Title/Link: Russian Convicted in Arms Conspiracy Plot
By: Mick Krever
Summary:
Viktor Bout is facing life in prison after being found guilty on four counts related to conspiring to kill Americans, receiving and selling anti-aircraft missiles, and providing material support to a terrorist organization. Bout, who is from Russia, is known worldwide as “The Merchant of Death”, a name fittingly given to him because of his highly ranked position in the global armed weapons trafficking. Bout’s attorney, Albert Dayan, plans to appeal the verdict brought forth by a jury because he still believes Bout is innocent. According to U.S. Attorneys’, the weapons sold were ment to be used by terrorists to kill Americans. Bout was caught in Thailand by the United States Drug Enforcement Agency. Undercover agents disguised as Colombian rebels from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia (which is recognized as a terrorist organization) wanting to buy “700 to 800 surface-to-air missiles, thousands of AK-47s and landmines, telling Bout that they wanted the arms ‘to kill Americans.’”
Response:
What if these undercover agents were actually members of the FARC? Would the weapons that they tried to purchase actually have gone to kill Americans? I'm glad that the agents arrested Viktor Bout. I hope that the appeal made by his attorney falls flat and Mr. Bout gets to rot the rest of his life in prison. As much as I am proud of my country for doing something like arresting this man, my mind still raises the question of: "What if this man is innocent and the US is just trying to frame someone to make themselves look better?" I know, I am an American citizen... I just don't know wether or not to trust my government on something like this. I grew up with my parents telling me to never believe what the government has to say so maybe that has something to do with it. Anyways, if what the government says is true, that Viktor Bout really intended to kill Americans, I am happy that we brought this "Merchant of Death" to justice finally.
Vocab:
1) Traffickers
Widely dubbed "the Merchant of Death," Bout was often referred to by U.S. and U.N. officials as among the most notorious of global arms traffickers.
Definition:
Vocab:
1) Traffickers
Widely dubbed "the Merchant of Death," Bout was often referred to by U.S. and U.N. officials as among the most notorious of global arms traffickers.
Definition:
the action of dealing or trading in something illegal
Origin:
early 16th cent. (denoting commercial transportation of merchandise or passengers): from French traffique, Spanish tráfico, or Italian traffico, of unknown origin. Sense 1 dates from the early 19th cent.
Sentence:
That man is one of the 7 drug traffickers on the FBI most-wanted list!
2) Tycoon
But Preet Bharara, the U.S. attorney for Manhattan, called the Russian tycoon "a very dangerous man" in a statement Wednesday.
Definition:
a wealthy, powerful person in business or industry
Origin:
mid 19th cent.: from Japanese taikun ‘great lord.’
Sentence:
The American tycoon controlled all of the oil industry in Saudi Arabia.
3) Extradited
He was extradited to the United States in 2010 following his arrest and a protracted court proceeding in Thailand.
Definition:
hand over (a person accused or convicted of a crime) to the jurisdiction of the foreign state in which the crime was committed
Origin:
mid 19th cent.: from French, from ex- ‘out, from’ + tradition ‘delivery.’
Sentence:
John was extradited to Japan after the officials found out about his smuggling problem.
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