Comments on: Viktor Bout Trial Demonstrates Breadth of Atrocity Supply Chains http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/2011/11/01/viktor-bout-trial-demonstrates-breadth-of-atrocity-supply-chains/ Human Rights First builds respect for human rights and the rule of law to help ensure the dignity to which everyone is entitled and to stem intolerance, tyranny, and violence. Tue, 21 May 2013 11:05:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: TR http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/2011/11/01/viktor-bout-trial-demonstrates-breadth-of-atrocity-supply-chains/#comment-47449 TR Sat, 05 Nov 2011 02:17:46 +0000 http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/?p=15454#comment-47449 To be perfectly clear, Mr. Bout's defense was not that he was merely transporting weapons. His defense was that he was only playing along with DEA operatives to sell some planes, and never transport or deliver any weapons for them. That the pilot only testified to seeing weapons loaded and transported with Bout's knowledge only demonstrates again that he was able to operate with impunity as an enabler. and yes, Lord of War was loosely based on Bout's life. He and his wife have dismissed it and laughed it off, but there's possibly some underlying truths in there as well. To be perfectly clear, Mr. Bout’s defense was not that he was merely transporting weapons. His defense was that he was only playing along with DEA operatives to sell some planes, and never transport or deliver any weapons for them. That the pilot only testified to seeing weapons loaded and transported with Bout’s knowledge only demonstrates again that he was able to operate with impunity as an enabler.

and yes, Lord of War was loosely based on Bout’s life. He and his wife have dismissed it and laughed it off, but there’s possibly some underlying truths in there as well.

]]> By: Marshall http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/2011/11/01/viktor-bout-trial-demonstrates-breadth-of-atrocity-supply-chains/#comment-46126 Marshall Wed, 02 Nov 2011 06:23:20 +0000 http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/?p=15454#comment-46126 I saw Lord of War a few years ago. Apparently some of it is based on Bout. Cutting off the supply of weapons in conflict areas is so important. I hope this trial ends well. I saw Lord of War a few years ago. Apparently some of it is based on Bout. Cutting off the supply of weapons in conflict areas is so important. I hope this trial ends well.

]]> By: Jan http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/2011/11/01/viktor-bout-trial-demonstrates-breadth-of-atrocity-supply-chains/#comment-46097 Jan Wed, 02 Nov 2011 05:13:35 +0000 http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/?p=15454#comment-46097 "... he [Roberts] witnessed Bout’s company transporting military personnel, government officials, and weaponry including rocket-propelled grenades across the Great Lakes region of Africa in the late 1990s... " The emphasis here is on the word "transporting". Mr. Roberts witnessed Mr. Bout's company transporting the said goods. It appears that that is the very defense of Mr. Bout. He did not sell, he transported. Accordingly, assuming that the citing is correct it appears to support Mr. Bout's defense arguments in that: firstly, it was Mr. Bout's company who did the transportation (= who knows whether or not Mr. Bout on that occasion knew/controlled the transportation), and secondly, as said he just transported. “… he [Roberts] witnessed Bout’s company transporting military personnel, government officials, and weaponry including rocket-propelled grenades across the Great Lakes region of Africa in the late 1990s… ”

The emphasis here is on the word “transporting”. Mr. Roberts witnessed Mr. Bout’s company transporting the said goods. It appears that that is the very defense of Mr. Bout. He did not sell, he transported. Accordingly, assuming that the citing is correct it appears to support Mr. Bout’s defense arguments in that: firstly, it was Mr. Bout’s company who did the transportation (= who knows whether or not Mr. Bout on that occasion knew/controlled the transportation), and secondly, as said he just transported.

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