Merchant of Death To Face Justice In US

Viktor Bout, the Russian arms dealer who was captured in Thailand in 2008, will face a federal judge in New York today on weapons charges.

Bout, who says he's a legitimate businessman, faces U.S. charges accusing him of having a gunrunning empire — a prosecution that American officials describe as a milestone in international efforts to cripple the flow of illicit weapons that fuel conflicts around the world.

The U.S. Department of Justice said an indictment charges Bout with four terrorism offenses: conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals, conspiracy to kill U.S. officers or employees, conspiracy to acquire and use an anti-aircraft missile and conspiracy to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization.

'Unprecedented political pressure'
The Russian Foreign Ministry reacted with strong words after Bout was hustled from a Thai prison to a waiting jet early Tuesday. Russia branded the extradition "unlawful," prompted by "unprecedented political pressure from the USA."
Story: Russia blasts accused arms trafficker's extradition

Thai police commandos, clad in combat gear and masked by balaclavas, accompanied Bout to the tarmac at Bangkok's Don Muang airport. There, several Westerners wearing U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration jackets shepherded him onto the chartered jet.

The Russian government is angry at the US pursuing the extradition and potential trial of Bout. No doubt, a trial would have the potential to expose much about the shady world of arms dealers and connections with the Russian government. So, this news might also affect US-Russian relations, including on arms control deals and fighting terrorism across South Asia.

Merchant of Death Nabbed In Thailand

Viktor Bout, a major arms dealer, was arrested in Thailand by the authorities there. The guy has ties to some of the worst scum on the planet, including Liberia's Charles Taylor (currently on trial for war crimes/crimes against humanity), the Taliban, and all other kinds of baddies.

According to U.S. officials, Bout -- a former Soviet air force officer who speaks multiple languages -- has what is reputed to be the largest private fleet of Soviet-era cargo aircraft in the world.

Bout acquired the planes shortly after the breakup of the Soviet Union, the U.S. Department of Treasury said in 2005.

At that time, the U.S. Treasury announced it was freezing the assets of Bout and his associates who are all tied to former Liberian President Charles Taylor. Taylor is currently on trial at the United Nations War Crimes Tribunal at The Hague.

Intelligence officials said he shipped large quantities of small arms to civil wars across Africa and Asia, often taking diamonds in payment from West African fighters.

British intelligence officials found evidence in Afghanistan that Bout had shipped arms to the Taliban and al Qaeda, as well as circumstantial evidence that he shipped weapons technology into Iraq.

And the U.S. government said it received information that Bout profited $50 million from supplying the Taliban with military equipment when they ruled Afghanistan.

Bout -- who is said to be the inspiration for Nicholas Cage's character in the movie, "Lord of War" -- told CNN in an interview in 2002 that he never sold arms to the Taliban or the al Qaeda terrorist network. He also denied providing weapons and missile guidance technology to Iraq.

Why would he admit to providing weapons to the Taliban or Al Qaeda? Arms dealers aren't exactly going to shout out about their links to global terrorist organizations or those who provided them shelter in the past? That's not exactly the way you stay out of trouble or gain new clients, so I discount his statements to CNN as nothing more than a smokescreen.

UPDATE:
The New York Times notes that Bout had links to FARC as well:

One of the world’s most notorious arms dealers, suspected of supplying weapons to the Taliban and Al Qaeda and of pouring huge arms shipments into Africa’s civil wars with his own private air fleet, was arrested by Thai authorities in a hotel here Thursday. His capture was prompted by a tipoff from the United States in connection with the procurement of weapons for the Colombian FARC rebels.

The DEA tipped off the Thai authorities to his presence and a Thai security official claims that American counter-terrorism officials are questioning him.