Tag Archives: Trevor Reed

Cruz engenders bitterness

It was a truly amazing thing to hear the parents of a young Texan who was released by his Russian captors tear into a U.S. senator for failing to lift a finger to secure their son’s release.

Then again, when the senator is Republican Ted Cruz, I am left to conclude that Cruz just gins up that kind of response from people, given his transparent aims to further his own personal agenda.

Trevor Reed is home now after spending more than two years in a Russian slammer for a crime he insists he didn’t commit. His father, Joey Reed, blasted Cruz to smithereens when Trevor came home, telling the world that Cruz didn’t do anything to secure his son’s freedom. Joey Reed thanked President Biden, Republican Sen. John Cornyn, GOP Reps. August Pfluger and Mike McCaul.

Ted Cruz got a raspberry.

This comes despite some tepid statements from Cruz indicating that he did lend a hand.

Not so fast, Joey Reed said, while saying that he would work to defeat Cruz in the senator’s future political campaigns, be they for the Senate or — gasp and gulp — for the presidency.

That’s fine with me. I detest Cruz, too.

johnkanelis_92@hotmail.com

Stand tall, Marine!

Forgive me for picking a nit or two regarding the media’s coverage of the release of a Texan from a Russian prison.

Trevor Reed is now home with his family. I wish him all the very best. I thank President Biden and his team for negotiating Reed’s release. But … I have a question that just keeps nibbling at me.

Why are the media continuing to refer to Reed as a “former Marine”?  It seems that every news article I read about Reed has a lede that goes, “Former Marine Trevor Reed is home today.” Or, “Former Marine Trevor Reed was declared fit to see his family.” Or, “Former Marine Trevor Reed hugged his parents.”

What does his status as an ex-Marine have to do with … well, anything?

I am grateful for his service to the nation. But I need someone to explain what his Marine Corps veteran status has to do with his being arrested and imprisoned by the Russians.

johnkanelis_92@hotmail.com