Staff Reports
The infamous “Merchant of Death,” Viktor Bout, is making headlines once again, and not for baking cookies or volunteering at the local soup kitchen. Fresh out of a U.S. prison due to a questionable swap deal orchestrated by the Biden-Harris administration with Vladimir Putin, Bout is back to doing what he does best: arming the world’s worst actors. It seems that in a mere two years, he has transitioned from prisoner to prime supplier for nefarious regimes.
Anyone who thought Bout would take a break from his business ventures during his time in prison clearly underestimated the imagination of an arms dealer. Instead of learning woodworking or gardening, it appears he has jumped straight back into the global arms trade with the same zeal one might reserve for a Black Friday sale. This is reminiscent of a classic cartoon where the villain plots a comeback just when the hero thinks they’ve gone away for good.
Gullible Biden gave Putin back the ‘Merchant of Death’ — guess what? he’s back doing the Devil’s work https://t.co/gj8AKEcGnC pic.twitter.com/61EDKIRr9r
— NY Post Opinion (@NYPostOpinion) October 9, 2024
Now, with Bout back in play, one has to wonder about the implications of such a move. This isn’t just a rogue agent but a man who turned arms dealing into an art form. He’s not just supplying rifles; he’s been known to facilitate the whole shebang, from AK-47s to heavy-duty missiles. The fact that he was set free in the first place raises questions about foreign policy priorities under the current administration. Perhaps next time, a trade for something a little less threatening, like a bag of marbles or a used lawnmower, could be on the table.
The Biden-Harris team might want to consider how returning Bout to the international playing field could potentially endanger lives—not just abroad, but here at home. One has to question the line of thinking that led the administration to believe that releasing a known arms dealer was a wise move. Perhaps their vision of diplomacy includes trading Madam Secretary’s secret lunch recipes in exchange for dangerous criminals. It seems that strong leadership has been replaced with a passive approach to global security.
The return of the “Merchant of Death” isn’t just a tale of another arms dealer back in business; it’s a wake-up call for the conservative movement. When Americans consider the repercussions of such a decision, it becomes clear that strong borders and tougher policies are more crucial than ever in ensuring safety. Perhaps it’s time for a new conversation on how the U.S. handles its dealings with the likes of Russia. After all, allowing someone like Bout back on the streets doesn’t seem like the shining victory Biden touts it to be—it’s a concerning development that begs for scrutiny and accountability.
