An American pilot is being held hostage in a Guinea prison cell right now, and the shocking response from our own diplomatic corps should outrage every patriot who believes Americans abroad deserve protection from their government.
Brad Schlenker was cleared by Guinea's own air traffic control to land his aircraft. When he opened the cockpit door, he was greeted with machine guns. He's been imprisoned ever since in conditions that would shock any civilized person, despite Guinea's Court of Appeal ordering his release on January 23rd.
Here's where it gets absolutely infuriating: The military overrode that court order. The family was told to "pay respect" to military officials. Five thousand dollars per pilot was demanded. The money was sent. The release was promised. Then new paperwork was magically invented, new delays manufactured, and the extortion cycle started all over again.
State Department AWOL While American Suffers
The U.S. embassy in Guinea has no ambassador - just junior officers with no real authority staffing the post. Congressional offices were fed lies, told Brad is "legally detained and healthy," a statement that directly contradicts the court order demanding his immediate release.
Independent aviation experts have confirmed there was no unauthorized overflight, no unlawful landing, and no national defense risk whatsoever. This American committed no crime except having the misfortune of landing in a country run by corrupt military thugs who saw an opportunity for a shakedown.
Congressman John McGuire, a former Navy SEAL, has offered to fly to Guinea personally because the State Department refuses to act. Think about that - a member of Congress is willing to do the job our diplomatic corps won't.
Trump Must Act NOW
President Trump has brought Americans home before when the establishment said it was impossible. This is his administration's first test of whether "America First" applies to Americans rotting in foreign prison cells.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio now has an opportunity to show the world what happens when you mess with American citizens under a Trump administration. The question is: Will they act with the decisiveness Americans expect, or will Brad Schlenker become another casualty of diplomatic weakness?
Every day this American patriot spends in that hellhole is a day too long. It's time to remind Guinea's military exactly who they're dealing with when they target U.S. citizens.