Dennis Rodman not going to help Brittney Griner's release from Russian prison

Former NBA basketball player Dennis Rodman had been planning to go to Russia in an effort to free WNBA basketball player Brittney Griner from a Russian prison after being found guilty of drug possession. He told the public last week that he was all set to go there but the U.S. government publicly discouraged his plan. Now he appears to have changed his mind and will not be going to Russia.

Griner has been sentenced to nine years in early August for bringing cannabis oil vape cartridges into Russia in February. On Saturday, Rodman told NBC News that he planned to go there to help Griner.

“I got permission to go to Russia to help that girl,” Rodman said Saturday. “I’m trying to go this week.”

However, government officials the State Department immediately indicated they thought Rodman’s plan was garbage and told the former dribbler and shooter of basketballs that if he had gone, he would not be acting in any official capacity for the United States.

“He would not be traveling on behalf of the U.S. government,” Ned Price, the first openly gay, married to a dude State Department spokesman, told ABC News.

“We believe that anything other than negotiating further through the established channel is likely to complicate and hinder those release efforts,” Price added.

Rodman, in the midst of scrutiny over his comments, told ABC News on Monday that he now has no plans to travel to Russia, the network reported.

The State Department also issued a travel advisory to discourage all Americans from visiting Russia.

“Do not travel to Russia due to the unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine by Russian military forces, the potential for harassment against U.S. citizens by Russian government security officials, the singling out of U.S. citizens in Russia by Russian government security officials including for detention, the arbitrary enforcement of local law, limited flights into and out of Russia, the Embassy’s limited ability to assist U.S. citizens in Russia, COVID-19-related restrictions, and terrorism.

“U.S. citizens residing or traveling in Russia should depart Russia immediately. Exercise increased caution due to wrongful detention,” the advisory outlined.

However, even though the advisory is in place, Rodman does not need special permission from the U.S. to go to Russia. He just would have needed a visa from Moscow. 

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Rodman has a history of informal diplomacy with international leaders who have a strained relationship with the United States. Over the past 10 years, the former NBA star has had a relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and has visited the country multiple times.

And while he might be strange in so many ways, he would still make a better president than Joe Biden, and unlike Brittney Griner, he never "took a knee" during the national anthem.

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Trump speaks with Taiwanese president, breaks protocol

New York -- President-elect Trump spoke with the President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan, Friday in a move that is certain to peeve the Chinese. It is unprecedented for a U.S. president or president-elect to speak directly with a leader of Taiwan as we broke ties with the island in 1979.

Since that year, Washington has pursued a "one China" policy. We shifted diplomatic recognition of China from the government of Taiwan to the communist government on the mainland. We now recognize Beijing as representing China but continue to maintain unofficial ties with the island nation of Taiwan.

Trump's transition team said that The Donald spoke with the Taiwanese President and she offered her congratulations to him.

"During the discussion, they noted the close economic, political, and security ties . . . between Taiwan and the United States. President-elect Trump also congratulated President Tsai on becoming President of Taiwan earlier this year," the statement read.

Forgetting to put on his oven mitts, Trump later tweeted: "The President of Taiwan CALLED ME today to wish me congratulations on winning the Presidency. Thank you!"

Right?

The call was confirmed by a Taiwanese source with direct knowledge of the call, but requested anonymity to speak about it before an official statement was issued on it from Tapei.

The White House learned of the call after it took place, according to a senior administration official, who also requested anonymity because of the sensitive diplomatic relations involved.

China's embassy in Washington didn't respond to a media request for a comment.

The Friday call exemplifies how Trump has disregarded typical diplomatic conventions since his election to the presidency. He has apparently taken other calls from foreign leaders without guidance customarily given by the State Department which oversees U.S. diplomacy.

Tsai was elected in January via a democratic election and took office in May. While our ties with Taiwan are unofficial, they are quite close, since they split from the Chinese mainland in 1949 in a civil war. We acknowledge China's view over sovereignty, but consider Taiwan's status as unsettled.

China sees Taiwan as part of their territory to be retaken by force, if need be, if it seeks independence. The U.S. has legal commitments to help Taiwan maintain its ability to defend itself.

Ned Price, the White House National Security Council spokesman said Trump's conversation doesn't signal any change to our long-standing policy on "cross-strait" issues.

"We remain firmly committed to our 'one China' policy," Price said. "Our fundamental interest is in peaceful and stable cross-strait relations."

The White House (aka Obama) is probably quite frustrated by Trump's conversation with Tsai, but still wants to make a smooth transition.

Let's hope Trump is careful about his foreign policy dealings once he's sworn in.


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