. But under current circumstances, U.S.-Russian relations are at a post-WW II low, all because Biden chose to name-call, saying 69-year-old Russian President Vladimir Putin a “soulless killer,” March 18, 2021, early on in his presidency. When the war started Feb. 24, no one imagined that the White House would join the fight against Putin and the Russian Federation, making hostage negotiations all but impossible. Biden has burnt all his bridges with the Russian Federation, something Cherelle doesn’t understand.
Normally, in past administrations dating back to President Harry Trump, the U.S. has had workable, pragmatic relations with the former Soviet Union or its successor the Russian Federation. Former President Donald Trump had excellent relations with the Kremlin, despite constant accusations about coddling dictators or colluding with the Kremlin. Democrats and the U.S. media made it impossible for Trump to develop solid relations with the Kremlin, but somehow, because of his social skills, still managed to keep close relations. Democrats and the U.S. press did everything possible to sabotage Trump’s relations with Putin. So, now that Biden wrecked U.S.-Russia relations, all the press says is that Putin is a “butcher and war criminal,” making relations with the Kremlin near impossible. So, when it comes to getting Griner out, Biden and press have made it next to impossible.
Negotiations to get out former Marine Trevor Reed were successful back in April, right after Biden announced March 26 in Warsaw, Poland, that Putin should not remain in power. “We won’t stop until Paul Wheland and others join Trevor in the loving arms of family and friends,” Biden said in a statements. Cherelle didn’t like that Biden didn’t name Britney in his message. “This isn’t just about Britney,” said Kemberly St. Julian-Varnon, University of Pennslyvania scholar specialized in Black identify in the Soviet Union. “Paul Whelan has been held in Russian form more than four years. He’s a straight white man. We have to think both of their case in the context of international foreign policy,” St. Julian-Varnon said. St. Julian-Varnon is too close to her subject to recognize that U.S.-Russian relations are at an all time low, especially because Biden chose to start a proxy war against the Russian Federation.
Whatever Britney Griner’s race or sexual orientation, it has nothing to do with why the State Department has its hands tied in terms of high-end Russian diplomacy. Never before in history, has the U.S. been in a proxy war, with Ukrainian troops, to topple the Russian Federation. Whether Briney’s race or sexual identity helps or not, getting release from Russian custody, the biggest stumbling block is the U.S. proxy war in Ukraine against the Russian Federation. If Biden really cared about getting Britney released, he’ll have to make some big concessions on Ukraine, something he’s not prepared to do. As long as Biden supplies the latest lethal weapons to Ukraine, Putin won’t be inclined to let Griner out of jail. Biden has nearly broken off all diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation, leaving high end diplomacy all but impossible until something’s done in Ukraine.
Whatever 59-year-old Secretary of State Antony Blinken does to get Griner out of a Russian jail, it’s all linked to better U.S.-Russian relations. Blinken, who goes to a G20 meeting this week in Bali, Indonesia, is refusing to meet with 72-year-old Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. State Department Spokesman Ned Price has already said Blinken has no plans of meeting with Lavrov, because of the Ukraine War. As long as Blinken take an holier-than-thou attitude, it’s doubtful they’ll have much success with Griner’s case. Blinken should do everything possible to mend fences with Lavrov, even if it involves sucking it up on Ukraine. You can’t expect any progress on Griner unless the two sides are talking again. Blinken has a perfect chance this weekend to talk to Lavrov about Griner. As long a Biden and Blinken refuse to talk to Russia, things don’t look good for Griner.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
