"Outlaws Inc." by Matt Potter

The next time you see a Samaritan's Purse plane, or a United Nations Charter flight going into a war-torn, or disaster affected region, think of what illicit goods are being taken out of that same area. Or, what other illegal cargoes are hidden within the humanitarian aid. You'd be very surprised. These planes fly into, and out of, multiple countries, often with only the cargo to be off loaded going through inspection. This allows a plane to leave one country with blankets and food, arrive at its destination, exchange the blankets and food for opium, guns or whatever else, and then take off for a third country, where the goods are exchanged for blood diamonds, cash or some other commodity. It's an endless chain.

This story begins with the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1989 and the War on Afghanistan which preceded it. It is also the story of the resultant "free market" economy which replaced the Soviet collective, and how this has affected global politics and warfare. It is the perfect model of any society, transitioning from one type of government to another, with no regulations, or the authority and ability to both maintain control of, as well as advance the new government. Without controls there can only be anarchy. And with anarchy comes crime. And with those crimes come enormous, and illegal, profits.

When the Soviet Union collapsed upon itself in the early 1990's, the military went unpaid. To make ends meet the soldiers and airmen, under the eyes of their officers, managed to cannibalize, and convert, every piece of military hardware they could lay their hands on. These items were sold internationally to anyone who had the cash to purchase them. Everything from food rations to helicopters and airplanes were up for grabs. This was the beginning of what has become known as the Russian Mafia.

Matt Potter, the author, was able to become embedded with a former Soviet pilot, named "Mickey", a veteran of hundreds of flights into, and out of, Kabul during the ill-advised Afghan War. He now works as a free-lance pilot, some would say a mercenary, shuttling everything from humanitarian aid to illicit weapons and drugs, for anyone with the money to pay for his services.

In 2007 a United Nations panel, investigating fraud among Humanitarian Causes, found that Russian Antonov 26's were being routinely used to fly arms into Darfur, supplying the Jinjaweed Militia, who were terrorizing the country. Their method was simple; they painted the planes in the same colors as the UN relief flights, slipping in, and out, amidst the commotion attendant to any disaster relief effort. And this is just one example of hundreds.

Flying for customers as diverse as Afghan warlords, the Russian Mafia, Christian Aid Groups, NATO, and even the United States government, this is the largest smuggling operation ever known to man. This long out of control scenario seems to be impervious to any real change in the near future. The two main parties, humanitarian aid and the smuggling of weapons and hard drugs are simply too co-dependent upon one another to encourage any real efforts at reform.

In this book, Mr. Potter has written a sweeping indictment of international politics and crime, along with the story of the thin line which separates the two.

"Transsiberian" with Woody Harrelson, Emily Mortimer and Ben Kingsley

An absolutely stunning movie. Everything, from the script to the direction, and the performances of each and every actor, make this a flawless film. Set in Russia along the route of the Trans Siberian Railway also makes this movie a visually brilliant thriller, which you do not want to miss.

Roy and his wife Jessie (Woody Harrelson and Emily Mortimer) are returning from China through Russia via the Trans Siberian Railway. They are traveling from Beijing, where they have been involved in a church outreach program for children, to Moscow, and then home to America. What is that old saying about "the best laid plans of mice and men?" It clearly applies here.

Roy is an avid fan of old trains and locomotives, which is what leads the couple to take the train, rather than flying home. Jessie is a photographer with a troubled past. Her marriage to Roy has turned her life around and she is thinking of publishing a book of her photos. This trip will give her ample opportunity to indulge that passion.

When Roy and Jessie meet Carlos and Abby (Eduardo Noriega and Kate Mara), a couple traveling through Russia on the way back to Spain, all is not what it appears to be. The couple is a bit secretive, and tension begins to mount between Carlos and Jessie, who is trying to live a clean life with her husband.

When the naive Roy gets off at a remote stop to look at the different train engines, Carlos deliberately loses him, and Roy is left behind. When Jessie discovers he is missing she leaves the train at the next stop to wait for him to catch up. Carlos and Abby stay with her.

Carlos manages to entice Jessie to accompany him alone to a remote, ruined Russian Orthodox Church, under the guise of taking photos. Once they arrive at the church, Carlos becomes physically attentive to Jessie, who at first rebuffs his advances. During the push and pull of the emotional struggle, Carlos becomes violent, attempting to rape Jessie, who then uses a wooden plank to kill him. She returns to the train and is rejoined by Roy. She says nothing of what has happened, or where Carlos might be.

Roy, on his journey to rejoin his wife, has met and befriended Russian Police Inspector Grinko (Ben Kingsley) who has been following the trail of Carlos, who is a drug smuggler. To complicate matters even further, Jessie was aware of the smuggling and is actually in possession of some heroin, disguised as Bubushka Dolls. Carlos placed the dolls in Jessie's baggage, without her knowledge, prior to the events at the church. She is now frantic as she attempts to dispose of the contraband while confined to a train, under the watchful eyes of Inspector Grinko.

What happens to Abby, and what Jessie chooses to do about it, are the key questions that keep you glued to this film. The interaction of the two women, filled with mysterious undercurrents, played against the irrepressible innocence of Roy, bring a high tension to this magnificent film.

With a climax that keeps you on edge until the credits begin to roll, you don't want to miss this film. Agatha Christie would be proud.

"Rain Gods" by James Lee Burke

I don't read much fiction; outside of classical fiction, which always has a deeper meaning than the story being told on the surface. Like "Moby Dick", classical fiction can be read on several different levels. Most contemporary fiction lacks that depth. So, I generally confine myself to non-fiction. But when James Lee Burke writes fiction it is always a current and accurate assessment of what is really going on in the world. He just changes the names.

If you have never read any of Mr. Burkes previous novels, this one is a good place to begin.To establish his bona-fides, think of Alec Baldwind with Teri Hatcher and Mary Stuart Masterston in "Heavens's Prisoners", the book and film which have both been reviewed here. Writing with an almost lyrical cadence, and with an insight into the personal demons that dog us all, Mr. Burke creates characters who are so vividly real they actually feel menacing. In "Rain Gods", the author draws you into the seamy world of drug smuggling and the forced sex trade. Nothing is what it seems and all real motives are obscurred.

His previous works have largely concentrated on New Orleans and former Detective Dave Robicheaux, his struggles with alcholol, women and his own inner demons. In this book he takes on the new character of Texas Lawman Hackberry Holland, who, along with Deputy Pam Tibbs, find themselves in the middle of a Russian syndicate running Chinese prostitutes across the border while smuggling heroin in their stomachs. When the ballons in their bodies begin to burst the girls are all systematically killed by a man known as the Preacher.

All of the characters in this book will be recognizable to you if you have spent any time at all on the seamier side of things. And if not, you will be fascinated by what really goes on out there. From the evil doings of the Preacher, to the innocence of Vikki and her ne'er do well boyfriend Pete, a confused and wounded Iraqi veteran, these characters are as real as you can write them. His Deputy, Pam, is as sensitive as she is tough when it comes to protecting the Sheriff. Mr. Burke is a potent and skillfull writer with a talent for creating characters that cannot be dismissed or ignored.

With one witness to the crime, and a whole lot of people double crossing one another, this book will keep you reading, and guessing, right up until the end. One of the most engaging qualities of Mr. Burkes' writing is his deep insights into the human soul. Take this paragraph, all by itself, out of context from the book;

"He had learned long ago as a Navy Corpsmen that Morpheus did not bestow his gifts easily or cheaply. The sleep that most people yearned for rarely came this side of the grave, except perhaps to the very innocent or to those willing to mortgage tomorrow for tonight. Tying off a vein, watching the blood rise inside a hypodermic needle, staining a mint-bruised mug of crushed ice with four fingers of Jack Daniel's were all guaranteed to work. But the cost meant taking up residence in a county no reasonable person ever wanted to enter."

You can't write like without having been there. This book reads like a film. It's simply that fluid. And along the way Mr. Burke always manages to drop in some history and psychology along with a mind bending adventure that is often very close to the stories behind today's headlines. This is another triumph for James Lee Burke and the reader.