Viktor Bout: Man in the dock

[Kurt]

I know two BFCers whom I liked and a third one I hate who got off easy in Cuba because the Cuban Government did not want to deal with anything.

So "Locked Up Abroad" lied to me? Oof. I need to reevaluate my life. :)

God, that show is depressing.

I answered a craigslist ad to take a vacation to Thailand and next thing I know I am in a jail without a bed for 20 years.

Then that show where they show Customs people interrogating idiots who got duped into being Mules coming home. One guy was a 70 something Dominican who could not fucking read, and I just stopped watching.

If they did a show about going after real smugglers who were loaded and had a small army it would be like "Tonight on To Catch a Smuggler we go after El Chivo, the ruthless...Speaking of Ruthless my wife Ruth was just decapitated and a photograph of her head was texted to me....Next on To Catch a Smuggler we go after an elderly and illiterate simpleton who could not read the sign about not taking packages packed by others for other people on the plane. Fuck that guy."

[Alphabet]

I know two BFCers whom I liked and a third one I hate who got off easy in Cuba because the Cuban Government did not want to deal with anything.

So "Locked Up Abroad" lied to me? Oof. I need to reevaluate my life. :)

God, that show is depressing.

I answered a craigslist ad to take a vacation to Thailand and next thing I know I am in a jail without a bed for 20 years.

Then that show where they show Customs people interrogating idiots who got duped into being Mules coming home. One guy was a 70 something Dominican who could not fucking read, and I just stopped watching.

If they did a show about going after real smugglers who were loaded and had a small army it would be like "Tonight on To Catch a Smuggler we go after El Chivo, the ruthless...Speaking of Ruthless my wife Ruth was just decapitated and a photograph of her head was texted to me....Next on To Catch a Smuggler we go after an elderly and illiterate simpleton who could not read the sign about not taking packages packed by others for other people on the plane. Fuck that guy."

I've never seen the ones where old people got banged up. Not doubting you, just haven't viewed them.

In my defense, there's like 5 different shows on the subject, and the only ones I like are Miami and Colombia because the latina agents must literally spraypaint their uniforms on. So, distracted.

[snaark]

No wonder the russkies wanted him back so badly. Who better to scrounge all the 152 mm artillery shells hidden around world than the guy who sold them in then first place? I'm guessing Mr Bout won't be idle for long.

[vagabond]

No wonder the russkies wanted him back so badly. Who better to scrounge all the 152 mm artillery shells hidden around world than the guy who sold them in then first place? I'm guessing Mr Bout won't be idle for long.

Couldn't they get stuff from N Korea? Heritage of Soviet-era weapons and probably has some unused stuff laying around. The logistics of getting it out and over to Ukraine might be the hardest part.

[snaark]

The N Korea thing is apparently disputed amongst the OSINT crowd. Shit from all the world has shown up though, including most recently mortar rounds from Sudan!

[Alphabet]

Lol at the teeth nashing. No one had a problem with Bout when he was flying UN Peacekeepers all over Africa, or supplying the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan at the behest of the CIA.

Meanwhile, every defense company in the US is laundering billions through the war in Ukraine that isn't even remotely our business...But that's different.

Grow up.

[el3so]

spraypaint their uniforms on.

Welcome back!

[Alphabet]

The N Korea thing is apparently disputed amongst the OSINT crowd. Shit from all the world has shown up though, including most recently mortar rounds from Sudan!

Wait...I thought the Ruskies were defeated and had no more missiles?

Is that why we're giving them Patriot systems?

Next you'll tell me Ghost of Kyiv and Miss Ukraine sniper and that Poland thing weren't real after all.

Shocking.

[ROB]

Worst prisoner swap in history.

[vagabond]

Worst prisoner swap in history.

I get what Kurt said, about forgetting shit in your luggage. I've done the same (and got through TSA). But, the other part is willingly traveling to a place that is actively in engaged in a major war and is currently an enemy, looking for any excuse to fuck with Americans. There's plenty of places I'd like to go and see in Russia but I also know it's going to be a while before I do so. Don't fuck with drugs in foreign countries.

[snaark]

Apparently Bout is now running for office as a representative of one of Putin’s friendly opposition parties.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/10/world/europe/russia-bout-arms-dealing-politics.html

[ROB]

I'd vote for him.