Illustration of Viktor Bout. Photo Credit: The New Yorker

What is most revealing about these emails is that it proves (once again) that Schmidle was deceptive in his journalism techniques. Simply ‘cherry picking’ bits of information while at times omitting facts and details. What is worse, according to Richard Chichakli, Schmidle outright twisted, lied and contradicted information contained within the Chichakli – Schmidle email files. At times Schmidle knowing stated in his article half-truths, missing facts and lies that can be proven by comparing what was written in his published article as compared to his email exchange with Richard Chichakli.

When I first received an email with the subject line, Notes concerning the New Yorker Story, from Mr. Chichakli, at first I did not find it shocking or surprising knowing what is sadly now not uncommon in the mainstream media – the slandering, twisting and editing of stories done for numerous unethical reasons. It wasn’t until an unnamed international journalist asked me my thoughts on Schmidle’s article as well as asking me if I found it factual? The journalist wanted my opinion knowing that I attended the Viktor Bout trial every single day, was now in contact with Viktor Bout via email as well as having written extensively about him over the last two years. When we hung up and I started to Google Nick Schmidle, a Pandora’s Box was opened!

Nicholas Schmidle.

Coming Soon

I am currently writing a piece titled, Extraordinary Popular Delusions and Madness in the Never Ending Viktor Bout Saga. I hope to have it published within 24 hours after finishing this article. It goes into great detail about Nick Schmidle’s dubious past, his shady journalism, allegations that his father was a CIA agent, documents stating his two year Pakistan fellowship was paid for by the CIA. It also discusses Operation Mockingbird as well as allegations that the White House spoon fed Schmidle the Navy SEALs take down of Osama Bin Laden story to bamboozle the U.S. media and the American public. As well as details of the sudden appearance and then disappearance of The Ghost of Bulgaria aka Peter Mirchev of KAS engineering.

Richard Chichakli’s Email

Good day George:

I have just read the article [Disarming Viktor Bout] and I wonder if you would like to have a copy of the entire set of the communications Schmidle and I had in connection with writing his article to post for the public on your blog.

I do understand that Mr. Schmidle had to cater to whatever agenda and propaganda he is associated with,; but a small percentage of the truth is not – by any mean – the complete truth.

I am thinking perhaps you posting the complete body of the messages on your blog will help clear all the exchanges that took place between Schmidle and I; thus, providing the reader with what was intentionally omitted in order to serves Mr. Schmidle agenda regardless what that could be.

I have nothing against him and he is neither the first, nor will be the last trying to dwell on the story of Victor Bout. Thus; I seem to have always believed that a version of the truth is never the truth, and if you read the exchanges between us you would clearly see that Mr. Schmidle deliberately lied about “Victor having worked or transported cargo for the US government” as h[sic] claimed in his story without even mentioning that he have heard information to the contrary.

Please let me know

Sincerely

Richard Chichakli

Chichakli Disarming Schmidle

Richard Chichakli.

I have always prided my self as being a rare breed of journalist that reports raw facts. I enjoy passionately seeking, discovering and sharing the truth with as many people as I can. Thus, I felt that if I ignored Richard Chichakli’s email proving that Schmidle once again misled his readers, then I would be as guilty and shameless as Schmidle but for ignoring the truth and not sharing it.

Here is another excerpt from an email sent to me by Richard Chichakli where he specifically points out where Schmidle was dishonest.

In page 5 of the article Sc[h]midle stated that Victor was working for the US government transporting goods in Iraq; however, in the messages he sent me he clearly stated that he knows that Victor never worked for the US – as Victor also told him and he mention in the message. I explained to him that it was me and Sergey who were transporting goods for the US military in Iraq and Afghanistan. The question is why would not he come clean about this point? This related directly to Airbas, which he intentionally did not mention by name. makes me wonder why!

I had heard from an unnamed source that Schmidle’s father was at one time a CIA agent. I asked Chichakli about this and here is his reply:

Considering Schmidle it is also correct, the details of his father is available on the internet. This is the reason I am questioning why he did not mention airbas by name and why he said “Victor worked for the US government” My guess is that he was told to do so by the US officials who provided him with information. Remember, there is another case pending against Victor.

What is quite ironic and quite humorous, at least in a dark sense, is that the following quote was extracted verbatim from the Chichakli – Schmidle email exchange:

Thanks Richard,
Again, I cannot stress how grateful I am for your help. It has gone a long way towards making the article better – and certainly more
accurate. A few follow up queries:

Without further ado here are the links to the entire set of emails. Please note in order to keep the thread complete and unaltered and some of the messages may have some repeated content from the previous messages. I preceded the links to each email with a quote or excerpt from each of the corresponding emails.

Chichakli – Schmidle Files

Douglas Farah as you know is making living out of the Bout story, he is “the key expert used by the US government agencies; and par cularly the DOJ in 2005, and
the DEA in 2007. Email 1

That said, I imagine I’ll have still more questions before we gear up for publication, if you’ll bear with me.
Thanks, Nicholas Email 2

Wanted to ask you a bit about Peleman. I think you’d suggested to me some dubious (potentially criminal) facets of his background.
Could you tell me more? Email 3

Nicholas, these are very simple and very obvious questions that no one is asking, and they are not asking because no one is
interested in revealing the truth about the “white elephant story”. The matter of Victor Bout has became an institution, a political
platform, and a source of revenue and fame to so many; and until someone brave enough, driven enough, and hungry enough
for fame and fortune, until such a person shows up, everyone, perhaps including you will just regurgitate what been intentionally
placed out there for that purpose since more than 10 years. Email 4

Viktor mentioned to me that Air Cess had been named the second-largest cargo operator out of Sharjah in 1997. Is there any
chance you have any record or confirmation of that?
Also, regarding the FBI raiding your office … Email 5

As to OFAC sanctions, rest assured that they are absolutely worthless and ineffective; certainly, except for the political propaganda and scare tactics used by OFAC and the US government – … Email 6

On part one, it is true that aircess was the second volume operator in Sharjah as stated by Victor and I think that I may … Email 7

You mentioned earlier that evading sanctions is easier than buying a hamburger at McDonalds. Email 8

Well, I wonder how would the government could possibly explain puting any kind of strain on Victor? He never had any business in
or with the US, nor he ever had any assets in the or its positions or allies. Email 9

Thanks Richard,
I agree with you entirely about Viktor not having any assets inside the US or registered in the US (besides the one Gulfstream,
currently sitting in Ras al Khaimah, right?), but the sanctions surely affected his ability to conduct business abroad, don’t you think? Email 10

As to OFAC sanction, it indeed provide credibility and legitimacy to the designated person as an accredited and trusted friend to any entity that despises the US government and its political agenda and propaganda. Email 11

Interesting about the G1 and the Il76s not having any engines. I didn’t know that. The one that’s been converted into a billboard, I’ve
seen photos of that, but whose plane was it actually? Email 12

Thus, I do not understant “you all” perhaps you can explain to me what do you mean by “you all” which seemed to form your later question. Who are “you all” Email 13

I had a question for you. On your website you write about your relationship with Viktor and Sergei but you don’t mention when you
met them. Email 14

Good day:
IThe first time I met Victor was in about July or early August 1995 few month after I start working for the Government of the State of
Sharjah, the United Arab Emirates as the Commercial manager of Sharjah Airport free economical zone. Email 15

What was his project? And how did he have to adapt to meet the requirements of the free zone? In other words, how did his
business had to change to be admitted to the free zone? Email 16

Also, I wanted to see if you could help me be clear on the corporate lineage of Air Cess, Air Bas, and Irbis. When Viktor effectively
split the company in 1998, what did put in Sergei’s name and what did he keep in his? Email 17

Okay, so in 1998, when Air Cess splits, Viktor takes 14 planes, Sergei takes 5 and gives him $1.1 million. Do we know why they split the
company? I knew that Viktor had moved to South Africa but was told (by him and others) that he returned to the UAE after, among other
things, his home in Johannesburg was broken into. Email 18

1- The split was the result of Sergey refusal to go to South Africa; he wanted to stay in Sharjah and that was not subject to discussion. Among other, the main underlying
reasons behind Sergey’s refusal were three: Email 19

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