Mr.Bout is is little fish compared to Adan Khassogi and Marc Rich!!!

This Viktor Bout is a "Merchant of Death"? Why because he refused to pay a "Big Bribe" to the DEA or ATF or the White House!
There are a couple of other bigger,sleazier illegal "Arms Dealers" who have a very cozy and intimate relationship with the U.S.Govt.Theres billionaire arms dealer Adan Khassogi who's still in business because he got a Presidential Pardon from Bush Senior and then theres billionaire arms dealer Marc Rich,who's also still in business because he got a Presidential Pardon from Bill Clinton! How much Khassogi and Rich "Paid" for their Presidential Pardons hasn't been disclosed but I'm sure Viktor Bout knows what the current asking price is!

Didn't President Eisenhower warn us about the consequences of the "Industrial Military Complex"?

I had to chuckle between spews about this "arms dealer"...haven't read all remarks above but...

I'll repeat what I'm sure others have pointed out...not only is the US the biggest seller of arms in the world, but they have used this "arms king" directly through KNBR and Hallibuton for ferrying American arms to Iraq...

As was pointed out in another blog I saw...it will be interesting to see what comes out of this trial, since Victor undoubtedly has a lot of dirt on this administration...

I have a feeling they'll try to claim an open trial will compromise national security and will keep it closed.

See what happens when you don't have Corporate backing.
There's just some areas where "small business" isn't wanted.

And this is different from the actions of the highest levels of the United States government in what way?

Now that we have exported nearly all our manufacturing capacity overseas we are left with the only product America is good at. Arms and munitions. DEATH.

If you want an exploration itno the world of arms smuggling I can recommend a number of books by John LeCarre. In particular NIGHT MANAGER and SECRET PILGRIM.

In fact with LeCarre you will find discussions of many if not all the crimes committed by the Bushistas over the past 7 years. Phony intelligence leading to war? TAILOR OF PANAMA. Why they shouldn't have trusted Chalabi and other Iraqi expatriots? SMILEYS PEOPLE and SECRET PILGRIM.

LeCarre's fiction foretold much of the criminal BS we have gone through in the past decade or so. Plus he is one of the best wordsmiths living today. His writing ability is a joy to behold.

At least they got him...

Did someone change the DEA's charter?

We fixin to reap the rewards of all their kind deeds in S.A.
(read Chavez)

NAEA blocks chess move in Iran, player diverts to South America.

Hillary in the WH would be aproof positive that the Peter Principle is real and does happen.

21st century criminal economics. isn't it beautiful!? got competition? just get rid of him in a civilized way with police and courts instead of the old fashion, brutal way with bullets and killing. i bet the russians were right on his tail.

FARC rebels terrorists? one mans terrorist really is another mans freedom fighter.

The only thing he did wrong was to under sell the American traitors or I mean arms dealers.
you cannot cut into the bush/chenny profit machine without having trouble!

I just can't think of anything much lower than someone selling arms to terrorists.

War pays--big!--to profiteers. That's how Republicans and pals make money--
stealing middle-income Americans' tax dollars from USTreasury. There for the
taking. And take it, they will. Stop funding their profiteering!

Aw, come on, give the guy a break for cryin' out loud!

(Just kidding.)

Oh, I thought they meant dick and george.