As she sits in a Russian jail cell after pleading guilty to having a small amount of cannabis oil in her luggage, she is not forgotten.
Her jersey number is on the court as a reminder that she is missed and different players and coaches use her status as a political hostage as a ruse to keep her out of jail.
On Monday night, the executive director of the player association went on The Daily Show and called on the president to bring the player back.
Biden declared this kind of detaining a national emergency because of the face of a bigger problem for the US. It constituted an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States.
Jackson's advocacy for a player and a person she cares about is important and she is a fierce advocate for players. In Russia, where same-sex marriage is not recognized, she has reason to feel less safe. We have all seen the photos of her behind bars holding a printed image of her league mates. Since her arrest, her eyes have been hollow. It's not hard to imagine how it would feel to be a pawn in a stalemate.
She is on a basketball court with her family. There is a larger picture here. There are about 60 Americans who are not allowed to leave the country. Austin Tice is a journalist who has been imprisoned in Syria for the past four years. Russia sentenced Paul Whelan to 16 years in prison for espionage. He is a former Marine.
A prisoner swap resulted in the release of another American marine in Russia. He was in poor health after being held for almost four years.
They all need to be with their families. If the US government pays for hostages in currency, prisoners, or policy, it endangers every American who goes off the beaten path. Although what has happened is unjust, it may indicate a level of comfort as an American abroad that no longer exists.
The end of American participation in the Russian Women's premier basketball league may be due to the invasion of Ukraine and the detainment of the player. It would be hard for players to ignore the new risk calculation after seeing a player suffer such confinement.
Sports fans and athletes alike have been courted by the Russians. The Olympics and the World Cup were held in Russia. The tournaments serve as invitations to the sporting world.
Basketball players from the US have been playing in Russia for a long time. It isn't just bigger paychecks, but the level of play and the respect for the game that has attracted the best women to ever play the game to head there to play. The flights for those long legs in the NBA are the same as those in the private jets. Russia was a friendly place to play and not to be confused with the personal freedom enjoyed in the US.
No more.
The transcript of the background call was released by the White House today. North Korea, Russia, Venezuela, and China will be added to the list of nations it considers riskier to hold Americans captive.
Getting their loved ones back is the top priority for the family and friends of the people being held. There are other considerations for the US government. Russian demands for her release are getting higher according to some reports. She could be worth a lot like Viktor Bout. The sanctions were put in place to punish Russia.
The executive order explains that the detaining of Americans overseas is a threat to our national security. Russia has found a very successful strategy of strong-arming the United States and other NATO countries without having to take up arms if Griner is released. It took a long time for the US to impose sanctions against Russia.
One senior administration official said on the background call Monday night that the President and Secretary of State are committed to getting all these cases resolved.
A plan of action. The US can't afford to let the situation get out of hand. Anyone who travels there is a potential asset. The State Department has travel advisories for certain nations. Does anyone check travel advisories before traveling?
It's both an assessment of risk and a shift of burden to travelers. Russia has harsh drug laws and is unfriendly to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and queer community. The first law that was passed by Putin was about giving propaganda to children. Fans from all over the world traveled to watch the World Cup. It is difficult for travelers to make these assessments. When we travel, we take our Americanness with us, but it isn't real insulation from harm abroad.
The goal is to resolve the current cases and bring people home and to add to the costs for those who engage in this behavior through the executive order.
An athlete in a popular league should be at home. America can't make people take hostages. Seeing these values at odds with each other is something Putin likes to see. He won and we lost.
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