OPINION:
President Biden is in the land of Erin, traipsing through clover fields while former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan continues to waste away in a Siberian penal colony (“President Joe Biden in Ireland: ‘It’s an honor to return,’” Web, April 13). And if you feel the need to refresh your memory, via web search, about just what penal colonies are, you might be led to think that basketball star Brittney Griner was the only American ever held in one.
Speaking of whom, you’ll be happy to hear she’s back dunking with the Phoenix Mercury, dining in Manhattan with Al Sharpton and preparing a memoir.
In December, after securing the release of Griner — who was imprisoned in Russia for less than a year — Biden, speaking of Whelan, vowed, “We are not giving up.”
Whelan has been held in Russia since 2018. His wrongful detainment is shared by other Americans around the world, including Marc Fogel and Evan Gershkovich (Russia), Austin Tice (Syria) and Eyvin Hernandez, Matthew John Heath and Luke Denman (Venezuela).
Where, oh where, is our avowing president? Ah, yes — he’s comparing pinky lengths with leprechauns.
SCOTT R. HAMMOND
Boston, Massachusetts
