Viktor bout guilty in armstrafficking case the new york. Author doesnt believe nations want viktor bout to tell what he knows. Bergen, author of the osama bin laden i know viktor bout is like o. Apr 08, 2012 viktor bout, merchant of death sentenced to 25 years by sanculottist on 8 apr 2012 although, unknowingly acquainted with him earlier through the character of yuri orlov, played by nicolas cage, in the film lord of war, which was released in 2005. Why the merchant of death wont ever see trial huffpost. Oct 16, 2009 the merchant of death russian entrepreneur viktor bout has made millions as the worlds most efficient postman, able to deliver any kind of cargo especially illicit weapons anywhere in the. Viktor bout, however, is a different sort of businessman, created by a. He was convicted of two counts of conspiracy to kill. By dimitri khalezov, former intelligence officer of the soviet 12th nuclear directorate. Stephen braun is a national correspondent for thelos angeles times. Merchant of death worked black markets grey areas case spills open murky world of arms dealers as worries grow that russianus relations could be heading for increased strain. Viktor bout, however, is a different sort of businessman, created by a different time. A dea agent, an undercover sting and the merchant of death.
May 18, 2009 douglas farah and stephen braun have helped to answer that question in this book. The book was published in 2007 and viktor bout was arrested in 2008 and sentenced in november 2011 i think the book needs to be updated with that window of time present plenty of time has passed to do that. A book entitled merchant of death, by two american journalists, more. The merchant of death starts off well but turns into a recycling of investigating and investigating of viktor bout with no real exciting finish.
And when everybody in unison tells the same story, with slightly different two degree of separation angle, they are going to say well, it has to be the truth, because all of the media are telling me the same story. Categories blog, book of the week tags illicit arms, merchant of death, viktor bout, weapons leave a comment. They described the life of viktor bout, one of the. The secret history of the cia, afghanistan, and bin laden, from the soviet invasion to september 10, 2001. Bout was nicknamed the merchant of death and sanctions buster for his reported widereaching operations, extensive clientele, and willingness to bypass embargoes. New charges against merchant of death viktor bout abc news.
The book was published in 2007 and viktor bout was arrested in 2008 and sentenced in november 2011 i think the book needs to be updated with that window of time present plenty of time has passed to. Thrilling new book tells the story of how the worlds most wanted. Russian arms dealer sentenced to 25 years in prison reuters. Sep 05, 2012 lou milione ran the undercover sting that led to the 2008 arrest of arms merchant viktor bout, the legendary merchant of death. Viktor bout born 1967, russian arms dealer nicknamed the merchant of death. Merchant of death viktor bout jailed for 25 years france 24.
Sentencing of american in moscow raises potential prison. Meet viktor bout, the reallife lord of war mother jones. May 25, 2011 the recent decision by a thai appeals court to extradite the alleged arms dealer viktor bout, touted as the merchant of death in popular books and movies, raised many hopes that this important case would finally see trial before a u. The dea agents who caught alleged arms dealer viktor bout explain how they lured and then captured the suspect one of them calls one of the most dangerous m.
In merchant of death, douglas farah and stephan braun tell the true story of viktor bout, a young russian intelligence officer who, since the end of the cold war, has redefined how wars are fought in much of the developing world. Viktor bout, merchant of death sentenced to 25 years. In 2007, stephen braun and douglas farah published a book about bout. Thailand says it will extradite russias merchant of death alleged russian arms dealer viktor bout sat in a temporary cell ahead of a hearing at the criminal court in bangkok.
He has seven aliases, a handful of passports, and has been described by u. The spying conviction and sentencing monday of exmarine paul whelan in a moscow courtroom has again raised the prospect of a potential prisoner swap between russia and the u. Hes known as the merchant of death and the lord of war, an alleged. Viktor bout, the merchant of death radio free europe. Farah and braun have exposed the inner workings of one of the worlds most secretive businessesthe international arms trade. The authors are writing a book about viktor bout, which will be published illustration by rob day for in 2007. By gaining access to unguarded weapons arsenals and a fleet of several dozen aircraft, bout became a onestop shopping service for all sides in many wars, from. Merchant of death, death merchants, or variations may refer to. They called him the merchant of death the worlds most dangerous man. Viktor bout, merchant of death sentenced to 25 years the. Bout, who was the subject of a book titled merchant of death, asserted his innocence during the sentencing, telling the judge through a russian interpreter, i never intended to kill anyone. Cnn hes known as the merchant of death and the lord of war, an alleged. Viktor bout, who was the alleged inspiration for the amoral, death dealing arms merchant in the 2005 movie, lord of war, starring nicholas cage, has fueled the killing fields of the congo, sierra.
Farah and braun have exposed the inner workings of one of the world. Merchant of death goodreads meet your next favorite book. Aug 25, 2010 he allegedly funneled weapons to conflict zones in south america, the middle east, and africa. Victor bout, the russian merchant of death, is a guy who pushes the free marketplace ethos as far as it can go. Merchant of death viktor bout fights extradition the. In viktor bout, they have given us a new lord of war, a man who knows no side but his own, and who has a knack for turning up in every war zone just in time to turn a profit.
Merchant of death, 2020 novel about basil zaharoff by gervasio posadas mane. Apr 24, 2008 praise for merchant of death a riveting investigation of the world. An extraordinary and timely piece of investigative reporting, merchant of deathis also a vividly compelling read. Russia wants trump to swap merchant of death arms dealer. Large numbers of aircraft were available for very low prices. Nov 17, 2010 bout is expected to face charges of trying to sell weapons to u. Each year he blackmarkets millions of dollars worth of weapons, from pistols to missiles, to any government or group with the scratch to pay for them. The book tells the story of viktor bout, an entrepreneur who built an air transportation empire using superseded russian aircraft following the demise of the ussr. By gaining access to unguarded weapons arsenals and a fleet of several dozen aircraft, bout became a onestop.
Jun 24, 2020 russia wants trump to swap merchant of death arms dealer viktor bout for canadian prisoner paul whelan. Bout sees himself as a soldier and businessman read more as the accused arms dealer pleads not guilty. Viktor bout, the merchant of death august 25, 2010 by richard solash. Nov 05, 2015 o n a warm summer day in 2012, the filmmaker maxim pozdorovkin drove out to an affluent suburb of moscow to visit the home of viktor bout, the worlds most infamous arms dealer. The merchant of death novel 2002 fantasy novel in the pendragon series by d. The true story of viktor bout, a sociopathic russian gunrunner who has supplied weapons for use in some of the most gruesome conflicts of modern timesand who can count amongst his clients both the former taliban regime in afghanistan and the u. In the 1990s, viktor bout, an obscure former russian military officer, became one of the greatest illegal arms dealers in history. Merchant of death viktor bout fights extradition the new. Steve inskeep talks to douglas farah, coauthor of merchant of death, a book. Authors stephen braun and douglas farah talked about their book, merchant of death. Bout is serving a 25 year prison sentence in a mediumsecurity federal prison in marion, ill. Merchants of death is a phrase that first appeared in 1934, when the u. The authors definitely did their research, and through the book you.
Nov 03, 2011 viktor bout, a former soviet air force officer who became known as the merchant of death for running what american officials have described as an international armstrafficking network, was. Douglas farah, coauthor of a 2007 book about bout titled the merchant of death says bout had an. Mar 06, 2008 the 2007 book about bout, merchant of death. Viktor bout, a russian arms dealer caught in an undercover sting by u. Sep 05, 2020 viktor bout the socalled merchant of death and the socalled lord of war, and the true causes of the post911 persecution against him. The book also serves as a timely prologue to bouts arrest and detainment in march 2008, an event that will likely be addressed in subsequent versionspublications of the book. Undercover dea agent on how he brought down his criminals. Sentencing of american in moscow raises potential prison swap. In merchant of death, two of americas finest reporters have performed a major public service, turning over the right rocks that reveal the brutal international arms business at the dawn of the twentyfirst century. Viktor bout guilty in armstrafficking case the new york times. Money, guns, planes, and the man who makes war possible. This is a fantastic, albeit academic, book about viktor bout, the notorious international arms trafficker. In merchant of death, two of americas finest reporters have performed a major public service, turning over the right rocks that reveal the brutal. He allegedly funneled weapons to conflict zones in south america, the middle east, and africa.
With the help of an undercover source, the deas special operation division launches an international manhunt to capture one of the most prolific russian arm. Read download merchant of death pdf pdf book library. Merchant of death case is a pantomime author rt usa news. But was gunrunner viktor bout actually the arms trades fall guy. Buy a discounted paperback of merchant of death online from australias leading online bookstore. Merchant of death reveals that path and exposes the lethal illicit arms trade that threatens global stability and security. Bout, who was the subject of a book titled merchant of death.
The 2007 book chronicled bouts life as an arms dealer and how he evaded capture for years. The team that will prosecute bout viktor bout in my eyes is one of the most dangerous men on. Mar 15, 2009 bout, who has been nicknamed the merchant of death and the embargo buster, became a notorious figure during the 1990s, when he was accused of illegally smuggling arms to numerous african. Viktor bout the merchant of death the new american. Merchant of death, money, guns, planes, and the man who makes. This is an important book about a hidden world of gunrunning and profiteering in some of the worlds poorest countries steve coll, author of ghost wars. Merchant of death denies arming terror russia the guardian. On wednesday, november 2, viktor bout, 45, the former soviet military intelligence officer and international arms dealer on trial for attempting to sell weapons to communist farc terrorists, was. Overview praise for merchant of death a riveting investigation of the worlds most notorious arms dealer a pageturner that digs deep into the amazing, murky story of viktor bout. Senate carried out an investigation of the role of arms manufacturers in bringing about world war i. Russian arms dealer sentenced to 25 years in prison. Apr 01, 2008 praise for merchant of death a riveting investigation of the worlds most notorious arms dealera pageturner that digs deep into the amazing, murky story of viktor bout.
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