Branded ‘a merchant of death’, ‘a sanctions buster’, and ‘the world’s most efficient postman’, Victor Bout is one of the world’s most speculated about individuals. The speculation extends from his links to the KGB, to the legitimacy of his air cargo businesses.

His influence in African civil wars has been well documented, no more so than in Douglas Farah’s book Merchant of Death, and the film Lord of War which is thought to be loosely based on Bout’s exploits. Bout’s close associates have dubbed both works as absolute fiction. Regardless of the accusations, Victor Bout has never been convicted of arms dealing or involvement with terrorist networks.

Bout is currently being held in a Thai jail after a US sting operation at a Bangkok hotel in 2008. The sting was set up by the US Drug Enforcement Agency. They claim Bout offered to supply them with weapons for the terrorist organisation FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia). The other side of the story is that Bout was set up by friend Andrew Smulian. Smulian introduced the DEA as a potential client, but was in fact working as an informant.

The US was smugly confident of Bout’s extradition. However, the Thai judicial system didn’t succumb to any bullying. While America might view FARC as a terrorist organisation, Thailand does not. Victor Bout remains in prison pending the outcome of a US appeal and remains adamant he is merely a businessman and a family man - betrayed by a friend who swapped loyalty for cash.

The whole situation reeks of US double standards. The US hired Bout to fly in weapons for their own war of dishonesty in the Middle East, but now want to extradite him for trial on charges established through entrapment. Perhaps the US is trying to recover some face after their warmongering spree, seeking to appease those around the world who accuse Bout of aiding civil war in Africa.   

Victor Bout was very useful when only his pilots would fly into Middle Eastern danger zones. However, this postman’s contract has come to an end. The US do not want Bout to help anyone else in their quest for war, they want a scapegoat that will allow them to further adjust the history books.

The fact is, even if Victor Bout is a weapon merchant, weapons do not kill people, people kill people. Let us not forget, the technology for an assortment of globally distributed weaponry is created and sold by the US and UK. So, surely, if Victor Bout is guilty, then so is every person who ever commissioned the making of a weapon or handled a weapon during its manufacturing process.

Words: Alfred James is a freelance writer, web marketer & life coach, based between Bangkok and London. Photo: The Form of Money Blog