Lessons from the Iranian Plot to attack the Saudi ambassador
By Tawfik Hamid
www.tawfikhamid.com
FBI and DEA agents have disrupted a plot to commit a "significant terrorist act in the United States" officials told ABC News today.
The plot was linked to Iran.
The officials said the Saudi Arabian ambassador to the United States, Adel Al-Jubeir, was targeted, and subsequent bomb attacks were planned on the Saudi and Israeli embassies in Washington, D.C.
A possible aim of assassinating the Saudi ambassador is to damage U.S.-Saudi relations, which could create instability in the eastern part of the kingdom where a lot of oil resources exist. If the plot had not been discovered by U.S. intelligence and the assassination had succeeded, it is unlikely the Iranians would admit guilt and will blame the Americans for not protecting the diplomats, which could create friction between the United States and Saudi Arabia (which is what Iran wants). The fact that Federal prosecutors have recently asked a judge to cut the 23-year prison term being served by an American Muslim activist who admitted participating in a Libyan plot to assassinate King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia could have further aggravated the possible friction in US-Saudi relations had the attack on the ambassador succeeded.
The plot was linked to Iran.
The officials said the Saudi Arabian ambassador to the United States, Adel Al-Jubeir, was targeted, and subsequent bomb attacks were planned on the Saudi and Israeli embassies in Washington, D.C.
A possible aim of assassinating the Saudi ambassador is to damage U.S.-Saudi relations, which could create instability in the eastern part of the kingdom where a lot of oil resources exist. If the plot had not been discovered by U.S. intelligence and the assassination had succeeded, it is unlikely the Iranians would admit guilt and will blame the Americans for not protecting the diplomats, which could create friction between the United States and Saudi Arabia (which is what Iran wants). The fact that Federal prosecutors have recently asked a judge to cut the 23-year prison term being served by an American Muslim activist who admitted participating in a Libyan plot to assassinate King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia could have further aggravated the possible friction in US-Saudi relations had the attack on the ambassador succeeded.
Another aim of the Iranians could be that had the plot been discovered, they can get more credit in the eyes of young revolutionists in the Arab world. Many of these revolutionists have negative views of Saudi Arabia as it was against the so called "Arab spring". Attacking both the Saudi ambassador and the Israeli embassy can help the Iranians get more leading role in directing the "Arab spring" as they will portray themselves as the only power in the region that supports their revolutions and also the only Islamic power that can threaten Israel.
The following are important points to consider:
1. The Iranian backed Hezbollah in Latin America is a serious threat to the U.S. security.
2. Border security must be on alert for the possibility that the Iranian intelligence smuggles a radioactive bomb via the U.S. Mexican border. This could result in smuggling a nuclear bomb inside the United States.
3. This situation should teach us that soft diplomatic approaches with Iran simply do not work. A more aggressive U.S. stance toward Iran is sorely needed.
4. The United States must be careful of the possibility that its tense relation with Pakistan may be used by the Iranians to get a nuclear weapon to the hands of Iranian backed jihadi groups.
5. Since we deal with an Islamist enemy with jihadi ideology it is in the interest of the United States and the free world to make sure, by all means, that the Pakistani nukes and biological weapons do not reach any Islamic jihadi group or country that supports jihad. This possibility can spark major disasters in the world. An Iranian-Pakistani alliance is frightening possibility and it must not be ignored as Pakistan seems to be getting more radical. The following are evidence for this trend in Pakistan.
The following are important points to consider:
1. The Iranian backed Hezbollah in Latin America is a serious threat to the U.S. security.
2. Border security must be on alert for the possibility that the Iranian intelligence smuggles a radioactive bomb via the U.S. Mexican border. This could result in smuggling a nuclear bomb inside the United States.
3. This situation should teach us that soft diplomatic approaches with Iran simply do not work. A more aggressive U.S. stance toward Iran is sorely needed.
4. The United States must be careful of the possibility that its tense relation with Pakistan may be used by the Iranians to get a nuclear weapon to the hands of Iranian backed jihadi groups.
5. Since we deal with an Islamist enemy with jihadi ideology it is in the interest of the United States and the free world to make sure, by all means, that the Pakistani nukes and biological weapons do not reach any Islamic jihadi group or country that supports jihad. This possibility can spark major disasters in the world. An Iranian-Pakistani alliance is frightening possibility and it must not be ignored as Pakistan seems to be getting more radical. The following are evidence for this trend in Pakistan.
2- A Pakistani court (today) has suspended the death sentence of Mumtaz Qadri, a security guard who killed a liberal politician over the latter's remarks on the nation's controversial blasphemy law.
The more Pakistan is more radical the more the possibility that they can release one of their nukes to the Iranians. This can be a real disaster for the security of the US. A Pakistan without Nukes and more aggressive approach with the Iranians is important to prevent a major disaster in the US (if Pakistan gave readymade nukes to Iran).