Former Marine Paul Whelan recently shared in an interview with NBC News how devastated he was when informed that WNBA basketball star Brittney Griner was being released from Russian detention after nine months, and he was not. The US had traded Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout for Griner’s release, leaving Whelan behind. He broke the news to his parents from the prison control room while surrounded by Russian FSB security officers.
Whelan, who was imprisoned in Russia for over five years on false espionage charges, kept his spirits up by singing the national anthem every morning. He was finally released in August in a prisoner swap as part of a larger exchange involving other journalists.
During his imprisonment, Whelan faced psychological torment, torture, and corruption. He stayed in touch with the State Department and experienced the loss of his dog and bouts of illness. Despite the challenges, Whelan remained defiant and determined not to give his captors the satisfaction of seeing him give up.
Whelan believes tough diplomacy is needed to deal with leaders like Putin, emphasizing the importance of strength in dealing with such rogue nations. He believes that any president will struggle to navigate relationships with leaders like Putin. Whelan is now readjusting to life in Michigan and facing challenges like post-traumatic stress disorder and job prospects at his age. He appreciates the support he has received from his community but is concerned about finding a new job to reinvent himself.
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