Thailand extradites alleged arms dealer Bout to US

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Thailand extradites alleged arms dealer Bout to US
By THANYARAT DOKSONE
The Associated Press
Tuesday, November 16, 2010; 3:11 AM

BANGKOK -- The Thai government extradited accused Russian arms trafficker Viktor Bout to the United States onTuesday to face terrorism charges, rejecting heavy pressure from Moscow for him to be freed.

The Cabinet approved Bout's extradition Tuesday after a long legal battle, and Police Col. Supisarn Bhakdinarinath said the 43-year-old Russian was put aboard a plane in Bangkok at about 1:30 p.m. (0630 GMT; 1:30 a.m. EST) in the custody of eight U.S. officials.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told reporters after the Cabinet meeting that the government sided with an earlier appeals court decision that Bout could be extradited.

Bout, a former Soviet air force officer who is reputed to have been one of the world's most prolific arms dealers, was arrested at a Bangkok luxury hotel in March 2008 as part of a sting operation led by U.S. agents. The head of a lucrative air transport empire, Bout had long evaded U.N. and U.S. sanctions aimed at blocking his financial activities and restricting his travel. He claims he ran a legitimate business and never sold weapons, and fought hard to avoid extradition.



Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/16/AR2010111600688.html

[pinboy3niner]

1. Thailand extradites alleged arms dealer Viktor Bout

Source: Los Angeles Times

Thailand extradites alleged arms dealer Viktor Bout
The Russian dubbed the 'merchant of death' faces terrorism charges in the United States. He is suspected of supplying weapons in South America, the Middle East and Africa.


Alleged Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout while waiting for his trial at criminal court cell in Bangkok. (Rungroj Yongrit / EPA / August 20, 2010)


By John M. Glionna, Los Angeles Times
November 16, 2010|12:25 a.m.

Reporting from Seoul —

— An alleged Russian arms trafficker who was dubbed the "merchant of death" and inspired the Nicholas Cage thriller "Lord of War" was extradited to the United States on Tuesday to face terrorism charges, Thailand's government announced.

Viktor Bout, a former Soviet air force officer who allegedly became one of the world's most prolific arms dealers, was put on an American-bound plane about 1:30 pm. Bangkok time, officials said.
<snip>

The case has caused diplomatic tensions between Washington and Moscow, which insists that Bout is an innocent businessman facing a politically motivated extradition and that he has no chance of a fair trial in the U.S.

But U.S. prosecutors tell a different story. Since the 1990s, they allege, Bout supplied weapons that have been used in civil wars in South America, the Middle East and Africa. His clients reportedly included Liberia's Charles Taylor and Libyan leader Moammar Kadafi and rebels in Angola's civil war.



Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-viktor-bout-extradite-20101116,0,1874150.story

[clixtox]

2. American capitalist machinations eliminating competition!

No one, or any other country, has pumped more arms, weapon systems and ammunition to combatants than our own homegrown arms merchants. No one!

In fact selling arms to the world is about the only "value-added" export, besides commercial aircraft, processed food and pharmaceuticals, we can still manufacture and export.

[molly77]

3. Right..wonder what the strategy will be to get Victor Bout

off and a get out of jail free card.Problems with the prosecution has been used a lot. Or will he just walk around for years on an appeal like Tom DeLay? Don Seigleman was sent to jail without courtesy of appeals. Two justice systems in the US. One for prominent republicans and another one for democrats.

[naaman fletcher]

5. the article doesn't mention that..

another of his biggest clients was the United States. He flew hundreds of charter flights for the US military into Afghanistan and Iraq.

[DCKit]

4. This is going to be interesting to watch.

The Russians are freaking out over this arrest and other issues raised in the previous ^ posts are going to factor greatly.

:popcorn: anyone?

[Captain Lee]

6. Yeah, I flew on some of his aircraft

Iraqi Election materials were transported by his air fleet under contract with the UN in 2005. I flew several times between Dubai and Iraq on his aircraft. Flying Russian aircraft is 'interesting' in every sense of the word.

[struggle4progress]

7. Russian arms suspect arrives in NY from Thailand

NEW YORK | Tue Nov 16, 2010 11:24pm EST

(Reuters) - Suspected Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout arrived in New York from Thailand on Tuesday to face U.S. terrorism charges, a U.S. government official said.

The 43-year-old former Soviet air force officer, dubbed the "Merchant of Death," faces U.S. accusations of trafficking arms since the 1990s to dictators and conflict zones in Africa, South America and the Middle East ...

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6AF0Y720101117

[struggle4progress]

8. Accused arms dealer to make court appearance after extradition

By the CNN Wire Staff
November 17, 2010 -- Updated 0639 GMT (1439 HKT)

New York (CNN) -- An accused international arms dealer known as "The Merchant of Death" is expected to make a court appearance Wednesday afternoon in New York after his extradition from Thailand.
Viktor Bout arrived in New York late Tuesday, after being extradited from Thailand to stand trial on terrorism charges in the United States ...

"Viktor Bout has been indicted in the United States, but his alleged arms trafficking activity and support of armed conflicts in Africa has been a cause of concern around the world," Attorney General Eric Holder said.

"His extradition is a victory for the rule of law worldwide. Long considered one of the world's most prolific arms traffickers, Mr. Bout will now appear in federal court in Manhattan to answer to charges of conspiring to sell millions of dollars worth of weapons to a terrorist organization for use in trying to kill Americans."

Details about Bout's prosecution also are to be announced Wednesday, said U.S. law enforcement officials who have spent years pursuing him ...

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/11/17/new.york.bout.case/

[Judi Lynn]

9. 'Merchant Of Death' Arrives In US For Trial

'Merchant Of Death' Arrives In US For Trial
Viktor Bout Extradition Tests US Relations With Russia
LARRY NEUMEISTER, Associated Press

POSTED: Tuesday, November 16, 2010
UPDATED: 4:17 am CST November 17, 2010

NEW YORK -- A Russian labeled the "Merchant of Death" by those who claim he fueled some of the world's deadly Third World conflicts over the last decade with powerful weapons has arrived in the United States. He faces charges he supported terrorists trying to overthrow the government of Colombia and shared their hatred for Americans.

Viktor Bout arrived late Tuesday at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, N.Y., before he was brought to the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan to await an initial court appearance expected Wednesday afternoon. A news conference with federal prosecutors and officials from the Drug Enforcement Administration was to occur in late morning.

Bout, 43, a former Soviet military officer and air cargo executive, was flown from Bangkok, Thailand, to suburban New York on a chartered U.S. plane just four days before an extradition order would have expired, permitting him to be freed and returned home to his native Moscow.

Instead, he was taken in manacles and a bulletproof vest as Russian diplomats made a final outraged push to persuade Thailand to release him, according to current and former U.S. officials.

More:
http://www.click2houston.com/news/25810129/detail.htmlhttp://www.click2houston.com/news/25810129/detail.html

[Douglas Carpenter]

10. Lord of War - a 2005 film staring Nicolas Cage.was based on Viktor Bout.

It is an incredible film - although there was a fair amount of artistic license in making this film written and directed by Andrew Niccol

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/lord_of_war/

,

[saigon68]

11. What US law did he violate?

[TheLastMohican]

12. This is why US is despised all over the world

They think they can take a foreign national in a third-world country and just ship him into custody in US?

What if Russia starts grabbing some of the US mercenaries left and right around the globe?
Will we have room to complain?

And what about "innocent until proven guilty" concept? They have nothing on him, not a single evidence, only hearsay.

I can only imagine how his wife and kids feel, almost released but then driven to an unknown destination using one of those covert CIA flights. Will they see him ever again?