Merchants of War - Belarus

July 2006
Is Russia using Belarus as a proxy agent to sell weapons to regimes like Iran or North Korea? Reports are emerging which paint a disturbing picture.

For more than a decade, President Lukashenko has maintained his grip on power using proceeds from the global arms trade. Victor Bout, one of the world's most notorious arms dealers, is believed to be behind Belarus' highest profile arms company, Beltechexport. "He's the man who helped Beltechexport become a major player in the arms market," states journalist Svetlana Klink. But as former KGB agent Sergio Anisko points out: "Bout has deep connections with the Russian military." Anisko claims Lukashenko is little more that the Krelim's puppet. "The FSB doesn't just have complete control of the Belarusian military, it dictates Belarusian policy." He also believes the most controversial arms sales are made on behalf of Moscow. But since Russia manufactured the only anti-aircraft missile capable of fending off an American attack, Washington is paying close attention to Belarus. It fears this weapon could end up in the hands of countries like Iran. As David Kramer, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State declares: "The US is not going to sit ideally by while Lukashenko engages in reckless and dangerous arms sales."

Produced by SBS/Dateline
Distributed by Journeyman Pictures

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Belarus
• Merchants
• War
• Weapons
• selling
• Iraq
• North
• Korea
• news
• documentary
• current affairs
• journeyman
• journeyman pictures

[faceclutch]

The fact remains... The USA is still the LARGEST arms trader in the world!!

So plz everyone STFU

[kurum2007]

Lukashenko prevented his country from becoming a basketcase like its neighbours after the fall of the USSR. Lukashenko is popular in Belarus for this reason. The new NATO countries like Latvia are required to spend a proportion of there GNP on arms, mostly American manufactured. Belarus, on the other hand competes with American and British arms sales (which are small compared to US and UK sales). It is Lukashenkos independence that irks the USA and EU so much.

[358423]

only bevause they show this pseudo-documental shit "merchant of war" as a documentary i understand that this is propoganda

[lesleyhenriquez]

@faceclutch I sincerely doubt it. Those are only the official numbers. I will bet heavily on it being Russia or France if you count grey and black markets.

[Cardan011]

hey its wrong to sell weapons !!... with out Uncle Sam's approval!

[Cardan011]

another pro anglo-saxon journeyman pictures propaganda piece..

[UAPLNL]

Hard reality... BUT THIS IS THE ONLY COUNTRY IN EUROPE WHERE STREET CRIME ALMSOT DOESNT EXIST!!!

Dear people have a look what happends in great lets say democratic wester europe.

Uk is the most street criminal country in Europe Holland and France havemuch more non-go areas then normal neighborhoods. Democracy in the west means egoistic individualims where everything is permitted.

Dont be so brainwahsed by the westenr propaganda ...

[OBSysteme]

wow, its like north-korean wannabees.... ???? but how accurate is this?

[SymAmineC8H11N]

so they're just an export vehicle, not actually manufacturing the technology??

[POLAK1Nysa]

@jakaput what do you mean by that?

[Reqrezentin]

The US wants to enforce its principles on everyone, why, why do they have to interfere in other people's businesses? It's like they have ADHD .

Support from the UK.