On the Ground in NYC

While vb dot net was on the ground getting the story in Thailand for the 31 months that Viktor Bout was in Thailand, since the case moved to New York last November, we’ve been relying on others for the best, up-to-date un-associated content. Here’s a good example of such a story, written up by George Mapp.

We especially like this article as it gets down to the day-to-day lives of the people involved in this landmark case.

link:  https://skypotrol.net/2011/10/14/more-dea-spies-and-lies-opening-statements-in-the-viktor-bout-trial/

Entrapment!

The DEA’s case against Bout is getting weaker as more comes to light.

In the first day of deliberations in court in New York, what really happened in Bangkok is starting to come out. Indeed the prosecution has insisted that it has “tapes” of Viktor offering to sell weapons. However, what we are seeing now is that DEA agents went to Bangkok to entrap Mr. Bout in its own plot. Remember, the supposed weapons that were allegedly going to be supplied to the FARC were never found, recovered, or otherwise located. Why? Because they never existed. Bout, by all accounts including my own, is a very intelligent man, and knew that the people he was dealing with were up to something. By playing along with their ploy, Bout was going to edge in the sale of his 2 aging cargo planes, a far cry from surface-to-air missiles being used to “kill Americans.”

DEA Expansion

The DEA is allowed to operate in other countries without much restriction. The expansion of the DEA has seen it now have more field offices than the CIA. Bout never dealt in drugs, but he was “arrested” by the Drug Enforcement Agency, a worrying matter that is happening more often in countries around the world.

The Charges

Remember, the charges against Bout are 4 felony counts. Bout never wanted to kill Americans, as it is alleged. Following this logic would allow the DEA or other federal agency to mistreat and imprison anyone it wanted to. By all accounts, Bout was mistreated in Bangkok, threatened, and lied to. What will determine the end verdict is whether or not the jury remembers what the case is all about. One man is being charged with 4 felony counts, and they have to see that the evidence proves that he is guilty. For 3 1/2 years, the evidence has never been enough, so despite any new tapes or anything that come out, I see it unlikely that the evidence will be enough to convict Bout this time.

They Really Want Him

Millions have been spent on “sting operation” resources, travel, and legal costs in the US and in Thailand. Bout has been offered deals multiple times in Thailand and in the US to accept guilt on a single charge, but Bout has kept his composure and his innocence throughout.

The Key Witness

Andrew Smulian, who (if you go read the indictments) is the true person who conspired to try to supply weapons to the FARC, will take the stand soon. Note: he has already pleaded guilty and is cooperating with the Feds. The defense’s ability to show the unreliability of this witness will be key.