Wanted Criminal Flew U.S. Supply Missions in Iraq (tags)
Bout didn't just walk away with millions of taxpayer dollars, the authors found. The military issued Bout's pilots supply cards allowing them to gas up their planes for free when landing in Iraq. A Defense Department spokesman confirmed to the authors that Bout's fleet made off with nearly 500,000 gallons of fuel from the Baghdad airport courtesy of the U.S. Air Force.