Replies to post #431886 on Tornado Alley (PROG)

[sortagreen]

I imagine you're reading way too much into that. First, the Russians have been trying to get Bout back from the beginning. Second, Bout was selling stockpiles of Russian arms (small arms mostly), not procuring arms for them.

I won't speculate on how close he is to the Kremlin, but the idea that he's going rearm the Russian Federation is more than a stretch. He was never that guy, not even in his heyday.

I'd be happy to review whatever information you have on the matter, but I just don't see it.

[newmedman]

I saw some interviews where the pundits speculated that Bout might know where old weapons are still stashed and allow for Pooty to get his hands on them. Also, since everyone seems to be turning on Vlad he needs as many sycophants as he can muster.

It all seems a little far fetched to me because the guy has been out of the loop for 15 years but like you said, we don't know.

I also tend to believe like some others that the US would have never let him go if he hadn't been flipped or sent out with marching orders. If he upsets the apple cart they will drag him right back or just flat out execute him this time. The Russkies are under a microscope these days so it's not like he can go back out trotting the globe again and they definitely aren't selling any more weapons. They are looking to acquire them and once those supply lines get cut, they are done for.