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| Breaking: Feds Thwart Iran-Tied Terror Plot Against Saudi, Israeli Targets in D.C. |
| 2011-10-11 |
| Streaming at Fox -- 1:10 CST Proceso reports that Mexican intelligence assisted with stopping the attack. The FBI and the DEA have disrupted a plot involving Iran to commit terrorism inside the United States, a senior U.S. official told CNN. The official said the alleged plan was directed by elements of the Iranian government and involved a plot to kill the Saudi ambassador to the United States. This story is developing. We'll bring you the latest information as soon as we get it. Will update 1:25 CST Authorities foiled a plot that was directed by factions of the Iranian government to bomb the Israeli and Saudi Arabian embassies in Washington and a plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the United States, Attorney General Eric Holder said Tuesday at a press conference. The criminal complaint, which unsealed in federal court in New York City Tuesday, identified the two alleged plotters as Manssor Arbabsiar and Gholam Shakuri, both with ties to Iran, Reuters reported. Arbabsiar has been jailed in New York since September and Shakuri remains at large. Holder called the alleged plot was a "flagrant violation of US and international law" and the U.S. will hold Iran accountable. Arbabsair, a naturalized U.S. citizen who holds an Iranian passport, allegedly expressed disregard for the collateral damage that the attacks in Washington would have caused. 1:30 CST Conference ended abruptly when Holder was asked what he was going to do about the subpoena. 1:42 CST CNN does a live blog during the press conference. From CNN 02:35 PM ET [Posted at 2:35 p.m. ET] Attorney General Eric Holder, when asked how Iran would be held "accountable" in an alleged plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the United States, said he expected action from the White House, the State Department and Treasury within the next few hours. A US official expanded more about how the U.S. might hold Iran accountable. The official told CNN's Elise Labott that there are likely to be more sanctions and the U.S. will be taking this up with to the United Nations Security Council and other members of the international community. PDF of Justice Department complaint |
| Posted by:Sherry |
| #19 As per NEWSMAX, looks like a number of GOVT, MEDIA BIGWIGS are labeling the incident an "ACT OF WAR" + CALLING FOR THE US TO ATTACK = BOMB IRAN NOW. "EYE FOR AN EYE" > Again, iff the US does unilater initiate some kind of military action agz Iran, it may "justify" TerrOps being launched by Radical Islam agz the OBAMA ADMIN + US GOVT. IN GENERAL. [OLIVER STONE'S "JFK" = "OBAMA"? here]. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2011-10-11 22:22 |
| #18 How about we rub it in the Soddies faces that we once again saved them? |
| Posted by: Spot 2011-10-11 20:56 |
| #17 Yes it is, but they have been provoking us for years in the hope that we would attack them. Now that the shit is hitting the fan in Syria they are doubling down on their crazy. This is a good time to just break some of their stuff. Oil and gas pipelines, from off shore platforms, you know those things corrode in sea water. Very unreliable. And refinery fires, just kind of happen, you know, just a cost of doing business. |
| Posted by: rammer 2011-10-11 20:19 |
| #16 Somebody needs to ask if the weapons to be used included any leaked F&F guns. The look Holders face would have...priceless. |
| Posted by: Charles 2011-10-11 19:57 |
| #15 Hey, he rounded up the usual suspects. Isn't that supposed to make everything OK? /snark |
| Posted by: M. Murcek 2011-10-11 19:53 |
| #14 I will bet you I know where the firearms for the op came from. Of course they probably planned a more *ahem* kinetic operation than firearms. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2011-10-11 19:13 |
| #13 Eric Holder cut short a press meeting on this this afternoon when one of the reporters asked him about F&F. I don't think this is going to be the Big Deal for him that he thought it would. |
| Posted by: Deacon Blues 2011-10-11 19:10 |
| #12 State-sponsored terrorism is an act of war isn't it? 9/11/2001 proved it isn't. |
| Posted by: Eohippus Phater7165 2011-10-11 18:43 |
| #11 Erich Halter is going to have a hard time making this a show piece prosecution when every presser turns into a Q&A on F&F. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2011-10-11 18:17 |
| #10 Timing is interesting. State-sponsored terrorism is an act of war isn't it? |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2011-10-11 18:07 |
| #9 I also find it curious that Sr. Ababsiar was going through a mexican drug cartel member ... That sort of tells me that Iran's US intel/ops infrastructure is either very sparse or under constant surveillance. Both the Iranian Qods Force and Hizb-allah have set up extensive links with Latin drug gangs as well as drug friendly governments. |
| Posted by: Eohippus Phater7165 2011-10-11 17:41 |
| #8 Dual Citizenship w/ Iran? Who authorized that little 'feature'? I also find it curious that Sr. Ababsiar was going through a mexican drug cartel member (seems a bit tedious and indiscreet, unless it was by design), both for intel and operation. That sort of tells me that Iran's US intel/ops infrastructure is either very sparse or under constant surveillance. They just may not be very good at it, either. Seems odd, though. C-4 is pretty easy to hide in anything if all you want to do is blow something/someone up. You don't need to bring in some 'paid muscle' to do it if you believe in a '72 Virgin' reward model. After thinking about how the dialog of the phone transcripts progressed between Ababsiar and Shakuri, I'm also of the belief that this guy, and not just his 'cousin', is Qods himself and not just some 'concerned citizen' (although he rolled over pretty easily based on the post-arrest testimony). That would make it a direct attack by a foreign government, not something the ayatollahs would want floating about. Is this guy a 'red herring' for something else? |
| Posted by: Mullah Richard 2011-10-11 17:32 |
| #7 Arbabsair, a naturalized U.S. citizen who holds an Iranian passport The US doesn't exactly recognize dual citizenship but it no longer quite forbids it either, despite the fact that the naturalization oath includes renouncing all loyalties to other states. A number of other countries do formally acknowledge dual citizenship and often require naturalized citizens of the US who were born in that country to apply for and hold a second passport in order to return to visit family and friends or to do business there. Those countries include Iran and Pakistan IIUC. I've met naturalized citizens from both places who are a bit fuzzy on the whole allegiance-to-the-US bit. They figure citizenship here is a matter of taxes, education for their kids and a freer environment - but home is a matter of the heart. We've had a few intense discussions, they and I, on this topic. |
| Posted by: lotp 2011-10-11 16:52 |
| #6 Coincident? Iran just released this Retrial Ordered for Iranina Pastor Facing Death Sentence for Christian Beliefs Iran's Supreme Court has ordered a retrial for a pastor sentenced to death for refusing to renounce his Christian beliefs. State media reported that the high court sent the case back to lower court because of concerns about the initial investigation. Youcef Nadarkhani, a 32-year-old pastor, was arrested in October 2009 and later sentenced to death for converting to Christianity. His attorney, Mohammad Ali Dadkhah, and religious rights organizations say Nadarkhani is facing possible execution for apostasy and for refusing to renounce his religion, contradicting reports by Iran state media that have indicated Nadarkhani was found guilty of rape, extortion and security-related crimes. |
| Posted by: Sherry 2011-10-11 15:33 |
| #5 Richard: I think I may have just stumbled upon a small, but potentially key element here, your thoughs please: Arbabsair, a naturalized U.S. citizen who holds an Iranian passport |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2011-10-11 15:24 |
| #4 "See, we actually do stuff!" - E. Holder (worming his way away from some wierd stuff regarding firearms and Mejican druggies) |
| Posted by: Mullah Richard 2011-10-11 15:19 |
| #3 Interesting timing of the release. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2011-10-11 15:10 |
| #2 Can't see a torpedo. Is that enough plausible deniability. How about a sub-launched anti-ship missle? |
| Posted by: AlanC 2011-10-11 15:02 |
| #1 Dear USN, Please feel free at your earliest possible convenience and with means and method of your choosing, to dispatch one or more (1+) Iranian naval war vessels, in such a manner as they will no longer be recoverable or operational. If you desire it to be carried out with plausible deniability, that would be just peachy, but that is likewise to your operational judgment and consideration. Yours sincerely, Uncle Sam |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2011-10-11 14:30 |