U.S.: Iran-Tied D.C. Terror Plot Disrupted

[NRaleighLiberal]

Source: ABC news

"FBI and DEA agents have disrupted a plot to commit a "significant terrorist act in the United States" tied to Iran, federal officials told ABC News today."

snip...more at link

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/us-iran-tied-terror-plot-washington-dc-disrupted/story?id=14711933

[Malikshah]

1. *boomboomboomboom* drums from the deep. "they are coming..." *boomboomboom*

Never gets old. Wait.. Yes, it does

[DipsoDan]

32. Way overdue.....

But I was certain it would be Syria first, and I am surprised that it wasn't during our drumbeats before Obama's inauguration. Now, watch Obama's poll number soar... the Neocons wanted this since before the Iraq war, but needed a base or two and the terrorism fear to make it seem legitimate....

[wordpix]

75. those goose-stepping Quds forces can do no wrong, I'm sure

:sarcasm:

[NightWatcher]

2. DEA? was this some kind of reverse-Iran Contra

Iranians sell drugs to raise money to funnel weapons to terrorists???

So Holder takes heat for Fast and Furious...lookie over here.

[NRaleighLiberal]

3. ...there does seem to be something fishy about this...timing? etc.

pays to be very cynical these days....

[nadinbrzezinski]

30. No, the DEA has been cooperating with mexican authorities

For at least two decades. In fact, implied, mexican intel was involved too.

[wordpix]

72. watch the video, it will be clear to you

[Robb]

4. That's a damn interesting story.

FBI guys who happened to be posing as Zetas, Iranian-American now cooperating fully.

All kinds of "oops" in there, and for a change, not our own.

[dipsydoodle]

8. interesting "fairy" story

maybe.

[Robb]

10. We'll see.

[dipsydoodle]

14. I said that due to

of a number of "contrived" similar situations in the past.

[vminfla]

39. Such as?

[dipsydoodle]

50. google

fbi, terrror, entrapment.

Take your pick.

[vminfla]

52. So nothing

I can google fbi raelian

That does not diminish the hundreds, yes, hundreds of successful prosecutions including the Brooklyn 6.

That you somehow believe that these would-be jihadis were wrongfully denied their rights to martyrdom by being "entrapped" in an FBI sting operation does not negate the fact that these, in fact, were would-be jihadis.

[USA_1]

80. According to the article Iran deliberately wanted to kill 100 Americans

Oh great ~ how smart of Teheran to want to risk killing 100 Americans and to give the Pentagon a ready excuse to start a war that would annihilate hundreds of thousands.

Lots of credibility there.

[Badsam]

12. I wonder if the DEA was selling guns to the FBI too?

Maybe the DEA was running their own assassination plot in hopes of finding a dead official?

[bemildred]

20. Does not seem to be a transparent sting.

So yeah, could get interesting. Though I have trouble seeing why Iran would be dumb enough to risk starting a war in this way, so I will need a lot of good evidence to back the claims up. I mean the Saudi Ambassador, in DC? That'a a pretty fucking dumb government to want to do that. That is more like al Qaeda.

[Robb]

21. We'll see who else he names, I guess.

I don't think most people even know what Qods is.

[bemildred]

26. That's one of the things that makes it credible, or not incredible.

More spooks running around without much supervision.

[nadinbrzezinski]

35. The intel service more like it

As incredible as it seems Iran is not a monolith. Yes a faction would love a war by the by. (Free hint, not the president...he's loud, but not that powerful)

[bemildred]

44. Yes. Quite as disfunctional in their own way as anybody.

I guess one thing to watch for is how the government reacts, what defenses it advances.

[nadinbrzezinski]

45. Well they denied it

And the Mexican cartel are quite deniable assets.

[bemildred]

58. Well, I was hoping for something more substantial.

But I expect we will be hearing about this for a while.

[Angry Dragon]

5. ........

:nuke:

[iandhr]

6. Iran

A member of the Iranian cabinet is a suspect in the bombing of Jewish center in Argentina. This does not surprise me.

[PragmaticLiberal]

23. +1

[RaleighNCDUer]

55. And that has what to do with the price of tomatoes in Brussels? nt

[DirkGently]

7. Hmmm. Always wonder with the FBI lately whether they "uncovered" or "created" the "terrorist plot."

[a simple pattern]

22. Yeah. And whether they're "infiltrating" the gangs or "training" them.

[brooklynite]

9. Justice Dept Press Release

Two Men Charged in Alleged Plot to Assassinate Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the United States

WASHINGTON – Two individuals have been charged in New York for their alleged participation in a plot directed by elements of the Iranian government to murder the Saudi Ambassador to the United States with explosives while the Ambassador was in the United States.



The charges were announced by Attorney General Eric Holder; FBI Director Robert S. Mueller; Lisa Monaco, Assistant Attorney General for National Security; and Preet Bharara, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.



A criminal complaint filed today in the Southern District of New York charges Manssor Arbabsiar, a 56-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen holding both Iranian and U.S. passports, and Gholam Shakuri, an Iran-based member of Iran’s Qods Force, which is a special operations unit of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that is said to sponsor and promote terrorist activities abroad.



Both defendants are charged with conspiracy to murder a foreign official; conspiracy to engage in foreign travel and use of interstate and foreign commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire; conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction (explosives); and conspiracy to commit an act of international terrorism transcending national boundaries. Arbabsiar is further charged with an additional count of foreign travel and use of interstate and foreign commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire.



Shakuri remains at large. Arbabsiar was arrested on Sept. 29, 2011, at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and will make his initial appearance today before in federal court in Manhattan. He faces a maximum potential sentence of life in prison if convicted of all the charges.



“ The criminal complaint unsealed today exposes a deadly plot directed by factions of the Iranian government to assassinate a foreign Ambassador on U.S. soil with explosives,” said Attorney General Holder. “Through the diligent and coordinated efforts of our law enforcement and intelligence agencies, we were able to disrupt this plot before anyone was harmed. We will continue to investigate this matter vigorously and bring those who have violated any laws to justice.”



“The investigation leading to today’s charges illustrates both the challenges and complexities of the international threat environment, and our increased ability today to bring together the intelligence and law enforcement resources necessary to better identify and disrupt those threats, regardless of their origin,” said FBI Director Mueller.

“The disruption of this plot is a significant milestone that stems from months of hard work by our law enforcement and intelligence professionals,” said Assistant Attorney General Monaco. “I applaud the many agents, analysts and prosecutors who helped bring about today’s case.”

“As alleged, these defendants were part of a well-funded and pernicious plot that had, as its first priority, the assassination of the Saudi Ambassador to the United States, without care or concern for the mass casualties that would result from their planned attack,” said U.S. Attorney Bharara. “Today’s charges should make crystal clear that we will not let other countries use our soil as their battleground.”

The Alleged Plot



The criminal complaint alleges that, from the spring of 2011 to October 2011, Arbabsiar and his Iran-based co-conspirators, including Shakuri of the Qods Force, have been plotting the murder of the Saudi Ambassador to the United States. In furtherance of this conspiracy, Arbabsiar allegedly met on a number of occasions in Mexico with a DEA confidential source (CS-1) who has posed as an associate of a violent international drug trafficking cartel. According to the complaint, Arbabsiar arranged to hire CS-1 and CS-1’s purported accomplices to murder the Ambassador, and Shakuri and other Iran-based co-conspirators were aware of and approved the plan. With Shakuri’s approval, Arbabsiar has allegedly caused approximately $100,000 to be wired into a bank account in the United States as a down payment to CS-1 for the anticipated killing of the Ambassador, which was to take place in the United States.



According to the criminal complaint, the IRCG is an arm of the Iranian military that is composed of a number of branches, one of which is the Qods Force. The Qods Force conducts sensitive covert operations abroad, including terrorist attacks, assassinations and kidnappings, and is believed to sponsor attacks against Coalition Forces in Iraq. In October 2007, the U.S. Treasury Department designated the Qods Force for providing material support to the Taliban and other terrorist organizations.



The complaint alleges that Arbabsiar met with CS-1 in Mexico on May 24, 2011, where Arbabsiar inquired as to CS-1’s knowledge with respect to explosives and explained that he was interested in, among other things, attacking an embassy of Saudi Arabia. In response, CS-1 allegedly indicated that he was knowledgeable with respect to C-4 explosives. In June and July 2011, the complaint alleges, Arbabsiar returned to Mexico and held additional meetings with CS-1, where Arbabsiar explained that his associates in Iran had discussed a number of violent missions for CS-1 and his associates to perform, including the murder of the Ambassador.



$1.5 Million Fee for Alleged Assassination



In a July 14, 2011, meeting in Mexico, CS-1 allegedly told Arbabsiar that he would need to use four men to carry out the Ambassador’s murder and that his price for carrying out the murder was $1.5 million. Arbabsiar allegedly agreed and stated that the murder of the Ambassador should be handled first, before the execution of other attacks. Arbabsiar also allegedly indicated he and his associates had $100,000 in Iran to pay CS-1 as a first payment toward the assassination and discussed the manner in which that payment would be made.



During the same meeting, Arbabsiar allegedly described to CS-1 his cousin in Iran, who he said had requested that Arbabsiar find someone to carry out the Ambassador’s assassination. According to the complaint, Arbabsiar indicated that his cousin was a “big general” in the Iranian military; that he focuses on matters outside Iran and that he had taken certain unspecified actions related to a bombing in Iraq.



In a July 17, 2011, meeting in Mexico, CS-1 noted to Arbabsiar that one of his workers had already traveled to Washington, D.C., to surveill the Ambassador. CS-1 also raised the possibility of innocent bystander casualties. The complaint alleges that Arbabsiar made it clear that the assassination needed to go forward, despite mass casualties, telling CS-1, “They want that guy done , if the hundred go with him f**k ‘em.” CS-1 and Arbabsiar allegedly discussed bombing a restaurant in the United States that the Ambassador frequented. When CS-1 noted that others could be killed in the attack, including U.S. senators who dine at the restaurant, Arbabsiar allegedly dismissed these concerns as “no big deal.”



On Aug. 1, and Aug. 9, 2011, with Shakuri’s approval, Arbabsiar allegedly caused two overseas wire transfers totaling approximately $100,000 to be sent to an FBI undercover account as a down payment for CS-1 to carry out the assassination. Later, Arbabsiar allegedly explained to CS-1 that he would provide the remainder of the $1.5 million after the assassination. On Sept. 20, 2011, CS-1 allegedly told Arbabsiar that the operation was ready and requested that Arbabsiar either pay one half of the agreed upon price ($1.5 million) for the murder or that Arbabsiar personally travel to Mexico as collateral for the final payment of the fee. According to the complaint, Arbabsiar agreed to travel to Mexico to guarantee final payment for the murder.



Arrest and Alleged Confession



On or about Sept. 28, 2011, Arbabsiar flew to Mexico. Arbabsiar was refused entry into Mexico by Mexican authorities and, according to Mexican law and international agreements; he was placed on a return flight destined for his last point of departure. On Sept. 29, 2011, Arbabsiar was arrested by federal agents during a flight layover at JFK International Airport in New York. Several hours after his arrest, Arbabsiar was advised of his Miranda rights and he agreed to waive those rights and speak with law enforcement agents. During a series of Mirandized interviews, Arbabsiar allegedly confessed to his participation in the murder plot.



According to the complaint, Arbabsiar also admitted to agents that, in connection with this plot, he was recruited, funded and directed by men he understood to be senior officials in Iran’s Qods Force. He allegedly said these Iranian officials were aware of and approved of the use of CS-1 in connection with the plot; as well as payments to CS-1; the means by which the Ambassador would be killed in the United States and the casualties that would likely result.



Arbabsiar allegedly told agents that his cousin, who he had long understood to be a senior member of the Qods Force, had approached him in the early spring of 2011 about recruiting narco-traffickers to kidnap the Ambassador. Arbabsiar told agents that he then met with the CS-1 in Mexico and discussed assassinating the Ambassador. According to the complaint, Arbabsiar said that, afterwards, he met several times in Iran with Shakuri and another senior Qods Force official, where he explained that the plan was to blow up a restaurant in the United States frequented by the Ambassador and that numerous bystanders could be killed, according to the complaint. The plan was allegedly approved by these officials.



In October 2011, according to the complaint, Arbabsiar made phone calls at the direction of law enforcement to Shakuri in Iran that were monitored. During these phone calls, Shakuri allegedly confirmed that Arbabsiar should move forward with the plot to murder the Ambassador and that he should accomplish the task as quickly as possible, stating on Oct. 5, 2011, “ust do it quickly, it’s late . . .” The complaint alleges that Shakuri also told Arbabsiar that he would consult with his superiors about whether they would be willing to pay CS-1 additional money.



This investigation is being conducted by the FBI Houston Division and DEA Houston Division, with assistance from the FBI New York Joint Terrorism Task Force. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Glen Kopp and Edward Kim, of the Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, with assistance from the Counterterrorism Section of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. The Office of International Affairs of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and the U.S. State Department provided substantial assistance. We thank the government of Mexico for its close coordination and collaboration in this matter, and for its role in ensuring that the defendant was safely apprehended.



The charges contained in a criminal complaint are mere allegations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

[KoKo]

13. So....Eric Holder is alive and well. Passed it along to CNN (the War Channel) for Breaking News...

I believe it when it isn't disputed a month from now when the real facts come out. :-(

[ChairmanAgnostic]

19. Dual citizenship, Iran & USA? BULL + SHIT = this whole

mess.

[Behind the Aegis]

54. It doesn't say dual citizenship.

[vminfla]

57. Yes, dual citizenship

"The two men linked to the alleged plot were named as Manssor Arbabsiar, a 56-year-old naturalised US citizen with dual Iranian and US passports, and Gholam Shakuri, based in Iran and said to be a member of Iran's Quds Force."

[Behind the Aegis]

81. That does not say dual citizenship. It says dual PASSPORTS.

[brooklynite]

11. This is going to give our FRiends fits...

They definitely don't like Iran, so they'll be happy the plot was thwarted...

...but they also don't much like Saudi Arabia, so they'll be unsympathetic that the Saudi Ambassador was saved...

...and they REALLY don't like AG Holder, so they'll be furious that the Obama Administration broke another plot.

[Wait Wut]

15. Same as always.

They live in a constant state of confusion about what they're supposed to like, support, hate and worship. That's what they have FOX for, to clear it all up for them. Right now the "& Friends" are in a huddle trying to figure out the best angle to take on the story.

[Muskypundit]

65. They already have the angle. For serious. Their angle is why did it take obama so long

To twart the attack. They said a memo made it to his desk in july about this; why did it take so long. Nevermind the fact that law enforcement and counter terrorism agencies operate that way to get max info, it is WHY DID IT TAKE OBAMA A COUPLE MONTHS TO STOP SOMETHING THAT WAS STOPPED before it became important. Fuck them.

[wordpix]

73. so true, they're in a huddle now to spin the story their way

Bushco really was the group that thwarted the plot, dontcha know?

[SixthSense]

16. They gonna start a war to distract from OWS now?

Who is going to pay for this war? Wall Street? Gonna draft up some trust fund babies?

[Proletariatprincess]

17. I don't buy it.

Too convenient. Vilify Iran and focus the media on something other than the revolution on the streets. Just perfect. We should have seen something like this coming. It is October surprise time, afterall. Sounds like a skeem to me.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

18. I absolutely agree with you. The stench is overpowering

and the timing is extremely suspect.

The idea that Iran would actively seek to assassinate someone in the US, when Israel is threatening them daily, that's not just stupid, that is unthinkable. Say what you will about their mullahs and leadership, they may quote thunder and demand lighting, but suicidal they are not.

Add the fact that the FBI seemed to be the driving force of this farce from early on, and I think we have an absolute need to replace a bunch of people in DC. Starting with Holder.

[PragmaticLiberal]

28. This isn't as far-fetched as you might think.

When you get a chance, google "Iran Jewish Center"

[RaleighNCDUer]

51. What does a Jewish community center in Buenas Aires years ago

have to do with a Saudi ambassador in the US today?

[bemildred]

60. It is supposed to demonstrate that Iran is indeed capable of such base conspiracies.

Which is not really in dispute.

[Muskypundit]

66. The argument it doesnt matter because it happened a couple years ago

is just as blatantly dumb as Cains 'Banks fucked us up a couple years ago but its 2011, everything is different ohkay?'

[RaleighNCDUer]

82. Nobody said it didn't matter - and it was 17 years ago -

I'm only saying it is irrelevant. Apples and oranges. Was Argentina itching for a war with Iran when that happened? Was Iran opening itself up to the overwhelming retaliation by the Argentine army, air force and navy?

Put it this way - is punching a 14 year old freshman the same as belting an army Ranger?

It is nuts to think they'd even consider an open act of war against the US. Just becasue they have the capability to do it doesn't mean they are crazy enough to actually do it.

this is nuts.

All we need now is a band wagon, and "they will welcome us a liberators".

[Muskypundit]

99. Elements of iran are nuts.

They are constantly harrasing ships and aircraft in the gulf, aiding terror orgs in Iraq and Afghanistan through the rev guard... It's a big list.

Iran does not have a unified gov in the sense like we do. Different sections do different things answering to different causes, people, and organizations. Which is why I don't doubt their president had nothing to do with it. He is only the 17th most powerful person in Iran.

[nadinbrzezinski]

34. Google Jewish community center and buenos aires.

[JNinWB]

37. Any evidence for this assertion?

"The idea that Iran would actively seek to assassinate someone in the US, when Israel is threatening them daily, that's not just stupid, that is unthinkable. Say what you will about their mullahs and leadership, they may quote thunder and demand lighting, but suicidal they are not. "

[walerosco]

40. Did you miss the news

where Israel was asking the US military for bunker busters? who do you think those bombs were intended for? America has a big stick and lately she has been eager to swing it at any potential threat. Why in the world would Iran risk getting their head smashed in for just for a lowly Saudi Ambassador?

[wordpix]

78. did you miss the article that was posted? This guy was associated with the Quds force

so the plot may or may not have been hatched at the highest gov. levels. The "lowly Saudi ambassador" could be a target for any no. of reasons and by any (small) number of Iranian persons.

[USA_1]

79. Why Would the Gov't Of Iran Want to Kill Him??

Strange that Teheran would so conveniently set this up with the USA all the while watching and documenting all this ''evidence''. Sounds a bit far fetched - like something dream up by COINTELPRO.

[nadinbrzezinski]

92. The government is not monolithic

And there is more, there is a faction that wants to overthrow the house of Saud. Targets were also the embassies of Israel and saudi in dc and buenos aires.

[USA_1]

94. And This Faction Wants to Risk a USA Invasion?

They are willing to kill 100 Americans in Washington, DC and risk having a retaliatory attack that would kill several hundred thousand Iranians? Why? Because they want to further enrich the Pentagon and to make Obama look like a hero to the right wing? If they want mass suicide, they could just drink spiked Kool Aid - the cleanup would certainly be a lot easier than it would be if the Air Force drops bombs all over their cities.

[nadinbrzezinski]

96. Yup...they the the real holy warriors

Same behind the bombing in buenos aires.

[USA_1]

97. 1994 Buenos Aires Bombing

Of course, Ahmadinejad was not in the government at that time so he could not possibly have any link to it. Interestingly, Argentinian police were tried but found not guilty of that crime. Nobody in Latin America believes Iran had anything to do with that crime since most Latinos are sympathetic to Palestinians and Middle Easterners in their grievances against the West.

[wordpix]

77. how do YOU know it's a "farce?" Sounds believable to me. This IS a war going on

and the strangest things happen in a war, cold or hot.

[vminfla]

29. Ummm, because bad guys don't really exist?

Quite frankly, I would have no issue with these suspects being taken to Saudi Arabia if you believe that the US shouldn't get its hands any dirtier in this mess.

[Proletariatprincess]

38. Ummm, because USA is often the bad guys?

[vminfla]

42. The "US = Bad" meme is a common trope in straight to video action movies

but bears little resemblance to the hard work and dedication to the thousands of people who put their lives on the line every day to help ensure that you have the right to say things like that about the government.

[Arctic Dave]

59. Wrong. It bears a lot of resemblance to real life

People and building don't spontaneously explode, there are war mongering douchebags pulling the triggers.

Nice fairy tale your pushing though.

[Name removed]

86. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Festivito]

95. I agree and think it has more than one purpose. Further vilify Iran and garner sympathy for Saudis.

I had a prior post from another of many small DU posts on this one topic: (My own experience, take with salt)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=2099241&mesg_id=2102184

Interesting BBC story progression tonight. And, is a PR firm trying to sell Saudis?

BBC had a guy on tonight who said that the hit looked nothing like a hit done by Iran. He went on to describe the kind of hit they would generally employ. Hm-mm.
The questioning continued to imply the investigation as a done-deal as though the detailed answer had taken the moderator too much by surprise.

Then, for a couple of hours, the story came with the Iran-hit-inconsistency caveat.

Then, after about four hours, a woman gave what would be another interview. No mention of the detail given earlier either to correct it as a mistake or to restate it as from another expert.

Move along folks, nothing to see here now.

Going further with the theme of this being a setup: my first thought is that this would be another, the second I recollect, PR attempt to make Saudis appear victims and that could be in order to garner sympathy as their once hidden role in 9/11 unravels into revelations.

[Yooperman]

24. Interesting Headline.... "Iran" tied to terrorists! - If they were Iranians... it doesn't mean

the Iranian government was involved...

It does remind me of the 9-11 terrorists...they were mostly Saudi Arabians...yet you didn't see a headline... "Saudi Arabia tied to terrorist attack!".

I will have to wait and see...although as with all things of this nature...getting the truth from our own government will keep us in the dark for decades I am sure.

YM

[walerosco]

36. Cough "bullshit Cough

Exactly and imagine the Iranian government using the USA banking system to pay him. This is so not believable. No country with a working brain would do anything that stupid to a war loving American military. Especially a country we have been looking for a reason to attack.

Maybe because I just finished watching V for Vendetta but yup I dont believe it

[Muskypundit]

67. There are elements in the iranian government

that operate independent of everything else in their government, that WANT. WAR.

BADLY.

[mainegreen]

25. I wouldn't be surprised.

Iran right now is in the midst of serious internal political power struggles, and Saudi Arabia and Iran's relationship would best be described as 'deep hatred and suspicion'. To take out the Saudi's US ambassador as well as one of the king's premier confidants would be a big deal, esp if they could hide themselves as the actor involved.

Imagine the gain if they actually managed to use this to drive a wedge in US/Saudi relations!

It'll be interesting to see where this all leads. Interesting times in the middle east.

[nadinbrzezinski]

33. Add to this the attempts on the Israeli and Saudi embassies

The friend of my friend.

[Turbineguy]

27. Thanks to quick thinking by

Former President George W Bush.

Just getting ready for the RW spin.

[nadinbrzezinski]

31. Coverage in Mexico is interesting

To say the least.

My money is on Iranian intel, and...drum roll... We do have true paramilitaries in Mexico. This is a classic of that.

[Posteritatis]

43. What are they saying about it there? (nt)

[nadinbrzezinski]

46. Pretty low key

Two reasons. Hurricane s comming in...and quite frankly they had a role. But they don't want to reveal methods. One of these guys was arrested and sent back to JFK when he did not fulfill entry requirements. Realize entry into Mexico is damn easy as a us citizen, which tells me Mexican intel had info...that is my read.

[Dover]

41. IF there is any truth to this it does seem our double standard is alive and well.

We can kill anyone we deem our enemy without benefit of a trial or protections under the law, including giving ourselves permission to assassinate world leaders, and yet this 'terrorist's' attempt to kill is somehow different?
And often, as with drone attacks, we kill innocent citizens.

[nadinbrzezinski]

47. BBC is now covering it was the intel arm of the revolutionary guards.

Qoots

My read...they knew enough of the cartes but not enough to tell the "god guys" from the "bad guys," and mexican paramilitaries will take the job. oh and concern over casualties who's kidding who?

[dipsydoodle]

63. BBC simply reported what Holder claimed.

.

[chrisa]

90. Whoever wanted this done was also a big dummy.

Assuming that Mexican drug cartels would risk a US backlash over a measly 1.5 million dollars. The second Mexican drug cartels start terrorist attacks on American soil, I give them about 3 months tops before all of their leaders would end up eating lead sandwiches or in some shallow grave somewhere.

[nadinbrzezinski]

91. And what do you think they are eating right now

I would recommend people become familiar with how paramilitaries work.

Oh and in case you wonder 35k people died last year, and over 10k were at least...from the cartels.

[chrisa]

93. They're battling for supremacy in that border region

The last thing they want is another enemy to threaten that, which would give their rivals a boost.

[DipsoDan]

48. McFarland: This Could Be Seen As An Act of War

http://video.foxnews.com/v/1213124350001/mcfarland-this-could-be-seen-as-an-act-of-war/?playlist_id=86856

[area51]

71. Welcome to DU, DipsoDan. n/t

[DipsoDan]

74. Thanks 51!!

Hey, here's an interesting coincidence... I used to work at the Nevada Test Site and stumbled by accident onto the west gate to 51 (Groom Lake) and was turned away by some huge guys with sub-machine guns and camouflaged uniforms and mean faces. The next two mornings on my way to work I was followed directly overhead by a small black helicopter with no markings. Both mornings it landed on a small mesa about fifty yards from the road where I turned..... thanks for the welcome. I knew there would be some reason sooner or later for us to attack and occupy Iran.... it's not surprising at all, Syria will be next...

[Downwinder]

49. What's the big deal? It was alright when Chile did it.

I don't even remember it being on the evening news.

[RaleighNCDUer]

53. I think the timing is very interesting -

just after the hostages, er, hikers were released.

Things have been pretty low-key concerning Iran for quite a while - and as soon as the last two hikers are released, suddenly they heat up again.

Just a coincidence, I'm sure.

[EFerrari]

88. There was a segment on this story today on Washington Journal

and the callers did NOT go for it. The host was a little freaked out because caller after caller dismissed it as bs. lol

[catabryna]

56. The whole thing smells...

I'm not certain if any of you have looked at the pdf of the complaint but, it is certainly the most bizarre complaint I've ever read. It is much more telling than the articles I've seen written by the various news outlets.

Here's a link if any of you are interested.

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/page/us-complaint-alleged-iran-directed-terror-plot-12108635

[Purveyor]

61. This whole 'story' stinks as does a crock of shit... eom

[stockholmer]

62. FBI finds disgruntled individuals, then they pose as operatives, and entrap by encouraging violence

http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/08/fbi-terrorist-informants


The US has for years engaged in cyber-terrorism, commercial sabotage, targeted assassinations, and proxy wars directly against Iran.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/19/world/middleeast/19stuxnet.html?sq=stuxnet&st=cse&scp=2&pagewanted=print

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/13/world/middleeast/13iran.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/30/world/middleeast/30tehran.html?ref=stuxnet

http://www.npr.org/2011/05/10/136054851/covert-war-with-iran-a-wilderness-of-mirrors

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/25/world/25military.html?hp

http://nationalinterest.org/blog/paul-pillar/inevitable-unpredictable-regime-change-iran-5314

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Additionally, US-supported Israeli agents have admitted to committing terrorist acts, including assassinations, on people inside Iran.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,777899,00.html

http://thinkprogress.org/security/2011/05/31/231749/iran-decision-nuclear-weapons/

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,739883,00.html

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This 'terrorist plot' charge comes soon after the Iranian government proposed yet again to swap low-enriched uranium for fuel rods to use in the Tehran Research Reactor, which produces medical isotopes. http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/09/30/u-s-dismisses-irans-nuclear-offer-as-empty-promises/ The deal was turned down by the US in 2009 even after Iran agreed to the US terms.

Once again, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad restated that Iran is willing to immediately stop all production of 20% enriched uranium if the US agrees to the deal. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hgcXVoTiNqpEZNAJWJB3Zf_t95Tg?docId=CNG.0d7475ce7de608317f0ef718cc8c43a2.c11

The US has so far turned down the renewed opportunity to ease tensions and reduce the potential for nuclear proliferation, instead using this FBI sting to push for even harsher measures against Iran.

[wordpix]

76. yeah I'm sure everything the Iranian Quds do is honorable & our FBI is the bad guy always

:sarcasm:

[on point]

64. I call bullshit unless they produce evidence and not inuendo...

Just more distraction from the theft taking place on our doorstep

[bitchkitty]

68. I smell something.

Is that yellow cake?

[Name removed]

69. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Nihil]

87. Isn't that the truth though ...?

Got quite a lot of the old brigade in a single thread.

It would appear that this diversion needs a lot of pushing.

:think:

[Jefferson23]

70. Call me highly skeptical for now. n/t

[The Northerner]

83. Hmm, could this be used as an excuse to instigate military force against Iran?

I happen to be extremely skeptical of such claims especially after the WMDs, Iraqi-9/11 connection, and the al-Qaida-Iraqi connection claims.

[Poll_Blind]

84. Well, it would make a GREAT excuse for the US to justify an Israeli attack against Iran.

If, say, one were to happen.

PB

[dipsydoodle]

85. US to pressure Iran over 'plot to kill Saudi envoy'

The US secretary of state has called for a "very strong message" to be sent to Iran, after allegations of a plot to kill the Saudi ambassador to the US.

Hillary Clinton said Washington was preparing new penalties against Iran, which is already subject to a variety of international sanctions.

Two Iranians were charged over the plot which US officials said implicated Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Meanwhile the US issued a worldwide alert about possible anti-US actions.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-15269348

[chrisa]

89. I would be willing to bet it was out of the Iranian government's control.

They may be irrational, but they aren't that irrational. I would bet it was probably religious fanatics tearing away control from the Iranian government. The last thing Iran wants to do, though, is appear weak like they can't control their own forces.

It's like something from a movie.

[rayofreason]

98. Reasons to question this...

1. Pretty amateur hour. Trust some Mexican drug guy instead of muslim agents? Doesn't fit the typical Iranian MO.

2. Sleeper cell are secret for a reason, but this guy has Rev. Guard relatives. Too identifiable.

3. What was the goal? A successful attack, if traced back to Iran, would result in a US attack! There are plenty of other ways to attack US assets without an attack on US soil.

I am not saying that the Administration is lying, but there better be solid evidence that produces broad congressional assent in closed hearings before any action should be taken.