“Merchant of Death“ Viktor Bout Sentenced to 25 Years; Trial Ignored Ties to US, Dick Cheney

- Notorious arms smuggler Viktor Bout, known as the “Merchant of Death,“ has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for conspiracy to commit terrorism. Our guest, former United Nations arms trafficking investigator Kathy Lynn Austin, says the case allowed American companies to avoid exposure of their collusion with with the U.S. government and private companies linked to Dick Cheney during the Iraq war, even after United Nations sanctions against him in 2004. Authorities say Viktor Bout was involved in trafficking arms to dictators and stoking conflicts in Africa, South America and the Middle East. He has also been accused of furnishing weapons to al-Qaeda and the Taliban, and achieved particular notoriety for selling arms in Rwanda in 1998, just four years after the Rwandan genocide. To watch the complete independent, weekday news hour, read the transcript and download the podcast, please visit FOLLOW DEMOCRACY NOW! ONLINE: Facebook: h