Belgian man pleads guilty to conspiring sell US jet engines to Iran

A Belgian national, Jacques Monsieur, has pleaded guilty to conspiring to sell F-5 jet engines to Iran. There is currently a trade embargo imposed on Iran that prohibits the sale of any US military equipment to Iran.

Seems like Iran is trying everything in it's power to get their hands on spare parts for their decaying air force.

From BBC

An alleged Belgian arms dealer has pleaded guilty to conspiring to illegally export jet engines and parts from the US to Iran, officials say.[...]

Court documents say he is an experienced arms dealer who was actively seeking weapons for the government of Iran.

After his arrest Mr Monsieur was charged with violating the arms control act, smuggling, money-laundering and conspiracy.

Some of the charges can carry maximum sentences of 20 years in jail.

Officials said a sting operation revealed that he was trying to buy engines and other parts for F-5 fighter jets.

Read More...

Summary only...

Suspected North Korea arms ship changes course

Funny stuff , it makes you wonder why they are turning back ? Maybe they Figure they will not be able to unload their shipment of Illegal arms without being busted ? maybe they are just trying to draw attention away from something else ?
Either way I'm sure it is America's fault , and we are trying to start a nuclear war with the Norks !

SEOUL (Reuters) - A North Korean ship tracked by the U.S. Navy on suspicion of carrying a banned arms cargo may be returning home, a U.S. official said, as Washington cracks down on companies helping Pyongyang export missile systems.

North Korea will find it increasingly difficult to trade arms due to U.S. moves and U.N. sanctions to punish it for a May nuclear test, but those measure will not end the weapons exports the destitute state relies on for foreign currency, experts said.

"Of course, it raises the costs of doing the arms and weapons of mass destruction business, but it won't stop them from trying to circumvent the sanctions," said Daniel Pinkston with the International Crisis Group in Seoul.

The North Korean cargo ship Kang Nam was the first to be monitored by the U.S. Navy under a new system to track the North's arms shipments that were a part of the U.N. sanctions.

A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Tuesday the Kang Nam was heading back in the direction of North Korea after turning around within the last few days.

"We've no idea where it's going," the official said. "The U.S. didn't do anything to make it turn around."

....

Read More...

Summary only...

Arms dealers revel in Somali war business

Surprise ! And what a coincidence that the most screwed up place on earth , Is also home to some of the worlds Sleazy Arms Dealers ! Next Someone is going to tell me that they have a Drug problem  in somalia !

MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Sitting on a mat at home between taking orders
for arms on his two mobile phones, Osman Bare gives thanks for the
riches flowing from Somalia's war.

"I have only been in the weapon business five years, but I have erected
three villas. I have also opened shops for my two wives," said the
40-year-old, one of about 400 Somali men operating in Mogadishu's main
weapons market.

"Peace means bankruptcy for us."

Despite a U.N. arms embargo on Somalia, the Horn of Africa nation is awash with
weaponry from all over the world that has fueled one of Africa's
longest-running conflicts.

In the latest cycle of civil war, militant Islamists have been fighting the
Somali government for the last two years and 18,000 civilians have been
killed in the crossfire.

According to Geneva-based research body Small Arms Survey, there are at
least 640 million firearms in the world, one for every 10 people on the
planet.

Read More...

Summary only...