Biden trades basketball star Brittney Griner for “merchant of death” arms dealer Bout, while ex-Marine Paul Whelan remains in Russian prison. Lesson: To be rescued from a foreign prison, refuse to stand for our anthem or flag, crap on the USA. But if you serve that flag in combat, we leave you to rot.

Teaching that lesson to Americans is bad enough. Teaching it to foreign tyrants is even worse. It makes us look weak and stupid, not qualities that favor a long life in a dangerous world.