He's not the ambassador we deserve, but he's the one we need right now.
Dennis Rodman has entered the US-Russia-Brittney Griner conversation.
As a former basketball player and someone who has become friends with one of the world's worst dictators, Kim Jong Un, he's a natural selection to negotiate the release of the WNBA's Brittney Griner as she's being held in a Russian prison for breaking Russian law.
From NBC News:
Former NBA player Dennis Rodman said Saturday that he plans to visit Russia to seek the release of Brittney Griner, the WNBA star who was sentenced to nine years in prison on drug charges earlier this month.
"I got permission to go to Russia to help that girl," Rodman told NBC News at a restaurant in D.C. "I'm trying to go this week."
This is not a US-sanctioned attempt to free Griner.
It's just Dennis Rodman deciding to go to Russia on his own and do a little diplomacy.
The Biden administration is not super excited about the idea either.
He is more likely to hurt than help, said a senior Biden administration official.
"It's public information that the administration has made a significant offer to the Russians and anything other than negotiating further through the established channel is likely to complicate and hinder release efforts," said the official.
Biden's plan is to give Russia back their "Merchant of Death" arms dealer in exchange for an anti-American female basketball player.
Of course, they don't want Rodman to interfere with that sweet deal.
Rodman, who was in Washington for a sneaker convention, does not need special permission from the U.S. to enter Russia — just a visa from Moscow. But the State Department has issued a travel advisory that strongly discourages American citizens from visiting the country.
"Do not travel to Russia," the State Department advises, citing a litany of reasons, including the "unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine," potential "harassment against U.S. citizens by Russian government security officials" and the possibility of "wrongful detention."
Though he has a much more established relationship with Kim, Rodman expressed confidence in his understanding of Russia's president.
"I know Putin too well," he said.
My theory?
The Biden administration is completely impotent and unable to secure Griner's release, so they certainly don't want Dennis Rodman to negotiate the deal and embarrass the administration.
I mean, honestly, can you imagine Rodman talking Putin into releasing Griner when Biden offering up the Merchant of Death couldn't seal the deal?
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