“The Americans presumably believe that Hollywood film ‘Lord of War.’ There has been an outright witch hunt against me. The Americans have destroyed my business and my family. And they have taken away my money.”
• • • Viktor Bout grants a jailhouse interview.
No one can say for certain how many Kalashnikovs exist today. Their production in secrecy, often in some of the planet’s harshest dictatorships… Serious estimates put the number of Kalashnikovs and its derivatives as high as 100 million. There could be one Kalashnikov for every 70 people alive.
• • • The excellent CJ Chivers has written a new book about the world’s most popular assault rifle. It’s out today.
The cost of a gallon of gas delivered to the US units in Afghanistan is between $800-$1000.
• • • A retired Pakistani Air Force officer explains the “protection” premium.
It’s far from clear what kind of data — troops’ e-mail? web trails? book orders? — [the US Defense Department] would use to ferret out troops who pose a risk…
• • • The Pentagon wants to test-run some crimethink-detection software on soldiers.
The 34-year-old former Army Green Beret ran across the street and bounded up the packed bleachers… His push to end the war appeared to make little impression on the audience, which had come for a day of hog calling, square dancing and outhouse races.
• • • I’ve said it before—the only real anti-war movement in the US comes from within the military.