Staff Reports
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris played the role of the welcoming committee at Joint Base Andrews after three Americans returned from a stint in Russian custody. The trio—Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, and Alsu Kurmasheva—touched down on U.S. soil after what was presumably among the longest months of their lives, greeted by family and a few Wall Street Journal staffers, who must have been relieved to know their colleague was back.
The so-called “deal” that facilitated this homecoming would make anyone question our diplomats’ negotiating skills. In exchange for the release of these three Americans, Russia decided to let go of 16 prisoners, while the U.S. agreed to release eight Russians. The swap took place at a tarmac in Turkey, of all places—a fitting backdrop for a rendezvous that had all the fanfare of a shady street deal.
Americans Freed by Russia Arrive Back In the U.S.
https://t.co/RpxHPV2oMK— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) August 2, 2024
Biden and Harris were more than happy to saunter over and give their nod of approval to the situation, with Biden’s age and apparent mental faculties a not-so-subtle topic of conversation. Kamala Harris, stepping away from her beloved scripted remarks, made her grand debut with unscripted commentary about this diplomatic victory. Unfortunately for Harris, “Extraordinary Testament to the Power of Diplomacy” sounded more like a poorly rehearsed school play than a masterclass in international relations, leaving many to wonder just how she got that role in the first place.
After the emotional reunion, Biden felt it necessary to grace reporters with his wisdom. He declared he was “satisfied” with the outcome, which is a mere understatement for a man whose administration has had a rocky relationship with these kinds of negotiations. When pressed on what he would say to Vladimir Putin, a classic Biden moment ensued as he muttered something about the capacity of America when it acts together. It’s a wonder whether he was pondering the same thing when he ordered a Byzantine level of bureaucracy that only hampered American interests.
All in all, this grand spectacle of diplomacy raises some eyebrows on whether the administration had to deal with weakness. For a country that prides itself on standing strong, bartering with Putin is hardly a testament to America’s strength. Yet here they were, presenting themselves as the victorious team at a three-way trade, saving three Americans from Russian prisons while releasing numerous prisoners into the wild. Time will tell if that’s a reflection of astute diplomacy or just the latest episode in a never-ending series of poor choices.
