Lord of War: Viktor Bout

[Vic Bout]

that maybe I need to re-invent myself...kinda like Madonna or the artist formerly known as Prince. Never knew my nom de guerre would cause me so much self-induced angst.

[Stan]

I think Nicolas Cage did a much better job in his 2005 film as Jüri Orlov.

Vic, is your middle name Vasilevich

[davidbfpo]

Just popped up: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/12/wo..._r=2&ref=world

davidbfpo

[davidbfpo]

After months as Thai lawyers and judges engage with the issues this appears: http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009...-of-death-rel/

The title says it all. Well no, if released will Viktor Bout be even more of a threat to the USA?

davidbfpo

[Stan]

After months as Thai lawyers and judges engage with the issues this appears: http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009...-of-death-rel/

The title says it all. Well no, if released will Viktor Bout be even more of a threat to the USA?

davidbfpo

And all this despite Colombian appeals just last month (with far more harsh tones than the USA ever conceived).

In a 300-page letter from Colombian Foreign Minister Jaime Bermudez, Bout is described as "a very dangerous illegal arms dealer" and suspected of attempting to sell 100 Russian-made 9K38 Igla man-portable infrared homing surface-to-air missiles (NATO code name Grouse missile) to FARC.

"We would like to draw attention to the on-going legal process in which, as we hope, the [Thai] authorities will not be able to release such an illegal arms dealer as Viktor Bout, who is dangerous to the entire world," the letter read.

More at the link...

[davidbfpo]

BBC radio reports this:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11033781 and elsewhere:http://english.aljazeera.net/news/as...458232198.html

When he is aboard a plane to the USA, then I will be pleased.

[davidbfpo]

Thanks to a "lurker" who found this - well - different prison interview of Viktor Bout, which appeared a month ago on an obscure website:http://worldmathaba.net/items/1141-w...th-viktor-bout

The journalist is a George Mapp, who writes this slim bio sketch:

In his fascinating new book, Drug Smugglers, Gun Runners, Russian Intelligence Officers and Terrorists’ Wives, George Mapp describes how he went from an international equity trader on Wall Street, to massage therapist to international globe trotter to an accused terrorist.

His unique book will discuss international travel to exotic destinations, a spiritual journey, love affairs, diverse cultures, religious clashes, drugs, terrorism, intelligence agencies, spies, lies and spy games as well as his eye witness account of 9/11.

[davidbfpo]

A really strange story about Viktor Bout and a forthcoming film, which emphasise his non-gunrunning life:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/f...ms-dealer.html