Wife Says Viktor Bout 'Card In Political Game'

[webfact]

Wife says Viktor Bout 'card in political game'

by Thanaporn Promyamyai

BANGKOK, November 17, 2010 (AFP) - The wife of suspected Russian arms trafficker Viktor Bout has lashed out at Thailand over his sudden extradition, saying her husband is a pawn in a political game between the United States and Russia.

In an interview with AFP, Alla Bout said there were no grounds for the move while legal wrangling was still ongoing in Thailand.

"The decision of the Thai government is totally against legal procedures and the law," she said.

Escorted by dozens of armed police commandos and with snipers deployed along the route, Bout was whisked from a maximum security Bangkok prison to a waiting US government plane on Tuesday before his wife had a chance to say goodbye.

The extradition of the so-called "Merchant of Death" on terrorism charges prompted fresh fury from Russia, adding to speculation he may have knowledge of potentially damaging information -- something his wife denied.

"Viktor doesn't have any secrets that can be useful to the United States. I think the US will play him as a card in their political game with the Russian government," she said.

Alla Bout said she had only heard about her husband's extradition from Thai media, and neither the Russian embassy nor Bout's lawyer was informed.

"I know that Viktor's passport is still at the Russian embassy," she said.

"It appears that the United States government was informed in advance because it managed to send an airplane and officials to escort him to the United States," she said.

"So it has to be a decision which was taken under threat -- either a political threat or for money," she said.

"The fact that they didn't even allow me to say goodbye to my husband speaks for itself -- the extradition was definitely done in secret."

The 43-year-old former Soviet air force pilot has been fighting extradition on terrorism charges since his March 2008 arrest after a sting operation in Bangkok involving undercover US agents posing as Colombian FARC rebels.

The inspiration for the Hollywood film "Lord of War", Bout has been accused of using a fleet of cargo planes to deliver arms in Africa, South America and the Middle East.

Bout has repeatedly denied suggestions that he was a former KGB agent and maintains that he ran a legitimate air cargo business.

His lawyers tried to stall the extradition with a series of legal challenges and his wife questioned whether he would be given a fair trial.

"I think the government of the United States will do its utmost to prove Viktor's guilt. They will try hard to do that despite the fact that for 10 years, no one managed to do so," she said.

"They will justify it by forging evidence and we know in the United States he will probably face a jury ... It is very hard to believe the jury will be capable of making the fair decision in this case."

Bout, who speaks six languages and has used at least seven separate identities, faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted in the United States on charges including conspiracy to kill US nationals and providing material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organisation.

Alla Bout moved to Thailand after her husband's arrest and rented a small apartment near the prison where he was held, visiting him every day with his lunch. On Tuesday she arrived just minutes after he was taken away.

She now plans to return to Russia to prepare for her next move.

"I have to go back to my motherland, to get some strength and find lawyers to continue to fight for my husband," she said.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2010-11-17

[ianbaggie]

Think how many people this animals weapons for profit antics have killed - no sympathy from me sorry, dont care what happens to him - if the Russians cant win the dirty tricks game they cry - "not fair" well this time a poison tipped umbrella WONT set the record straight Putin!!

[animatic]

Well looks like Alla is trying to make herself look extra pro Russian

just in case someone decides SHE should be a pawn in damage control

of her hubbies mouth in USA detention.

One must wonder how long she will be visible in Thailand, or anywhere.

Her value as a bargaining piece may go up,

or her risk as possibly knowing things may go up.

If Victor is as valuable as Russia's actions make him appear,

then they will continue playing hard ball in any way they can.

Edited November 17, 2010 by animatic

[Jingthing]

She's wasting her money on Russian lawyer's now. Thailand's role is done. This is now between the US and Russia. She's going to sue the US government? Good luck.

[Buchholz]

Bout was whisked from a maximum security Bangkok prison to a waiting US government plane on Tuesday before his wife had a chance to say goodbye.

"The fact that they didn't even allow me to say goodbye to my husband speaks for itself."

They already said their good-byes in August when Thailand first ruled to extradite Viktor.

Their smooch "adios" was an opportunity many of his victims never got to make, even once.

That speaks for itself, Alla.

[TallForeigner]

Incredible what limited sense for the law some people here might have. A civilized person has to assume that someone is innocent until otherwise proven in a court of law. Now you judge a Russian businessman because of a shady illegal sting operation of some agents sent by the USA and by the image the mighty superficial American entertainment industry is painting??

Consider this side of the story published in rt.com to get a more even view of things:

Viktor Bout, thanks to America's all powerful entertainment industry, has acquired a reputation as one of the world's most prolific arms dealers. Indeed, his life and times is said to have been the inspiration behind the Hollywood film “Lord of War,” which starred Nicolas Cage. In the book “Merchant of Death,” written by Dougles Farah and Stephen Braun, Bout was unjustly accused of sitting “atop an immense and complex empire: a relentless international war machine able to deliver anything from AK-47s and missile launchers to artillery and attack helicopters…”

Now compare those inflated charges with comments made by Brian Johnson-Thomas, former UN arms inspector:

“Viktor ran quite a large airline operation in Africa,” Johnson-Thomas acknowledged. “And I would think that 95 per cent of his flights consisted of normal commercial goods. So we’re talking about maybe five per cent of the cargoes possibly being arms. But flying arms is not in itself illegal.”

This brings up the daunting question as to how Viktor Bout can be expected to receive a fair trial in a country that was already crafting films over his perceived persona long before he had received a fair trial.

Indeed, there is not a place in the United States where the name Viktor Bout has not been dragged through the mud.

“You have to be a Houdini, a magician multiplied by factor of ten million to actually have a fair trial, a fair shake,” Daniel Estulin, the investigative journalist who is working on a book about the “conspiracy” against Viktor Bout, told RT in an interview. “It's not about the truth; it's about getting a guy, a patsy, to go to prison, so America could feel safe and feel good about themselves, about being the beacon of truth and hope. And that's what it is all about.”

Most disturbingly, however, is the way the United States has treated alleged “terrorists” or those thought to be aiding and abetting them in the past.

Indeed, the prospect of being forced to appear before a secret US military tribunal could be the next chapter in the life of alleged arms dealer Viktor Bout.

And if that worst-case scenario comes to pass, the truth will remain just another topic for Hollywood audiences to ponder while eating their popcorn.

[whybother]

Incredible what limited sense for the law some people here might have. A civilized person has to assume that someone is innocent until otherwise proven in a court of law. Now you judge a Russian businessman because of a shady illegal sting operation of some agents sent by the USA and by the image the mighty superficial American entertainment industry is painting??

<snip>

Bout hasn't been found guilty of anything yet. He's just been extradited to the US so it can be proven in a court of law ... or not.

The Thai courts decided over a month ago that he should be extradited. But that hit a technical hurdle because of other charges against him. Those charges were dropped, but, of all things, Bout appealed that decision. Is he saying that he IS guilty of the second lot of charges? Does that mean he should be extradited to the US on those charges instead?

[craigt3365]

Incredible what limited sense for the law some people here might have. A civilized person has to assume that someone is innocent until otherwise proven in a court of law. Now you judge a Russian businessman because of a shady illegal sting operation of some agents sent by the USA and by the image the mighty superficial American entertainment industry is painting??

Consider this side of the story published in rt.com to get a more even view of things:

Viktor Bout, thanks to America's all powerful entertainment industry, has acquired a reputation as one of the world's most prolific arms dealers. Indeed, his life and times is said to have been the inspiration behind the Hollywood film “Lord of War,” which starred Nicolas Cage. In the book “Merchant of Death,” written by Dougles Farah and Stephen Braun, Bout was unjustly accused of sitting “atop an immense and complex empire: a relentless international war machine able to deliver anything from AK-47s and missile launchers to artillery and attack helicopters…”

Now compare those inflated charges with comments made by Brian Johnson-Thomas, former UN arms inspector:

“Viktor ran quite a large airline operation in Africa,” Johnson-Thomas acknowledged. “And I would think that 95 per cent of his flights consisted of normal commercial goods. So we’re talking about maybe five per cent of the cargoes possibly being arms. But flying arms is not in itself illegal.”

This brings up the daunting question as to how Viktor Bout can be expected to receive a fair trial in a country that was already crafting films over his perceived persona long before he had received a fair trial.

Indeed, there is not a place in the United States where the name Viktor Bout has not been dragged through the mud.

“You have to be a Houdini, a magician multiplied by factor of ten million to actually have a fair trial, a fair shake,” Daniel Estulin, the investigative journalist who is working on a book about the “conspiracy” against Viktor Bout, told RT in an interview. “It's not about the truth; it's about getting a guy, a patsy, to go to prison, so America could feel safe and feel good about themselves, about being the beacon of truth and hope. And that's what it is all about.”

Most disturbingly, however, is the way the United States has treated alleged “terrorists” or those thought to be aiding and abetting them in the past.

Indeed, the prospect of being forced to appear before a secret US military tribunal could be the next chapter in the life of alleged arms dealer Viktor Bout.

And if that worst-case scenario comes to pass, the truth will remain just another topic for Hollywood audiences to ponder while eating their popcorn.

You make no sense at all. Maybe you better read up on the legal system. He is innocent. But because he is a flight risk...passports from multiple countries, etc...he will be held in detention until his day in court. If he is innocent, he will go free. No different than the red shirt leaders here who are in jail.

And they actually did a pretty good job at the sting. Gotta give them credit. Shady is the last thing I would call it. Covert? For sure.

Entertainment industry? What's that got to do with all this? :lol: It was a MOVIE! Not a biography.

As far as the quoted story, it's from a Russian media source!! The same country where journalists are routinely killed and beat up for reporting negatively against the government. I give RT.com as much credibility as I would one from Venezuela or Cuba. None...

[NCFC]

Where can one find a wife as devoted and loyal as this?

Alla be praised!

[animatic]

Where can one find a wife as devoted and loyal as this?

Alla be praised!

Best that money can buy, one might possibly suppose, if one were quite cynical.

[luvU2much500THB]

A shame he seems to be a nice guy. Good Luck, Victor!

http://www.victorbout.com

[Insight]

Incredible what limited sense for the law some people here might have. A civilized person has to assume that someone is innocent until otherwise proven in a court of law. Now you judge a Russian businessman because of a shady illegal sting operation of some agents sent by the USA and by the image the mighty superficial American entertainment industry is painting??

<snip>

Bout hasn't been found guilty of anything yet. He's just been extradited to the US so it can be proven in a court of law ... or not.

The Thai courts decided over a month ago that he should be extradited. But that hit a technical hurdle because of other charges against him. Those charges were dropped, but, of all things, Bout appealed that decision. Is he saying that he IS guilty of the second lot of charges? Does that mean he should be extradited to the US on those charges instead?

Busy times for Mr Amsterdam lately.

[luvU2much500THB]

Where can one find a wife as devoted and loyal as this?

In Pattaya of course

http://www.victorbout.com/

"He's the man, the big shot. That's why I care about him. Even when he is really guilty, I still want him to be free."

[Robby nz]

He must have been stepping on some big toes in the arms supply buisness and costing someone a lot of money for the whole thing to come about.

His hollywood manufactured reputation will be in the minds of any jury they can put together in the US.

Therefore a fair triel would seem very unlikely indeed.

[asiawatcher]

"The decision of the Thai government is totally against legal procedures and the law," she said

Depends which side you're on!!!

[craigt3365]

He must have been stepping on some big toes in the arms supply buisness and costing someone a lot of money for the whole thing to come about.

His hollywood manufactured reputation will be in the minds of any jury they can put together in the US.

Therefore a fair triel would seem very unlikely indeed.

He tried to arm a group (FARC) that is on a list of terrorist organizations. I.E. You can't sell arms to them. But that is just one thing they were going after him on. Money laundering, initiated by Belgium, is out there as well. He was a bad man.

That movie was not a big hit at all. If they can find jurors who had not seen the OJ Simpson chase scene on TV, then they can easily find someone who has never heard of Bout. Heck, probably not hard to find an American who couldn't even point out Russia on a map!

He'll get as fair a trial as he would get anywhere in the world. I know he would prefer Russia as he would be guaranteed to be let go to continue his weapons deals.

[animatic]

He must have been stepping on some big toes in the arms supply buisness and costing someone a lot of money for the whole thing to come about.

His hollywood manufactured reputation will be in the minds of any jury they can put together in the US.

Therefore a fair triel would seem very unlikely indeed.

This assumes, incorrectly, that all Americans that could sit a jury,

have even seen ONE Nick Cage movie.let alone this one specifically.

I haven't seen it and really don't care if I do.

One reason to challenge a juror would be having seen this movie.

I have sat on a jury, and know a jury can be fair and even handed.

We did convict, and quite rightly so, and would have done it faster

if things excluded had been included. Such as the fact the accused,

had even more evidence against him than we were shown,

but not including that he had just left prison 6 months earlier

for killing his own brother.

[Robby nz]

Perhaps someone could post any news stories on this that come out of the US.

If they are anything like those in the Thai media they will contain a referance to the movie.

Consequence: Now thats something we must see, can we get it on DVD?

[craigt3365]

Perhaps someone could post any news stories on this that come out of the US.

If they are anything like those in the Thai media they will contain a referance to the movie.

Consequence: Now thats something we must see, can we get it on DVD?

Again, if they can find an "impartial" trial for OJ, this one will be easy. Bout is on the web sites of many US based media outlets.....

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/17/world/asia/17thai.html?_r=1&hp

[cyberia]

no amount of money will save him from the US (well, home of the brave (questionable)) "justice"

now I wonder why the US Gov is so eager to get him onto the US soil

Russian Gov or the US Gov connections?

Edited November 17, 2010 by cyberia

[LaoPo]

Think how many people this animals weapons for profit antics have killed -

right....

http://en.wikipedia....defense_budgets

I'm happy the weapons by legal producers and exporters don't kill

The hypocracy is literally dripping from this topic.

LaoPo

[elcent]

it's going to be a case observed internationally and by the UN. No need for whining. It's going to be based on facts and not fictions.

If the US tries to get tricky it would lose more than it could chew.

It will be a very interesting case.

[hammered]

Think how many people this animals weapons for profit antics have killed -

right....

http://en.wikipedia....defense_budgets

I'm happy the weapons by legal producers and exporters don't kill

The hypocracy is literally dripping from this topic.

LaoPo

Indeed.

[craigt3365]

Think how many people this animals weapons for profit antics have killed -

right....

http://en.wikipedia....defense_budgets

I'm happy the weapons by legal producers and exporters don't kill

The hypocracy is literally dripping from this topic.

LaoPo

That's the point. Legal suppliers vs. illegal. Would you want everybody to be able to distribute these kinds of weapons? It's bad enough the major powers do it...can you imagine if every Viktor Bout could do it? Absolute Mayhem.

[cyberia]

it's going to be a case observed internationally and by the UN. No need for whining. It's going to be based on facts and not fictions.

If the US tries to get tricky it would lose more than it could chew.

It will be a very interesting case.

that would be an example but i doubt it

too much politics involved; 

I also doubt that VB has nothing  to do with CIA  just as well as with ..... KGB ?

There are many more high profile crooks from Russia and  the former Eastern block, wheeling and dealing all over the world arms, people, whatever

Why is it not of any concern of the US?  

I know the answer,   here it is  -  "Well, we are trying blah blah blah "  

Oh good, why don't u guys try to do it  right this time?

blah blah blah 

[Jingthing]

I think Bout most certainly CAN get a fair jury trial in the USA. However, I also think that question is academic as there will most likely be some kind of plea bargain and/or prisoner trade deal that would mean no trial at all.

[animatic]

I think Bout most certainly CAN get a fair jury trial in the USA. However, I also think that question is academic as there will most likely be some kind of plea bargain and/or prisoner trade deal that would mean no trial at all.

Not till after the trial and a thorough interrogation.

They have gone to too much trouble for this fish to throw him back just yet.

[geriatrickid]

I wonder where Mrs. Bout will set up her "We support Vicktor" campaign? Will it be from the luxury villa in Spain, or the lavish compound in the UAE? Maybe she should visit Liberia, or Angola, or the Congo or Sierra Leone and ask some of the limbless people or grieving families if they can testify as character witnesses? This woman has profited from the suffering and hardship of the weakest, the poorest and the saddest people on earth. Maybe she can go on the talk show circuit and give a tell all about how she lived the life of a cold hard tart. Sort of like Growing Up Gotti.

[animatic]

Gotti was nice in comparison, at least he regularly gave back to the local community. Not to say he was a nice guy, but he had a somewhat paternal take on his neighborhood. Have we yet to hear of anything besides profit taking, with the worst of worst as customers, from this Bout piece of work? I'm still waiting to hear what he and Alla did for anyone other than themselves, and a few lawyers.

Edited November 17, 2010 by animatic

[LaoPo]

Think how many people this animals weapons for profit antics have killed -

right....

http://en.wikipedia....defense_budgets

I'm happy the weapons by legal producers and exporters don't kill

The hypocracy is literally dripping from this topic.

LaoPo

That's the point. Legal suppliers vs. illegal. Would you want everybody to be able to distribute these kinds of weapons? It's bad enough the major powers do it...can you imagine if every Viktor Bout could do it? Absolute Mayhem.

You can't compare both: legal versus illegal producers and exporters since the latter will be absolutely in the minority although every gun is one too many.

I am opposed to ALL guns and weapons wherever in the world and whoever is producing them.

The US is by far the largest producer and also (as far as I know) the only country in the world where the number of private citizens carrying so many guns is so huge.

I understand it's anchored in the Laws of the USA by means of the Second Amendment to have the ability to carry/posses weapons but it also creates the most deadly killings in the western civilized world.

Of course men like Bout should not exist and all the attention is now to his person and past but that doesn't mean I'm not opposed to the powers, used, to get him were an abuse of powers by the USA.

Not another single country in the world could have accomplished this action.

I'm very curious how Russia will respond and the first signals on television in Europe are not very promising for a better relationship between the US and Russia as well as between Russia and Thailand.

I also blame Thailand for it's dumb reaction to have foreign secret agents operate on their soil, enabling the arrest of Bout, but on the other hand I don't think the US could have find another, even more stupid, country to cooperate with them trying to lure Bout.

The USA certainly showed their balls in Thailand but Idoubt very much if any European country would have massaged the US balls

LaoPo