Rogue Planet

US circles hijacked ship with Sudan-bound weapons

By MOHAMED OLAD HASSAN and BARBARA SURK, Associated Press Writers

U.S. warships and helicopters on Monday surrounded a hijacked cargo ship loaded with Sudan-bound tanks and other arms to keep the weapons from falling "into the wrong hands," an American Navy spokesman said.

The shipment of 33 Russian-designed tanks, rifles and ammunition on the Ukrainian-operated Faina was headed for Sudan — not Kenya as previously claimed by Kenyan officials, said Lt. Nathan Christensen, a deputy spokesman for the U.S. Navy's Bahrain-based 5th Fleet.

The pirates who seized the ship are demanding a $20 million ransom.

Christensen said an unspecified number of destroyers and cruisers have joined the San Diego-based USS destroyer Howard within a 10-mile radius of the Faina.

"The safety of the ship's crew and cargo is a paramount concern to us," Christensen said, adding additional warships and helicopters were deployed to prevent the weapons from falling "into the wrong hands."

The U.S. fears the armaments onboard the Ukrainian vessel may end up with al-Qaida-linked Islamic insurgents who have been fighting the shaky U.N.-backed Somali transitional government since late 2006.

"We maintain a vigilant watch over the ship and we will remain on station while negotiations between the pirates and the shipping company are going on," Christensen told The Associated Press.

Pirates seized the Faina's Ukrainian, Russian and Latvian crew off Somalia's lawless coast on Thursday as it headed to Kenya and anchored the vessel off Somalia's coast near the central town of Hobyo. One of the 21 crew members has died.

U.S. Policy Is Fuzzy on Arms Purchases From Former Warsaw Pact Nations

By Walter Pincus
Monday, September 29, 2008; A17

What is the U.S. policy about supplying weapons to Afghanistan that come from Russia and former Warsaw Pact countries? Can the U.S. military deal directly with foreign countries that have these weapons and the ammunition that goes with them? Or must they go through private contractors, who act as middlemen and profit from such transactions?

Since 2003, the U.S. military has purchased, through private contractors, billions of dollars worth of former Warsaw Pact arms and ammunition for Iraq and Afghan security forces, rather than buying them directly or seeking donations of such equipment from countries that are coalition members. In June, Congress was told by an Army general that U.S. law and government procurement regulations required using contractors to purchase such ammunition.

Last Tuesday, however, Maj. Gen. Jay Lindell, commander of the Combined Air Power Transition Force in Afghanistan, told Pentagon bloggers during a teleconference that he was outfitting the Afghans with used, Russian-designed Mi-17 helicopters that were donated by the United Arab Emirates and purchased directly from the Czech and Slovak republics. In addition, he said, negotiations are underway to buy new ones from Russia.

He said the Afghans received Russian-made aircraft because "that's what the Afghans know how to fly and maintain so very well." Negotiations with Russia are "happening right now to determine the number of aircraft that we will purchase and the delivery dates," he said.

One Million Weapons to Iraq; Many Go Missing

by Pratap Chatterjee, Special to CorpWatch 
September 22nd, 2008

Clandestine gun suppliers, funded by the U.S. and Iraqi governments, have flooded Iraq with a million weapons since 2003, charges a new Amnesty International investigation. Because of faulty or non-existent government tracking systems, many of those guns have gone missing, and some have turned up in the hands of insurgents. 

Contracts with one of these companies, Taos Industries, account for almost half of the $217 million Baghdad and Washington have officially spent to arm the Iraqi army, police and security forces employed by various Iraqi ministries. 

Taos was founded in 1989 by a former U.S. intelligence official in Madison, Alabama, to traffic Soviet weapons systems after the fall of the Berlin Wall. In October 2006 Taos was sold to a company controlled by the Sultans, a powerful Kuwaiti family that also controls billions of dollars worth of contracts for food supply and heavy equipment deliveries to U.S. bases throughout Iraq. 

Continue reading "One Million Weapons to Iraq; Many Go Missing" »

AMBIKA AHUJA ASSOCIATED PRESS

BANGKOK, THAILAND (AP) - An alleged arms smuggler's extradition hearing to the United States began Monday after a string of delays in the high-profile case because of complications with his defense team in Thailand.

Viktor Bout, dubbed "The Merchant of Death," has been indicted in the U.S. on four terrorism charges. He was arrested in Thailand on March 6.

Though Bout denies any involvement in illicit activities, he is regarded as one of the world's most-wanted arms traffickers and was purportedly the model for the character portrayed by Nicolas Cage in the 2005 movie "Lord of War."

Chained at the ankles, Bout made no comment as he was led into Bangkok's Criminal Court. Monday's hearing was briefly interrupted at the start when defense attorney Preecha Prasertsak petitioned the court to dismiss the case, arguing that the Russian had been illegally detained. After a half-hour adjournment, judges said the complaint would be considered at a later date.

Continue reading "'Merchant of Death' in Thai court" »

Wednesday's Miami Herald article brings to light two recommendations:

1. If you're in the business of circumventing arms trade regulations, don't move to South Florida. There is a lot of not-so-smart competition and/or very smart federal agents in the same place.
2. If you're going to sell 'Russian military helicopters equipped with guns, rockets and bombs' to a country like Zimbabwe, don't name your business 'Russian Aircraft Services LLC'   

South Florida arms-exporting cases

• Airplane parts: In June, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Miami charged a Broward County man with conspiring to export military aircraft parts to Iran. Traian Bujduveanu, 53, faces up to 20 years in prison and $1 million in fines if convicted of violating the U.S. Arms Export Control Act and the U.S.-Iran trade embargo. He was born in Romania but is a naturalized U.S. citizen who for the past 30 years has lived in Plantation, where he cares for his blind mother, according to his attorney.  Bujduveanu has pleaded not guilty, along with a California man charged with the same counts. Both are scheduled for trial in March.

• Made-in-China munitions: In June, a federal indictment charged a 22-year-old Miami Beach businessman with conspiring to sell Chinese-made ammunitions to Afghanistan security forces.  Efraim Diveroli, president of AEY Inc., allegedly sent 35 shipments worth $10 million overseas and tried to pass them off as Albanian-made. But the munitions were from China, which violated Diveroli's contract with the Pentagon, prosecutors said.  He faces more than 10 years in prison if convicted of intentionally misleading the U.S. government.

• Night-vision goggles: In May, a federal judge in Fort Lauderdale sentenced a woman to 29 months in prison after she pleaded guilty in a plot to send 3,000 U.S.-manufactured military night-vision goggles to Iran.  Shahrazad Mir Gholikhan, 30, later retracted the plea and now is scheduled for trial Oct. 14. She faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.  Her attorney contends Gholikhan thought the deal involved binoculars.

• Russian helicopters: A Hallandale Beach businessman was charged in April with trying to sell 10 Russian military helicopters equipped with guns, rockets and bombs to an undercover federal informant who told the dealer they were destined for Zimbabwe.  Military exports to the African country are banned. Peter Spitz, 70, owner of Russian Aircraft Services LLC, was first contacted last March about a potential helicopter purchase by the informant for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.  According to court records, the informant told Spitz he was interested in buying seven MI-24 Russian attack helicopters and three MI-8T Russian military transport helicopters.  

[miamiherald.com]

Amnesty International released an extensive report this week that provides case studies on the effects of variations and loopholes in current global arms legislation.  The report is structured to rally support for the UN Arms Trade Treaty from the 24 abstaining members and the lone holdout in preparation for October's UN General Assembly discussions on Disarmament and Security.

Blood at the Crossroads: Making the Case for a Global Arms Trade Treaty [.pdf]

New York Times
September 13, 2008 
Pg. 9

Albania: Whistle-Blower Found Dead

By C. J. Chivers

A whistle-blower who uncovered evidence of public corruption and deceptive
practices by a contractor in a Pentagon-sponsored arms deal was found dead
on a mountain road on Friday. Last year, the whistle-blower, Kosta Trebicka,
48, provided The New York Times and American investigators with evidence
that AEY Inc., an American company, had bought aging Chinese cartridges for
Afghanistan's army and police forces, repackaged them in unmarked boxes that
obscured their origin and claimed the ammunition was from Albania. His
accusations shook the Albanian government and the Pentagon. Mr. Trebicka had
told reporters for The Times several times that he feared for his safety. He
was found dead near his vehicle, and no cause of death was announced.
Albanian investigators said an autopsy would be performed.

'Merchant of Death' in Thai court

AMBIKA AHUJA ASSOCIATED PRESS

BANGKOK, THAILAND (AP) - An alleged arms smuggler's extradition hearing to the United States began Monday after a string of delays in the high-profile case because of complications with his defense team in Thailand.

Viktor Bout, dubbed "The Merchant of Death," has been indicted in the U.S. on four terrorism charges. He was arrested in Thailand on March 6.

Though Bout denies any involvement in illicit activities, he is regarded as one of the world's most-wanted arms traffickers and was purportedly the model for the character portrayed by Nicolas Cage in the 2005 movie "Lord of War."

Chained at the ankles, Bout made no comment as he was led into Bangkok's Criminal Court. Monday's hearing was briefly interrupted at the start when defense attorney Preecha Prasertsak petitioned the court to dismiss the case, arguing that the Russian had been illegally detained. After a half-hour adjournment, judges said the complaint would be considered at a later date.

Continue reading "'Merchant of Death' in Thai court" »

Wednesday's Miami Herald article brings to light two recommendations:

1. If you're in the business of circumventing arms trade regulations, don't move to South Florida. There is a lot of not-so-smart competition and/or very smart federal agents in the same place.
2. If you're going to sell 'Russian military helicopters equipped with guns, rockets and bombs' to a country like Zimbabwe, don't name your business 'Russian Aircraft Services LLC'   

South Florida arms-exporting cases

• Airplane parts: In June, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Miami charged a Broward County man with conspiring to export military aircraft parts to Iran. Traian Bujduveanu, 53, faces up to 20 years in prison and $1 million in fines if convicted of violating the U.S. Arms Export Control Act and the U.S.-Iran trade embargo. He was born in Romania but is a naturalized U.S. citizen who for the past 30 years has lived in Plantation, where he cares for his blind mother, according to his attorney.  Bujduveanu has pleaded not guilty, along with a California man charged with the same counts. Both are scheduled for trial in March.

• Made-in-China munitions: In June, a federal indictment charged a 22-year-old Miami Beach businessman with conspiring to sell Chinese-made ammunitions to Afghanistan security forces.  Efraim Diveroli, president of AEY Inc., allegedly sent 35 shipments worth $10 million overseas and tried to pass them off as Albanian-made. But the munitions were from China, which violated Diveroli's contract with the Pentagon, prosecutors said.  He faces more than 10 years in prison if convicted of intentionally misleading the U.S. government.

• Night-vision goggles: In May, a federal judge in Fort Lauderdale sentenced a woman to 29 months in prison after she pleaded guilty in a plot to send 3,000 U.S.-manufactured military night-vision goggles to Iran.  Shahrazad Mir Gholikhan, 30, later retracted the plea and now is scheduled for trial Oct. 14. She faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.  Her attorney contends Gholikhan thought the deal involved binoculars.

• Russian helicopters: A Hallandale Beach businessman was charged in April with trying to sell 10 Russian military helicopters equipped with guns, rockets and bombs to an undercover federal informant who told the dealer they were destined for Zimbabwe.  Military exports to the African country are banned. Peter Spitz, 70, owner of Russian Aircraft Services LLC, was first contacted last March about a potential helicopter purchase by the informant for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.  According to court records, the informant told Spitz he was interested in buying seven MI-24 Russian attack helicopters and three MI-8T Russian military transport helicopters.  

[miamiherald.com]

Amnesty International released an extensive report this week that provides case studies on the effects of variations and loopholes in current global arms legislation.  The report is structured to rally support for the UN Arms Trade Treaty from the 24 abstaining members and the lone holdout in preparation for October's UN General Assembly discussions on Disarmament and Security.

Blood at the Crossroads: Making the Case for a Global Arms Trade Treaty [.pdf]

New York Times
September 13, 2008 
Pg. 9

Albania: Whistle-Blower Found Dead

By C. J. Chivers

A whistle-blower who uncovered evidence of public corruption and deceptive
practices by a contractor in a Pentagon-sponsored arms deal was found dead
on a mountain road on Friday. Last year, the whistle-blower, Kosta Trebicka,
48, provided The New York Times and American investigators with evidence
that AEY Inc., an American company, had bought aging Chinese cartridges for
Afghanistan's army and police forces, repackaged them in unmarked boxes that
obscured their origin and claimed the ammunition was from Albania. His
accusations shook the Albanian government and the Pentagon. Mr. Trebicka had
told reporters for The Times several times that he feared for his safety. He
was found dead near his vehicle, and no cause of death was announced.
Albanian investigators said an autopsy would be performed.

Lessons Learned

Wednesday's Miami Herald article brings to light two recommendations:

1. If you're in the business of circumventing arms trade regulations, don't move to South Florida. There is a lot of not-so-smart competition and/or very smart federal agents in the same place.
2. If you're going to sell 'Russian military helicopters equipped with guns, rockets and bombs' to a country like Zimbabwe, don't name your business 'Russian Aircraft Services LLC'   

South Florida arms-exporting cases

• Airplane parts: In June, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Miami charged a Broward County man with conspiring to export military aircraft parts to Iran. Traian Bujduveanu, 53, faces up to 20 years in prison and $1 million in fines if convicted of violating the U.S. Arms Export Control Act and the U.S.-Iran trade embargo. He was born in Romania but is a naturalized U.S. citizen who for the past 30 years has lived in Plantation, where he cares for his blind mother, according to his attorney.  Bujduveanu has pleaded not guilty, along with a California man charged with the same counts. Both are scheduled for trial in March.

• Made-in-China munitions: In June, a federal indictment charged a 22-year-old Miami Beach businessman with conspiring to sell Chinese-made ammunitions to Afghanistan security forces.  Efraim Diveroli, president of AEY Inc., allegedly sent 35 shipments worth $10 million overseas and tried to pass them off as Albanian-made. But the munitions were from China, which violated Diveroli's contract with the Pentagon, prosecutors said.  He faces more than 10 years in prison if convicted of intentionally misleading the U.S. government.

• Night-vision goggles: In May, a federal judge in Fort Lauderdale sentenced a woman to 29 months in prison after she pleaded guilty in a plot to send 3,000 U.S.-manufactured military night-vision goggles to Iran.  Shahrazad Mir Gholikhan, 30, later retracted the plea and now is scheduled for trial Oct. 14. She faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.  Her attorney contends Gholikhan thought the deal involved binoculars.

• Russian helicopters: A Hallandale Beach businessman was charged in April with trying to sell 10 Russian military helicopters equipped with guns, rockets and bombs to an undercover federal informant who told the dealer they were destined for Zimbabwe.  Military exports to the African country are banned. Peter Spitz, 70, owner of Russian Aircraft Services LLC, was first contacted last March about a potential helicopter purchase by the informant for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.  According to court records, the informant told Spitz he was interested in buying seven MI-24 Russian attack helicopters and three MI-8T Russian military transport helicopters.  

[miamiherald.com]

Blood at the Crossroads

Amnesty International released an extensive report this week that provides case studies on the effects of variations and loopholes in current global arms legislation.  The report is structured to rally support for the UN Arms Trade Treaty from the 24 abstaining members and the lone holdout in preparation for October's UN General Assembly discussions on Disarmament and Security.

Blood at the Crossroads: Making the Case for a Global Arms Trade Treaty [.pdf]

Albania: Whistle-Blower Found Dead

New York Times
September 13, 2008 
Pg. 9

Albania: Whistle-Blower Found Dead

By C. J. Chivers

A whistle-blower who uncovered evidence of public corruption and deceptive
practices by a contractor in a Pentagon-sponsored arms deal was found dead
on a mountain road on Friday. Last year, the whistle-blower, Kosta Trebicka,
48, provided The New York Times and American investigators with evidence
that AEY Inc., an American company, had bought aging Chinese cartridges for
Afghanistan's army and police forces, repackaged them in unmarked boxes that
obscured their origin and claimed the ammunition was from Albania. His
accusations shook the Albanian government and the Pentagon. Mr. Trebicka had
told reporters for The Times several times that he feared for his safety. He
was found dead near his vehicle, and no cause of death was announced.
Albanian investigators said an autopsy would be performed.