STOP-LOSS

Written and directed by Kimberly Peirce: Decorated Iraq war hero Sgt. Brandon King makes a celebrated return to his small Texas hometown following his tour of duty. He tries to resume the life he left behind. Then, against Brandon's will, the Army orders him back to duty in Iraq, which upends his world. The conflict tests everything he believes in: the bond of family, the loyalty of friendship, the limits of love and the value of honor.

Amid Dents, Diamonds?

The New York Times article by Ron Brownlow: "A close look at the model's depiction of Willets Point, on the northeastern edge of the park, shows a space that is mostly empty in the immensely crowded borough. But this is no park. This is the Iron Triangle, a desolate, 13-block peninsula where a gritty collection of small businesses eke out a living with intermittent electricity, unpaved roads and long-broken sewer mains."

Settling for Mr. Good Enough

From The Atlantic by Lori Gottlieb: My advice is this: Settle! That’s right. Don’t worry about passion or intense connection. Don’t nix a guy based on his annoying habit of yelling “Bravo!” in movie theaters. Overlook his halitosis or abysmal sense of aesthetics. Because if you want to have the infrastructure in place to have a family, settling is the way to go. Based on my observations, in fact, settling will probably make you happier in the long run, since many of those who marry with great expectations become more disillusioned with each passing year...

Viktor Bout's Last Deal

From Mother Jones by Bruce Falconer: FOR VIKTOR BOUT, meeting clients in person—looking them in the eye, shaking their hands—was his preferred way of doing business, though it was not strictly necessary. As the fugitive leader of the world's largest and most lucrative illicit-arms-trafficking network, he had plenty of capable lieutenants to manage his affairs. But Bout, by all accounts, enjoyed his work and liked to be on location when deals were closed. So it was that on Thursday, March 6, he landed in Bangkok, Thailand, having flown all night from his home in Moscow...

Who is the man dubbed 'Merchant of Death'?

From RussiaToday (RT): Viktor Bout made his business in Africa and Asia and speaks six languages. Western intelligence services say he has one of the highest IQ levels in the world. Journalists call him the 'Merchant of Death'. Hollywood shoots movies about him. Last week Bout was arrested in Thailand and accused by the U.S. of trying to illegally sell weapons to Colombian terrorists. Who is Viktor Bout? The guest to tell us the true story of the man in the headlines is his wife, Alla Bout.

'Merchant of Death' arrested in Thailand

From RussiaToday (RT): U.S. officials are working to extradite a suspected Russian illegal arms dealer arrested in Thailand. Viktor Bout is accused of trying to sell weapons to Colombian rebels. If convicted, he can face up to 15 years in prison. Bout is believed to have been the inspiration for Nicholas Cage's arms smuggling anti-hero in the 2005 film 'Lord of War'.

U.S. Announces Indictment of International Arms Dealer for Conspiracy to Kill Americans and Related Terrorism Charges

News from DEA: MICHAEL J. GARCIA, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and MICHELE M. LEONHART, the Acting Administrator of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration ("DEA"), announced the unsealing of an Indictment against international arms dealer VIKTOR BOUT, a/k/a "Boris," a/k/a "Victor Anatoliyevich Bout," a/k/a "Victor But," a/k/a "Viktor Budd," a/k/a "Viktor Butt," a/k/a "Viktor Bulakin," a/k/a "Vadim Markovich Aminov," for, among other things, conspiring to sell millions of dollars worth of weapons to the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (the "FARC") -- a designated foreign terrorist organization based in Colombia -- to be used to kill Americans in Colombia.

The rise and fall of Russia's 'Merchant of Death'

From ABC News by AFP: His notorious career inspired a Hollywood film - the Nicholas Cage vehicle Lord of War - and the moustachioed former pilot has become a target for arms control pressure groups and law enforcement agencies from several countries...

Russian Charged With Trying to Sell Arms

From The New York Times by David Johnston and Seth Mydans: A Russian businessman regarded by the United States as one of the world’s most notorious arms dealers was arrested in Thailand on Thursday as part of an American-led sting operation. He was promptly charged in the United States with conspiracy for trying to smuggle missiles and rocket launchers to rebels in Colombia...

Interview with George Parr, the Senior Planner at the Ministry of Defense

Comedy sketch by the longstanding satirical team of John Bird and John Fortune...

'Lord of war' arms trafficker arrested

The Guardian article by Duncan Campbell and Ian MacKinnon: "If Viktor Bout did not exist, a thriller writer would have invented him. A former Russian lieutenant, he became one of the world's biggest arms dealers, flying his ancient Soviet planes into battlefields from Liberia to Afghanistan. His clients have included the Taliban and the US government, African warlords and the UN..."

International Arms Dealer Arrested On Terrorism Charges In Bangkok

News from DEA: DEA Acting Administrator Michele M. Leonhart and Michael J. Garcia, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced the arrest of Victor Bout, an international arms dealer charged with conspiring to sell millions of dollars worth of weapons to the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (the "FARC") -- a designated foreign terrorist organization based in Colombia. Bout and co-defendant Andrew Smulian were arrested yesterday on the U.S. charges by Thai authorities in Bangkok.

SwissMiniGun

Daily Mail: Introducing the world's smallest gun that fires deadly 300mph bullets - but is just TWO inches long by Andy Dolan.

The smallest revolver and rim fire ammunition in the world. It’s total length does not exceed 5.5 cm. It shoots 2.34 mm calibre rim fire ammunition which is the smallest rim fire ammunition in the World. This miniature is a double action revolver and has all the same features as are found on a real size gun. The manufacture of this exceptional miniature revolver has only been possible by exploiting the incomparable expertise and latest technologies of the Swiss Watch and Jewellery Industry, upon which its worldwide reputation is built.