Implications of Alleged Iranian Assassination Plot
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2011-10-13/implications-alleged-iranian-assassination-plot
The United States promised Iran will face serious consequences if it's found to have been involved in an alleged terror plot on U.S. soil. The Justice Department accused an Iranian-American of planning to assassinate Saudi Arabia's U.S. ambassador with the help of a Mexican drug cartel. The White House said the plot clearly involved senior levels of Iran's security forces. Iran strongly denied the accusations. Some Iran experts here and abroad voiced skepticism about Iranian government involvement. They say little about the case resembles Tehran's past actions. An update on the bizarre case and the implications for U.S.-Iran relations.
Guests
Michael Greenberger
director, Center for Health and Homeland Security at the University of Maryland; former senior regulator, Commodities Futures Trading Commission.
Barbara Slavin
senior fellow, The Atlantic Council; author of four reports on Iran in the past year; and author of "Bitter Friends, Bosom Enemies: Iran, the U.S and the Twisted Path to Confrontation."
Trita Parsi
president, National Iranian American Council; author of the forthcoming book "A Single Roll of the Dice - Obama's Diplomacy with Iran."
Comments
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Anyone who believes the facts of this plot as presented in the media has no critical thinking ability. Saudi Arabia is more anti-American than Iran. Pakistan is more anti-American than Saudi Arabia. Our FBI busts the plots they instigate.
This sounds "fast and furious" to me. Maybe it is a 'short order diversion" cooked up in response to the Palestinian statehood bid. Anyway all the used car dealers and drug traffickers are telltale signs of false flagging activity. Right wing Cubans and the Mafia are liable to pop up any second. It's just another ghost story from our Secret Government. Boo-o-o-o! Ain't y'all ascared yet?
We spend somewhere north of 80 billion a year on "intelligence", what we get is frame-ups of people who are not a threat to anyone but are set up and brought to our attention to let us know our government is hard at work keeping us safe. Eric Holder is the epitome of Obama's incompetence, lets hang our heads in shame for the americans who voted him in.
You can make waffles or pancakes out of the same batter, isn't it something the above poster can look to government for salvation and in the next breath condemn it.
So let me get this straight - anything that actually confirms that Iran hates us and would try to thumb their noses at us in the eyes of the world, MUST be a "conspiracy of our Secret Government".
B.S. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.
The Neville Chamberlains (with respect to Iran) like you need to get real and open your eyes to the fact that the world is an ugly place.
Well: The US just sent some bunker busting bombs to one of our "great allies," Israel. This helps the justification for the use of these bombs by Israel.
No wonder the Arab world does not like the US and its Middle East policies.
One would think that MSM outlets like NPR, the so called liberal MSNBC programs, etc etc that news host and pundits would demand, challenge the willingness of Secretary of State Clinton, Attorney General Eric Holder and others who are linking upper level Iraniain officials with this alleged plot to kill the Saudi Arabian ambassador to the US with no hard evidence.
Can anyone say "curveball" the "Niger Documents" a "pack of WMD's in Iraq lies"
The very same individuals who assisted the Bush administration lies about Iraq started banging on the lets go get Iran drums just after the invasion of Iraq. Micheal Ledeen, Gaffney, Reul Marc Gerecht, Cheney, Bill Kristol, David "axis of evil" Frum, Kenneth Pollack. Many of these individuals have been allowed to repeat unsubstantiated claims about Iran on MSM outlets including NPR.
Is it really too much to ask our MSM outlets to challenge these claims. To investigate these claims? Before people like Chris Matthews and others jump on the bandwagon and start demanding a retaliation against Iran.
Or is that pile of decomposing bodies of innocent people in Iraq and dead and injured American soldiers not enough dead based on a "pack of lies" not enough for these warmongers and our press?
Please go to RACE FOR IRAN for more substantiated information about US Iran relations.
And when will the Diane Rehm show have former Bush administration official Flynt Leverett on? Or Hillary Mann Leverett, Steve Clemons, Glenn Greenwald for a wider perspective about Iran and these claims
Steve
And Iran signed the Non Proliferation Treaty long ago. Under the NPT is allowed to enrich uranium....and Israel continues to refuse to sign the NPT that they demand their neighbors abide by...while sitting on piles of uninspected nuclear, biological and chemical weapons that started the arms race in the middle east and threatens peace in the middle east.
kathleen wrote:
"Is it really too much to ask our MSM outlets to challenge these claims."
Get the facts, absolutely. But when you have the information you have to be prepared to act. Is it reasonable to think that such an assassination plot COULD NOT have been formed short of the highest eschelons of the Irani government? At this point, it's reasonable. We are just at the very beginning of this story. It's way to early for EITHER side to jump to any conclusions.
Oh ... and the left has short memory as to who supported the invasion of Iraq.
Seymour Hersh has written a fair amount about US and Israeli Mossad special force troops on the ground in Iran for many years now. Israel has all ready committed acts of war against Iran in the cyber world, and continues to threaten Iran almost daily along with the Israeli lobby in the US.
Flynt Leverett and others have written about how the US has refused to really communicate directly with Iranian officials because of the pressure from Israel and the I lobby in the states to not negotiate honestly.
Can your guest address these claims?
One thing we know is that 14 of the 9/11 terrorist were from Saudi Arabia. We also know that when Bush 43's Secretary of Treasury Paul O'Neil started investigating connections between Saudi Arabian officials and 9/11.
Why do we feel so protective of Saudi Arabia?
Will these checks sent through New York Banks be deeply investigated? Can we say Curveball, Niger Documents the magical Iranian laptop that belonged to the US's CIA?
Did they find Micheal Ledeen's or Micheal Rubin's fingerprints on those checks?
egchbert
"it's way to early for eiher side to jump to any conclusions"
And Clinton, Holder, MSM host like Chris Matthews, an article sent out by the wire "Iran planned attack in the US" all have immediately used inflammatory, unsubstantiated, dangerous language linking upper level Iranian officals with this ALLEGED plot.
When Obama administration officials carelessly jump to dangerous conclusions and then the majority of the MSM immediately does the same...come on. The American people, the Iranian people the world deserves more from our leaders
And here is another indication that comic fascist commentators of political porn may be in a boiler room somewhere at the DIA or NSA. They indulge in near advocacy of rub-out for our gameshow host Obama, but they never doubt the word of our Covert Lords. They live in a memory hole where every media manipulation of public opinion is a new ballgame we must win. It is easy to see where their bets are placed.
I would have faith in a government that was democratically elected by an informed citizenry. The Federal Government is the only thing protecting us from commercialized debauchery and exploitation. Problem is that the role models of the comic fascist commentators now nearly dominate government.
Are the Palestinians dispossessed and brutalized complaintants, or just losers on some reality show sponsored by Oligarchs? They don't got no bunker busters or jets, no warheads..... kind of like people at an Occupation, just the People's mic. I'm waiting for Horton to hear the Whos.
Barbara Slavin when Israel and the Israeli lobby in the US continue to discourage and block direct talks between Iran and the US...how do you suggest productive talks take place?
I would like to question a little what Michael said about the US humiliating Iran by supporting the Arab Spring. The dictators that fell were all US supported dictators with bad relations with Iran: Mubarak, Ben Ali and even Kadhafi. Others are struggling like Saleh of Yemen. In Lebanon an Iranian allied government is in power. If any there is Syria where the outcome is in no way decided yet. Based on public opinion in the Arab world, I would say it was the US that was humiliated.
Micheal where is this hard evidence that confirms that high levels in Iran were involved?
Micheal "this is something that does not need to be proved" What are you talking about? Are there not enough innocent dead people in Iraq, dead and injured Americans based on "packs of lies" for you?
Yes sir VERIFIABLE PROOF IS CRITICAL for any US actions. You know proof like 14 of the 9/11 terrorist were from Saudi Arabia.
This sure sounds like another "curveball, the magical laptop from Iran, Niger Documents" attempt to escalate a confrontation with Iran
Fuad
and then when it came to verification of upper level Iranian officials being involved with this alleged plot Micheal said "this is something that does not need to be proved"
As if there are not enough dead, injured and displaced people based on false intelligence
This was not a plot against the Saudi or Israel. This is no more than an attempt to place a terrorism act on US soil anonymously. If you're going to do it, then why not pick targets you don't like. Even better if they don't like each other. If they pulled this off the speculation on who did it would have been wild. Michael Greenberger gets it.
The "alleged plot" is highly suspicious. Why would the Iranians run such a huge risk? If they wanted to assassinate high level Saudis -- why do so in the US of all places? And depend on third rate operatives?
Well -- it's possible. But it's much more likely that this "alleged plot" is the result of machinations of those in power (US and elsewhere?) itching to lay the basis for still more war -- this time Iran. Those responsible must be depending on people being blinded by "American Exceptionalism" and possess no critical faculties whatever.
The only things exceptional about the US at this time is the sheer mendacity of those in power (and most of the Democrats and Republicans in Congress), and the level of violence they are prepared to use to make their next move in the Middle East. Occupy.
Curious the attention being given an alleged assassination plot when dust continues to rise with regard to the events of 9/11 - otherwise totally ignored my the mainstream media. There was a slight slip of the tongue mentioning Mossad as a ridiculous factor in this current plot, yet Jewish benefactors are all over 9/11. Meanwhile the country continues its decline, avoiding confronting the facts that worm through its heart...
I agree it's way too early to draw any conclusion for this not ready for prime time story, Holders release of this now is suspect to say the least. Over reaction is a U.S. habit, I will go out on a limb and say Iran should get their nuke and soon to help maintain peace.
the one guest started talking about Iranian credibility. Come on as if US credibility is much better. Can anyone say Curveball, Judy Miller's Iraq reporting, the New York Times going along with her reporting, WMD's in Iraq, Niger Documents, magical laptop in Iran, Iranian scientist being killed, US and Israeli forces on the ground in Iran according to Seymour Hersh, endlessly unsubstantiated claims about Iran allowed to be repeated by guest on MSM outlets as wel as MSM host like Rachel Maddow and Terry Gross repeating these unsubstantiated claims about Iran themselves.
The US's credibility around the world is not much better than Irans.
Please address Israel's cyber attacks on Iran's nuclear program.
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Barbara you may not know but Iran signed the NPT and has the right under that agreement to enrich uranium
ecgberht wrote:
"it's way to early for eiher side to jump to any conclusions"
kathleen wrote:
"When Obama administration officials carelessly jump to dangerous conclusions and then the majority of the MSM immediately does the same...come on. "
What part of "it's way to early for either side to jump to any conclusions" don't you understand?!
Geez! Some people you can't even AGREE with!
Its outrageous that we are making such a big deal about this plot, when we have more than enough evidence demonstrating Iran's involment in the killing of Americans in Iraq and funding militants activities all over the world in order to harm American interests. Why is no one making a big rdeal about that?
Esteban in Miami, Fl
Monte wrote"
"Eric Holder is the epitome of Obama's incompetence, lets hang our heads in shame for the americans who voted him in."
I attended the Eric Holder nomination hearings in DC. Sat near the anti invasion and pro justice activist retired Colonel Ann Wright (so appreciate her example of patriotism, she is still waiting for a reply from Secretary of State Clinton about Israel's killing of US citizen Furkan Dogan on the Mavi Marmara). She wrote Clinton two letters about these Israeli executions.
During the Holder nomination hearings I stopped counting how many times he said "no one is above the law" at 25. Holder granted Clintons pardon of Marc Rich (who did a great deal of business with Iran) Holder and Obama have not held any of the Bush war criminals accountable, allowed the telecommunications companies who wiretapped Americans off the hook, dismissed the Aipac/Rosen/Weissman (Kenneth Pollack US Gov 1 in the FBI investigation...go read the files on the investigation) espionage trial.
Holder, Obama, Feinstein, Leahy, etc etc "no one is above the law" Americans and the world are laughing. Trickle down indeed
Show us the evidence. Prove that
For some reason I was not able to access the Democracy Now! website, and so I tuned into the DR show. What do we get? That woman from McPaper again, and her guests, advancing the government's absurd conspiracy theory. Then the local beg-a-thonners break in talking about how great the shows are! Not one penny for you!
Here's what somebody who knows whats going on in the Middle East says about the situation: http://www.counterpunch.org/2011/10/13/bizarre-iranian-"plot"-doesn't-add-up/
There is an argument to be made that Israel's possession of nuclear weapons has served a stabilizing element in the Middle East, due to its ability to induce a balance of terror. During the 1973 Yom Kippur War, Syria's advance into Israel was said to be halted by Israel's reminder of their ability to make Damascus glow. Syria chose to cease its advance.
The arms race in the Middle East is the inevitable result of centuries of war, cultural enmity, and religious fervor. Who has and/or holds weapons is irrelevant. It is who commands these weapons and do they have the ill-conceived notion that they can be used in such a manner that they can survive and triumph post-retaliatory strike.
For kathleen:
It very hard to understand that a person like yourself who is very liberal, well read, and keeps up with current events supports the enemies that are out to destroy the US.
You always mentioned that Bush is a crimminal but you have never mentioned the poison gas that Saddam used to bombed the Kurds. Poison is considered WMD. You never mentioned how many people Saddam and the Baath party killed during his 20 something years in powers. There have been some estimates that as many as 300,000 were killed.
I wonder how many more Iraqis would have been killed if Saddam was still in power today? Yea you always have number of citizens killed since liberation but it does not compare what Saddam did? I have not even included the death of Iranians killed by a war that Saddam started in the 1979 invasion? Why Kathleen?
Kathleen also stated:
"During the Holder nomination hearings I stopped counting how many times he said "no one is above the law" at 25. Holder granted Clintons pardon of Marc Rich (who did a great deal of business with Iran) Holder and Obama have not held any of the Bush war criminals accountable, allowed the telecommunications companies who wiretapped Americans off the hook, dismissed the Aipac/Rosen/Weissman (Kenneth Pollack US Gov 1 in the FBI investigation...go read the files on the investigation) espionage trial."
Holder, fYI Kathleen:
Was also the attorney who did the paper work to force Elian Gonzales back to Cuba. He stated during confirmation " something I would rather forget".
The fact is, that Iran and Saudia have been in a theological Cold War since the Iranian revolution. As far back as 1980, Iranian agents were causing trouble in Mecca. The Shia regime is intent on becoming the leader of a new Islamic empire, and in eventually gaining control over oil prices to weaken and bring down the West eventually. The Iranian revolution has to be seen as the most important revolution since the Bolshevik revolution of 1917 on its eventual impact on world history and events.
I don't think most Americans are cognizant of what is going on, and just as many thought that Hitler was only a threat to the Jews, so many today that it only represents a threat to Israel. Americans will eventually be abused of such notions.
Whether or not this incident was real or fabricated, the Iranian threat is no fabrication. It is growing and real, especially as America grows weaker and is shrinking in power.
In fact Saudi Arabia today is nervously seeing Israel as an implicit ally against IRanian hegemony. It sees America as shrinking and withdrawing and no longer willing or able to protect it.
Interesting now that even most americans are questioning the credibility of this plot, that media experts are spinning this into a fractious plot within Iran.
All I needed to hear was this Barbara Slavin, mention "those poor American hikers". Excuse me Barb. but all three were upper middle class jewish kids, who were most likely spying for CIA or Mossad. At the very least, one would question the sanity of three jewish kids hiking in war torn Iraq, no less strolling into Iran.
But clear and logical thinkers like myself are far and few, so Barb keep schlepping your nonsense to the brain dead who actually believe their tuning into intelligent radio on NPR.
Sarah Shourd, Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer are Jews? Sez who?