Sil Lai AbramsDec 9, 2022
Qasim Rashid, Esq.

I'm not an expert on prisoner trades so I'll limit my comment to this: If you're upset that Biden exchanged an arms dealer for Brittany Griner—but approved Trump releasing 5,000 Taliban terrorists who then took over Afghanistan—stop pretending its national security you care about.

Moreover, for the people pearl clutching that the U.S. “traded an arms dealer” for the release of an innocent American woman—wait til you hear about the worlds largest arms dealer. (Hint: It’s the USA).

Dec 9, 2022 at 5:01amMastodon for iOS
Show threadMemeDec 9, 2022
@QasimRashid ☝🏾 THIS. We all know what the outrage is really about.
Show threadAgoraDec 9, 2022
@Meme @QasimRashid yes we do.
Show threadflexghost.Dec 9, 2022
@QasimRashid so many red herrings today. Whatabout the cia whatabout the taliban. We can be happy for her release and upset a mass murderer is free and upset we literally negotiated with terrorists simultaneously.
Show threadMemeDec 9, 2022
@flexghost @QasimRashid If you were also upset that Trump released the Taliban terrorists, he's not talking about you.
Show threadflexghost.Dec 9, 2022
@QasimRashid @Meme irrelevant
Show threadMemeDec 9, 2022
@flexghost @QasimRashid No, it's really not. He's calling out hypocrisy, and you're assailing him for it. You can be happy for Brittney like you say and also be sad that a bad dude is free (though you do know the US likely will be tracking him for the rest of his life and he'll probably end up back in jail, right?). But the vitriol I've seen around this, which he's calling out, has NOTHING to do with the "Merchant of Death" and EVERYTHING to do with who was released in exchange.
Show threadAgoraDec 9, 2022
@Meme @flexghost @QasimRashid exactly! The reason why America continues to have these societal problems with POC and marginalized groups has a lot to do with “good” people making excuses like this.
Show threadAgoraDec 9, 2022
@flexghost @QasimRashid the man was entrapped and the judge in his case said so.
At the time of his arrest there was evidence that he had retired.
He also served 3/4 of his 20 year sentence.
Show threadflexghost.Dec 9, 2022
@Agora @QasimRashid point?
Show threadAgoraDec 9, 2022
@flexghost @QasimRashid He served his sentence.
Most prisoners NEVER serve their whole sentence. Unless they were violent and unruly in prison.
Show threadToxteth O'GradyDec 9, 2022
@QasimRashid And as many researchers have noted, Paul Whelan has been a topic of interest for right-wing commentators on Twitter and in the Republican Party since (checks watch) lunchtime...
Show threadLinaBDec 9, 2022
@QasimRashid you always speak to the point! Thank you
Show threadJames Fields Dec 9, 2022
@QasimRashid this is why people were talking about the 5000 Taliban being released today… got it. Didn’t make sense to me.
Show threadJohnInNJDec 9, 2022
@QasimRashid But Putin said "Nyet!" to the original swap - Griner for tRump.
Show threadTy RossDec 9, 2022
@QasimRashid 🎯🎯🎯
Show threadRoadskater, Ph.D.Dec 9, 2022
@QasimRashid I spent 4+ years avoiding reading the news because of the orange-haired dirtbag. Can you provide a reference to the 5000 Taliban info, because maybe my blood pressure is too low.
Show threadAgoraDec 9, 2022
@roadskater @QasimRashid He really did that together with Mike Pompeo.
He almost invited them to Camp David too! The backlash was so big, he was forced to reverse.
Show threadFlorrieDec 9, 2022
@roadskater @QasimRashid https://www.verifythis.com/article/news/verify/afghanistan/afghanistan-taliban-united-states-deal-5000-prisoners/536-202b0ae9-6251-44d3-a3d0-b9e7d029aed9
Show thread✡️ MG ✡️ #VoteBlueDec 9, 2022
@QasimRashid the guy had served 10 yrs on a 25 yr sentence. He would likely have been paroled & deported in another yr or two anyway. Can't be fussed. If he did it again, we will just arrest him again.
Show threadAgoraDec 9, 2022
@knitvspurl @QasimRashid exactly this!!
Show thread✡️ MG ✡️ #VoteBlueDec 9, 2022
@Agora @QasimRashid Conversely, I'm of the opinion that Griner brought this on herself, breaking Russian law. She didn't desperately need the money & I can't imagine choosing to work in a country where your existence is illegal. But I still agree with bringing her home because her sentence was unjust & Russian gulags are inhumane.
Show threadAgoraDec 9, 2022
@knitvspurl @QasimRashid I agree. She probably loved the status of being a great and revered player over there.
But, whatever her reasons, the sentence didn’t match the crime. I would say this for anyone.
Besides, we can say this for Paul Whelan too. Why would a former marine go to Russia? We can say he brought this on himself too. But, he still doesn’t deserve what is happening to him.
Show thread✡️ MG ✡️ #VoteBlueDec 9, 2022
@Agora @QasimRashid Whelan deserves to be brought home because the charges against him are BS. Very different story.
Show threadAgoraDec 9, 2022
@knitvspurl @QasimRashid well, Russians still live in the Cold War mentality of spies. If you are former military going to Russia, they will suspect you of spying. Even I know that.
So, everyone going to Russia is making terrible decisions.
Show thread✡️ MG ✡️ #VoteBlueDec 9, 2022
@Agora @QasimRashid Still not the same thing. They have no evidence that he was spying. Whether we agree it's a crime or not, Griner committed one by having those vape cartridges.
Show threadAgoraDec 9, 2022
@knitvspurl @QasimRashid there is no evidence to what Griner was accused of doing either. You are splitting hairs here for some reason. The two individuals shouldn’t have gone to Russia in the first place and they shouldn’t have been jailed either.
Show threadAgoraDec 9, 2022
@knitvspurl @QasimRashid Griner has a doctor’s prescription and there is no evidence she used Cannabis oil while in Russia either.
I happen to live in Canada now. This country cares about evidence and witnesses. It’s why I moved here.
I no longer sit up worrying about my kid getting stopped by police officers simply because he is black. The community here expects more out police and they don’t split hairs.
Show thread✡️ MG ✡️ #VoteBlueDec 9, 2022
@Agora @QasimRashid it is still contraband in Russia. In fact, it's illegal to fly with it in the US. CBD (lower THC level) is OK to/from states where is legal, cannabis is not.
Show threadAgoraDec 9, 2022
@QasimRashid Griner is everything these people hate
Black, female, gay and a Basketball athlete.
Show threadLiveByReasonDec 9, 2022
@QasimRashid Wait until they find out about the Iran-Contra affair!!
Show threadCassandrichDec 9, 2022
@QasimRashid Also, he'd already served like 10 out of 12 years of his sentence. The folks upset are 🤡 - this was clearly an excellent trade.
Show threadFernando Dec 9, 2022
@QasimRashid She's not innocent. In fact thousands of people are in jail for far longer prison terms in the US for far less charges.
Show threadBabyJ_MackDec 11, 2022
@QasimRashid Also add the part where Whelan pleaded for trump to help him and que the 🦗🦗🦗