Attempting to secure Russia's release of the unjustly detained Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and another American, Paul Whelan, the Biden administration is considering significant new concessions to Russia.
As CNN's Kylie Atwood and Matthew Chance report,"U.S. officials did make quiet inquiries to the Germans about whether they might be willing to include [Vadim] Krasikov in the trade [for Whelan and Gershkovich]. ... The White House is also exploring narrow sanctions relief, senior administration officials said."It is astonishing that the Biden administration would seriously contemplate these concessions.
The central challenge is that Russia does not regard this U.S. negotiating stance as anything other than an invitation for easy pickings. As I noted last July regarding a then-pending hostage trade of WNBA star Brittney Griner for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout: "This arrangement would only encourage Russia to conduct more extensive hostage-taking of Americans in the future. It would also play to Vladimir Putin's perspective of the United States as a weak adversary that can be coerced into policy via emotional rather than hard-headed policy considerations. That is a very dangerous gambit to adopt with the former KGB officer."
Gershkovich's detention testifies to this concern. The Russians keep kidnapping Americans because the Biden administration keeps rewarding them for doing so. It really is that simple. And while it might seem moral for the White House to focus on getting Americans home at all costs, its first responsibility is to the security of the nation and all its people rather than just a few people.
Top line: If President Joe Biden approves yet more concessions for Gershkovich and Whelan, you can bet they won't be the last Americans to be held hostage by Moscow. The better response to Russia's hostage aggression is the most proven Cold War response: for Washington to escalate its pressure, rather than its concessions, against Moscow.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Why 4 in 5 Americans believe that TikTok poses a national security threatA new survey has indicated that about 83% of people want the United States government to manage the usage of TikTok and other social media apps.
Read more »
Why Erdogan's fate matters to Biden and the US | CNN Politics'Biden’s entire presidency has unfolded in the shadow of autocrats, assaults on democracy and aspiring strongman leaders – abroad, and most remarkably at home,' writes StCollinson | Analysis
Read more »
Why Biden really doesn't want to cancel his overseas trip | CNN PoliticsWith the US economy hanging in the balance, President Biden departs this week for a week-long visit to Asia. He’s acknowledged the trip may be scrapped, but privately has told his team skipping the Group of 7 summit should be a last-resort option only.
Read more »
Why Babies Are So Cute — And Why We React the Way We Do🔄FROM THE ARCHIVE: Cute kittens, lambs and more stir emotions rooted in our evolutionary history.
Read more »
Joe Biden Watches Granddaughter Maisy Biden Graduate From UPennSome students waved at the president and took photos, but other than that, the president was just another face in the crowd, albeit a very recognizable one.
Read more »
Russia-Ukraine live updates: Putin says war was ‘unleashed’ on RussiaDozens of mine-resistant vehicles are helping Ukrainian troops navigate the frontlines, capable of withstanding mines, rocket-propelled grenades and heavy machine gun fire. ABC News' TSoufiBurridge is in Ukraine with more.
Read more »