WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), the top Republican of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade, made the following remarks in reaction to the news that a Thai court has rejected a request by U.S. authorities for the extradition of international arms dealer Viktor Bout to face terrorism charges in the United States:

The United States and Thailand have had strong relations for 175 years.  Unfortunately, if this ruling holds, this relationship will be set back dramatically.

The court's ruling is nothing short of astonishing.   It is my expectation that this be vigorously appealed.  Round one has gone to Bout, but the battle for justice for this international menace is not over.  It is unacceptable that this man goes free. 

While the Thai Foreign Ministry has stated that the extradition request meets the conditions of the Thai-American extradition treaty, the Russian government has been pushing hard for Bout's release.   Politics seems to have trumped the law.  Something is rotten in Bangkok.  

Royce has spearheaded congressional efforts regarding Viktor Bout's case.  After Bout's arrest in 2008, Royce led a congressional letter to the Thai government regarding Bout's extradition, and in February led a similar letter to Attorney General Holder and Secretary of State Clinton asking that the extradition "remain a top priority" for their Departments.

From 1997-2005, Royce chaired the Subcommittee on Africa.  During that time, Royce closely examined the conflicts that trouble the continent - particularly West Africa in Sierra Leone and Liberia.  It was through that work that Royce highlighted Victor Bout and his exploits.

Bout has been called the "Merchant of Death," a moniker coined by a British diplomat.  From the dust of the Cold War, Bout emerged to form a complex enterprise spanning several continents and a large network of nefarious individuals, front companies, corrupt government officials, old Soviet airplanes, and Eastern European mobsters.  Bout became capable of delivering anything from ordinary commodities to AK-47s, missile launchers, and even attack helicopters to anyone who would pay.  Bout's activities in the 1990s lead to his designation by the United States government as the highest-ranking international target other than Osama bin Laden and his top tier of terrorist leaders.

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