Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

October 13, 2008 8:45:32 AM CDT

Learn about Newser Points »

« Back to the grid | Next story »

US Ambassador Implicated in China Arms Deal

Posted Jun 24, 08 7:23 AM CDT in World 

(Newser) – The American ambassador to Albania personally endorsed a plan to disguise the origin of munitions bought by a Pentagon contractor, according to Congressional testimony. The New York Times traveled to Albania during an earlier investigation of a shady 22-year-old arms dealer operating out of Miami Beach. But the Albanian defense minister, with the ambassador's approval, had illegal Chinese ammunition removed from the site that the reporter was visiting.

A grand jury has indicted the Miami arms dealer for selling decades-old, malfunctioning Chinese ammo to the Pentagon, which was sending it to Afghanistan. Since American law prohibits trading in Chinese weaponry, he sent it to Albania to be repackaged, relying on corrupt officials. When the Times' original story ran, one official at the American embassy sent an email reading, "No mention of Embassy involvement—thank God!"

Source New York Times

0 comments | Print E-mail | Digg Seed this on Newsvine Add this link to Del.icio.us StumbleUpon

Related Newser Stories

  • US Supplier Arms Afghan Forces With Ancient Ammo

    Mar 27, 08 9:13 AM CDT
    US Supplier Arms Afghan Forces With Ancient Ammo The US military's main supplier for munitions to Afghanistan is an unvetted business run by a 22-year-old with no military experience and a string of domestic violence allegations, an investigation by the New York Times finds. And the tiny company's shady dealings with arms traffickers has left Afghan forces armed with obsolete, 40-year-old ammo. More »

John L. Withers II, second from left, American ambassador to Albania, is under suspicion of having colluded in a corrupt arms deal.   (AP Photo/Hektor Pustina)
Efraim Diveroli, the 22-year-old head of arms dealer AEY Inc., has been indicted for defrauding the Pentagon.   (AP Photo)
John L. Withers II, second from left, American ambassador to Albania, is under suspicion of having colluded in a corrupt arms deal.   (AP Photo/Hektor Pustina)
Congress has heard testimony that the American ambassador to Albania participated in a corrupt arms deal.   ((c) mborowick)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
Our editors also recommend:

Threads (
1
 of 4)

Tags

Afghanistan  • corruption  • Albania  • Afghan Army  • arms trafficking  • ammunition  • procurement


Loading...

Premium Articles from HighBeam

Find more articles like this

Today's Most Popular

Loading...

Other World Stories

What is Newser?

2008 Codie Finalist

Newser gives you more news in less time. We search for the best and most important stories all over the web, read them for you, and deliver concise and sharp summaries—along with links to the full text. Newser provides a way to stay on top of an ever-expanding horizon of news and opinion—politics, sports, business, trends, technology, personalities, crimes, and controversies. Newser keeps you not just better informed, but, with our signature graphic interface and smart condensed format, more enjoyably informed.

Learn more »