Comments on: Documents obtained by FAS shed some light on Viktor Bout case, but key questions remain

By: Samuel Cole

Samuel Cole — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:23:46 +0000

It’s pretty simple. If your breaking the law you don’t want your co-conspirators to testify against you or give information that would place you or your contacts in a bad light. The united states has supported many governments that would not pass any legal test internationally or otherwise. Bout is what you would call a necessary evil. He sells weapons to countries most nations would not want to be seen in the light of day or dark. The enemy of my enemy is my friend? yeah right the one who has the cash has the guns period and nobody in their right mind is going to believe the United States has justice and the stoppage of illegal arms sales. They are covering their backsides and their friends

By: Ruth

Ruth — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:34:52 +0000

I agree the US wants him for something else. By having him in a US jail, they’ll be able to shut him up so he could never reveal the person who was really running the “Bout” companies.

By: John Miller

John Miller — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 01:48:36 +0000

This guy has the sticky fingers of Soviet intelligence all over him. My professional opinion would be that he was either a GRU officer or Spetsnaz or possibly both. In the finest traditions of the Soviet era, the Russian government is not going to allow Mr Bout to be interrogated by Americans. If by some miracle that occurs, I would like a ringside seat, with the Pepsi-Cola franchise.

For many years during and after the Cold War, the Russians have talked about rogue elements within their intelligence services. This is horse puckey as the KGB/FSB keeps a tight rein on counterintelligence matters. He is well and truly burned now and it will be interesting to see whether he lives to tell the tale.

By: Noko4

Noko4 — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:54:27 +0000

Is it ILLEGAL to sell arms???? If no, then why is he arrested??? Wasn’t he also working for the US gov’t in Iraq??? Why was it OKAY then when he worked and ran deals for the Pentagon??? This smells!!!

Honestly, I believe the US wants him for something else…….

By: God

God — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:50:10 +0000

You guys fail. Honestly fail. There is only one piece of “evidence” that actually has anything against Mr Bout and it looks like algebra. So prove it. I’m an American and I support Mr Bout.

By: Roger Ing

Roger Ing — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 09:26:00 +0000

In relply to the first comment – not so. Ive reviewed many documents from associates of Bout – from Leonid Minin, to Sanjivan Ruprah – they always do the same thing – handwritten notes of what they are procuring, moving, selling, transporting, supplying…..list of weapons, planes, equipment, which countries – you name it. They are what we would assume as being very indiscreet and or careless – well yes maybe in the cold light of day once they have been caught its easy to say that….i remember one document taken from Minin which was basically an invoice simply said ‘bombing mission’ it listed the hours the helicopter had flown, what weaons were used and the names of the villages in Liberia…hardly secret codes! Also try remembering secret codes! it can be hard and after years and years of bothering to do so and not getting caught – guess what – you get lazy and you dont get caught…..but then one day…you do..oh dear and suddenly it doesnt look so clever to be writing AN-18 and AK-47 x 10,000…..tell you what…this evidence is great….i cant wait to see/hear the audio and film that they must have taken of this bust……then we will really see what sort of ‘cooking’ and ‘tango’ lessons Victor had come for….

By: Matt Schroeder

Matt Schroeder — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 02:22:15 +0000

Thanks for the comment. These are documents that I received directly from the South District court of New York. I checked http://www.victorbout.com before posting the documents and did not see several of the exhibits.

By: Young

Young — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 02:18:39 +0000

Just thinking, why this article is limited to documents filed by the US government? All of the documents listed here, plus everything else filed in connection with this case is listed at http://www.victorbout.com

By: Young

Young — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 02:15:29 +0000

What the public know concerning Viktor Bout is propaganda, nothing real.

By: S

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 19:30:31 +0000

How odd. Based on what’s known about Viktor Bout, it’s hard to believe he would be so careless as to write such a detailed list. I would have expected something more benign – like an ordinary grocery list of which only he would know what was meant.