E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
The Washington Post / Washington Post via Getty Images
Daoud Salahuddin, aka David Belfield,in 2006.
By Robert Windrem, NBC News investigative producer
U.S. Iran watchers continue to be puzzled by the alleged assassination plot against the Saudi ambassador to the U.S., wondering why Tehran would want to carry out an attack on the Saudi Embassy in Washington, D.C., and risk consequences that could include war.
Reuters
Manssor Arbabsiar is shown in a 1996 Nueces County, Texas, Sheriff's Office photograph.
Intelligence and security officials say that the case laid out Monday by the Justice Department, which alleges that three senior Iranian officials directed former car dealer Manssor Arbabsiar to arrange the killing of Saudi Ambassador Adel al-Jubeir, is intriguing and reads like a spy novel. But they also note that in spite of years of bad relations, Iran’s security forces haven’t sought to carry out such an attack on U.S. soil since 1980.
And that attack, in July of that year, was quite different than what the Justice Department laid out on Tuesday.
It occurred midway into the Iran hostage crisis, and a little more than a year after Iran’s clerics had taken over in Tehran. Tensions were high in both capitals as round after round of failed negotiations, punctuated by a failed rescue attempt, made for daily headlines.
Ali Akbar Tabatabai had been the press attache for the Iranian Embassy in Washington under the shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, and was well known in the city, having become a popular organizer of embassy parties and somewhat of a celebrity himself. Once the shah fell, Tabatabai used his press contacts in the U.S. and elsewhere to push anti-Ayatollah Khomenei articles. Moreover, he was holding meetings of a counterrevolutionary group at his home in Bethesda.
Iran’s new Islamic government – or at least elements of it -- wanted him eliminated, but getting to Tabatabai was no easy matter. The new government had few agents in the United States and U.S. security agencies were focused on making certain that no new ones entered the country.
One Iranian-American who drew attention from the FBI and other agencies was a Washington rug dealer, Bahram Nahidian. He and his Connecticut Avenue shop were regular targets of surveillance and agents soon became interested in Nahidian’s ties to a group of young African-Americans.
The agency’s interest had been piqued, ironically, on the very day U.S. embassy staff had been seized in Tehran -- Nov. 4, 1979. On that day, Nahidian was arrested at the Statue of Liberty with five other men who climbed the statue, unfurled a banner bearing anti-shah slogans and then chained themselves to the railing and began chanting.
Among the five was 29-year-old Daoud Salahuddin, formerly known as David Belfield. Belfield was a North Carolina native who grew up on Long Island in a Baptist family. He later claimed to have been radicalized first by watching television reports on the beatings of civil rights workers in Alabama.
By the late 1970s, he had converted to Islam and moved in with Nahidian at his home in Washington. Law enforcement officials later said that he would regularly recruit others in the Washington area to join him at Nahidian’s shop. Among the places where he recruited Americans was the D.C. prison in Lorton, Md., where he would “bring the message of Islam to black inmates."
For a short time, he also worked at an Iranian diplomatic office in Washington as a security guard.
Then, on July 22, according to multiple accounts -- including his own -- Salahuddin, dressed in a U.S. Postal Service uniform, rang the front doorbell at Tabatabai’s Bethseda, Md., home. When an associate of Tabatabai opened the door, Salahuddin told him he had a special delivery package for Tabatabai that required a signature. When his target appeared at the door, Salahuddin shot him three times in the abdomen. Tabatabai died 45 minutes later.
With apparent help from the Iranians, Salahuddin made his way through Canada and across Europe, finally landing in Tehran nine days later to a hero’s welcome. Since then, he has lived a varied life in Iran, teaching English, fighting alongside the Mujahedin in Afghanistan, editing an English language website and, most famously, acting in one of Iran’s most honored motion pictures, “Kandahar.”
In the film, Salahuddin plays an American political activist turned medic in Afghanistan. He aids an American woman who has returned to Afghanistan to rescue her sister, learning as she moves through refugee camps and cities about the damage wrought by the Taliban.
In the last decade, there have been reports that he has been willing to return for trial or that he is willing to serve as a mediator between the U.S. and Iran. But Salahuddin, now 61, has for the most part remained in Iran. He did travel to Istanbul in 1995 for an ABC News interview in which he admitted killing Tabatabai, calling it an “act of war.” He also said he had met with Robert Levinson, the former FBI agent who disappeared in Iran in 2007.
As for Nahidian, he later denied that Salahuddin had lived at his home or that he had converted him to Islam. He also denied any role in Tabatabai’s death, but told the Washington Post that he was “very happy this happened. (Tabatabai) is a man who says ‘why doesn't the U.S. bomb all of Iran.’ He wants Iran to be destroyed. … I have no fear of any of this. … The maximum they can take is my life, and I am more than happy to do that for the cause of Islam.”
Then NBC News reporter Brian Ross confronted Nahidian in a parking lot in November 1980, an encounter that was captured in this Nightly News story produced by the author of this post.
In this Nov. 7, 1980 report on NBC Nightly News, correspondent Brian Ross explores the presence of suspected agents of Iran's new Islamic government in the U.S., including suspected assassin Daoud Salahuddin.
Nahidian remains active in Washington area mosques and last year appeared at a rally in Washington, D.C.’s Dupont Park, where he echoed the Iranian line that the Sept. 11 terror attacks were part of a U.S. conspiracy to justify the occupation of Iraq, Afghanistan “and now Pakistan.” “They plot and they scheme and no doubt God is plotting and scheming against them too,” he told the crowd.
There are, of course, substantial differences between the plot alleged this week by the Justice Department and what took place in Bethesda in 1980 although both did involve assassination. The key difference is that, in 1980, it succeeded.
Leave a Comment:
This "plot" is completely manufactured by the US to take eyes off the protests. Give it up.
No one cares about the protests.
Wagging the dog!!! I have seen this before on the school yard. Setting up a fight? WMD lies? Why are we in AfPak? I predicted the US would pick a fight and start a war a month ago when the WS protests started. They will not allow Americans to stand up for the American Spring. Our problems are here at home and the US is looking for war 'out there'!!! If there is REAL PROOF, then my apologies to the orchestra tors of wagging the dog.
Typical, Protestors are some of our biggest conspiracy theory supporters.
So you believe Iran (there are no gays in our country) over our own government.
Protesting Greed? So the protestors are protesting against Capitalism.
Seriously what do you want the government to do about Capitalism.
So Basically you want Robin Hood to take the wealth of the rich and give it to the poor. You sound like Chavez in Venezuela, where there is no Democracy.
There's a myriad of possible reasons for killing the Saudi Ambassador that in the U.S.- stir-up suspicions between US and allies (Israel, Saudi Arabia, Egypt) eliminate a very influential advisor to the Saudi Government advocates a strong stance against Iran.
The Saudi's are very keen on security and intelligence (they have avoided the uprisings suffered by their neighbors, haven't they?) If the Saudis believe that this plot was real, that's telling.
I'm not all that keen on taking on Iran, but there is a real possibility that THEY sense that now is the best time for them to achieve some of their objectives against us, when our economy is trouble, our military is worn down and our political system is gridlocked. There is little doubt they are making real efforts at expansion of regional influence, and the US is the chief obstacle to that occuring
Any of you Righties remember the consequences of the false claims about Clinton's motivations for military action against OBL in the 1990s? I didn't think so.
This 'assassination plot' is simply the way that the powerful are laying the groundwork for an American invasion and occupation of Iran. They have oil there.
JohninBrazil
I'll disagree with you here. My problem is the timing of the information release; it just sounds a little fishy to me. If this had come out two weeks ago, maybe I would be less of a skeptic, but the administration needs a win after the loss in the Senate regarding the Jobs Bill.
With the convenience of the information release, at a time when our management (notice I didn't say leadership) could use a boost, and seeing that it involves two groups that we hate the hell out of anyway (Iran and any Mexican Cartel) it just sounds a little too pat for my tastes. Couple that with the "Truthfulness Quotient" (or lack thereof) that exist with the every administration since Kennedy, the current poll numbers, and the fact that campaign season started a little early this year and you have a recipe for sending our kids into another damned mess for nothing but election poll points.
What I am smelling here is a replay of the WMD Debate under Bush or the Gulf of Tonkin Incident under LBJ. Lyndon Johnson got permission from congress to escalate the Vietnam War over the trumped up Gulf of Tonkin Incident. It looks, IMO, to be a public excuse to go in an "Take Names, Kick Ass, and Throw the list away" all to get the public behind an action to "Kill those nasty little SOBs that we don't like anyway. (but it will make the poll numbers look better)." Damn, here we go with another Gulf of Tonkin Resolution!
I spent 15 months in that little corner of Hell because Johnson wanted to fight something and he hated communists. I just don't want this administration flying off the handle and sending the kids into another Charlie Foxtrot just to pick up standings for another damned politician. There has been enough of that crap. American Blood is far too expensive and valuable to be spent that way.
I won't say that something like this isn't possible. Iran is run (and has been for the past 30 or so years) by a bunch of really crazy bastards and they have a government that needs to have a "Great Satin" to mobilize their populous against. If it isn't us, it would be someone else. But, I served with the 3rd Marines in Quang Tri and Thua Thien Provinces of Vietnam; I've looked the 2nd horseman in the eyes before and I don't want anyone else to ever have to do that unless there is a really damned good reason for it.
If it, in fact, stopped an assassination, I'm all for it; great job, keep those cards and letters coming, but it just looks a little too pat for my tastes right now.
I haven't made up my mind one way or the other on what to think about this alleged foiled assassination attempt. It all sounds too bizarre to be real, but stranger things have happened. My question to those of you who think this is an attempt to start a war with Iran in order to boost Obama's dismal ratings, exactly how does that work? Obama promised to bring home the troops during his campaign but has done nothing but send more of our young people over to those hellholes. If he were to go to war against Iran, how would that boost his ratings? People have been against the existing wars for years. Wouldn't the start of another war make Obama less popular?
UMGator
Politicians use it as a distraction to get everyone to quit looking at the ball in front of them and go staring off into space. Johnson was having really poor numbers and then came the Gulf of Tonkin Incident that was trumped up. he used that to get everybody behind the "We have been attacked by those nasty communist" and forget about how bad the economy was. he managed to get the Gulf of Tonkin resolution through both Democraticall controlled Houses and we were off to the races. It won't be the first time that a politician used saber rattling to get people to forget how bad other things are.
Chris - from your previous posts, I guess that we are close to the same age. My high school and college classmates fought in Vietnam. I certainly have no love for Obama. He is, without a doubt, one of the worst if not the worst president this country has ever seen. I don't doubt that he will do anything to manipulate the voters into giving him a second term in office. However, I'm still having trouble grasping how this supposed foiled assassination attempt can be used to start a war with Iran. If it had succeeded and the Saudi ambassador had been killed, would anyone in this country really care enough to go to war? The Saudis are not our friends, no matter how much the government and media try to spin it that way. Why would we go to war over one individual who is not even a head of state? The general public is not that stupid.
Honestly, it would be really nice to at least partially believe what the US government says regarding matters like this alleged assassination attempt, but where does the credibility come from lately?
I can't remember a time where it felt like the US government was any less trustworthy in regards to foreign affairs. That's why the billions of dollars in financial aid that are wasted every year on foreign countries doesn't even give the US the clout it used to enjoyed.
Chris, To UMGator's point though, we are a bit war-weary in this country and we're talking about a President who promised to END a war or two, not start another one. I suspect it would take a direct act of aggression before anyone approached the Iran question. Not that it wasn't a better choice than Iraq a few years ago.
To those thinking this was an offset to the jobs bill that's pretty ridiculous since Obama and everyone who follows this stuff knows the Repugs wouldn't ever let a "jobs bill" go through with a tax increase in it. Even though they want the budget balanced.....
How about reading US Law, 1998 H.R.4655. "SEC. 2. FINDINGS."
Not going to happen, as the Chinese and Russian Federation already get the Iranian Oil, in exchange for Russian Federations and Chinese weapons, technology, advisers, ammunition, funds, etc..
This is just like how President Obama, 2010, due to his lack of understanding Iraq, lost the Northern and Southern Iraqis Oil Fields to Fundamentalist Islamic Iran, and Fundamentalist Islamic Iran then negotiated Contracts with the Chinese and Russian Federation. Just like the Mineral Wealth of Afghanistan was also lost to Fundamentalist Islamic Iran's Allies the Chinese, and in 2011 the Chinese then put sanctions on the export of these High Tech Minerals external to China (so no Lithium mined by the Chinese here (Afghanistan) going to the US Michigan Electric Car Battery Plant'/Factory endorsed by President Obama). This loss of the Iraqis Oil made the Libyan Oil of Strategic Importance to the US European Allies.
The US is NOT an obstacle to Fundamentalist Islamic Iran's increased "Sphere of Influence" ever since President Obama's make nice nice with Fundamentalist Islamic Iran, as President Obama's Improved Relations with Iran Policy (seen as a weakness of the US throughout the "Middle East" (including Islamic Africa and Islamic Asia).
1. The situation with US Ally Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is being surrounded by enemies. Loss of Iraq to Fundamentalist Islamic Iran (North). Loss of US Ally Egypt (West). Fundamentalist Islamic Iran (East). Problems at US Ally Yemen (South). King of Saudi Arabia begged for US and or Israelis Military Interventions, President Obama does nothing. King of Saudi Arabia, "President Obama gave Iraq to Iran on a Golden Platter".
2. Fundamentalist Islamic Iran using current Generations of Advanced Weapons Systems from the Chinese and Russian Federation now control the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman (President Obama and Secretary of Defense Gates warned this would happen by the King of Saudi Arabia) after the Fundamentalist Islamic Iranians deployed long range Supersonic Anti Ship Missile Batteries (designed to destroy USN Aircraft Carriers by evading USN Screening Ships and Counter measures). Fundamentalist Islamic Iran is protected by Advanced Anti Aircraft Systems (capable of detecting and shooting down Generation V Stealth, F-35), Advanced Anti Ballistic (ABM) Missile Systems, designed built and tested IRBMs (similar to a US Pershing II, with increased range due to a third stage and no range limiter), purchased North Korean ICBMs (copies of Chinese ICBMs, that are copies of USSR SS-18s ICBMs) as shipped thru Bejing China (2011 Fundamentalist Islamic Iran puts a monkey into orbit, proving these are capable of being Orbital Range Irrelevant ICBMs).
President Obama Relieves General McChrystal of Command of Afghanistan for his going Public "This Administration Does Not Know What It Is Doing" after President Obama and the US Politicians refuse to listen (going Public is a US Military Officer's Duty, as a Representative of the silent US Citizens of the US Military per US Congressional US Military Commissioning Certificate). Part of General McChrystal's going Public in violation of President Obama's Improved Relations with Iran Policy, was his stating that Fundamentalist Islamic Iran is supply weapons, ammunition, etc. to the Terrorist (Jihadists, Worldwide Islamic Military) Training Camps at the Autonomous Kurdistan Region and Yemen, with these weapons being captured at Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, Egypt, Gaza, Mexico, South and Central Americas, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, etc..
3. In 2010-2011 (on going) US Ally Turkey, Raids the Terrorist Training Camps at the Automonous Kurdistan Region (Northern Iraq, Border of Syria, Southern Turkey, Northwestern Iraq (area where the US Hikers were arrested)). The Jihadists (Terrorists, Worldwide Islamic Military) flee back to their Countries of Origin by the thousands. They in turn start to increase activities (Asymmetric Warfare, Insurgency Warfare, to start "Civil Wars", get millions to fight for them and Islam) at Yemen (Al Quada Yemen), Libya (Libya Islamic Fighting Group), Syria (Al Quada Syria), Egypt (Muslim Brotherhood), Iraq (Al Quada Iraq), Gaza (Army of Islam Gaza), Palestine (Hamas Foreign Fighters), etc. aka the "Arab Spring". The Israelis in response attempt Blockades to stop the large numbers fleeing the Terrorist Training Camps going to Gaza and Palestine.
So sure, Peter Jacobs, support Fundamentalist Islam's defeat of US Allies throughout the "Middle East" including Islamic Africa and Islamic Asia.
examples:
a. Defeat of US Ally Mubarak. Fundamentalist Islamic Iran gains Strategic Access to the Suez Canal with deals made prior to the "Egyptian Revolution" with the Muslim Brotherhood. Two Fundamentalist Islamic Iranian Destroyers were at the Suez Canal just prior to and during the "Egyptian Revolution" to provide support to the Muslim Brotherhood against US Ally Mubarak. Fundamentalist Islamic Iran gains ports at Egypt, and closer (striking distance) to their sworn enemy US Ally Israel.
b. Over 80% of the Libyan "Rebels" are Al Quada Saudi Arabia (AQ), Al Quada Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), Al Quada Syria (AQS), Al Quada Yemen (AQY), Hezbollah, Al Quada Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG), etc. that went to Libya before the "Civil War" to overthrow former US Ally Gaddaffi. Irony, after the loss of Iraq Oil to Fundamentalist Islamic Iran, with the Libyan Oil becoming of Strategic Importance to US European Allies, the Libyan "Rebels" sold the Libyan Oil to Qatar a Ally of Fundamentalist Islamic Iran, Qatar in turn sells the Libyan Rebel Oil to Fundamentalist Islamic Iran's Ally, the Chinese.
c. The US Ally President of Yemen reports increased activities within his Country. President Gaddaffi reports increased Al Quada activites within Libya. President of Syria reports increased Al Quada activities within Syria. Israel reports increased activities at Gaza and Palestine. The US Ally President of Egypt reports increased activities at Egypt. President Obama and SOS Clinton refuse to listen to them, and turns their backs on the US Allies. The Government of Somalia reports increased activities of Al Shabaah. All this occurred just before the "Arab Spring".
LOL. How quickly you forget that President Clinton refused the offered Saudi Arabian extradiction of Osama Bin Laden after the 1993 First World Trade Center Bombing. After the President Clinton refused the extradiction, the Saudi Arabians released Osama Bin Laden. US Military Asymmetric Warfare Forces Shadow Osama Bin Laden and continually request Termination Approval; President Clinton and his White House recite the US No Assassination Policy (later amended by President Bush to allow termination, 2006, of OBL*). Libya (Gaddaffi) offers to capture and turn OBL to the US, President Clinton bombs and cruise missile attacks Libya. President Bush's Sanctions and Embargoes work against Libya, Gaddaffi becomes a US Ally. Osama Bin Laden and Al Quada are tracked to Fundamentalist Islamic Afghanistan, the Fundamentalist Islamic Taliban Government provides Osama Bin Laden and Al Quada Islamic Sanctuary, without this Islamic Sanctuary Osama Bin Laden and Al Quada would not have been able to accomplish the 9/11 2001 Attacks.
*Many believe that President Bush's 2006 Amending the US No Assassination Policy to allow the termination of Osama Bin Laden will justlify "Rogue Nations" and "Non Established Governments" to authorize the sanctioned terminations of any Politicians or Political Leaders. Since most do not know much about Islam, the Islamic Believers could give a sh!t less about the international laws, or other nations laws as for Islam Believers, Islam is ALL, All Politics, All Laws, All Religion, All Ways of Life, All Beliefs, etc. that supersede the politics, laws, religions, ways of life, beliefs, etc. of all other nations. This is why it is considered murder to take Islam away from an Islamic Believer, or to attempt to quit Islam as "Doing Harm to Allah and His Prophet" (the Death Penalty).
Shades of the past - republicans claiming a president is wagging the dog. When they accused Clinton of it they distracted the focus on Al Qaeda, and that affected our policies. Since republicans seem to get most foreign policy wrong, I'll assume this is yet another example of trying to "get" the president at the expense of the country.
He ought to return to the US. He can be sure no serious punishment will be meted out to him for cold blooded murder. After he served his minimal sentence, he would become the darling of the Left. He could write books and appear on MSNBC.
Hey Chris I spent a full tour and a half there, in our little part of our military misadventures in the far east. Semper Fi
lib50,
Really. How about President Clinton's Gutting of the US Intelligence Agencies that lead to Blackouts of entire Regions especially the "Middle East". Then there were the Cut to the Bone Reduction In Forces (RIFs) of the US Military (note: US Military Asymmetric Warfare Forces independently "on the ground" verify Intelligence information). The CIA is the President's Own Eyes on the World as the Executive Branch's Intelligence Agency, so when President Clinton Gutted them, it was like sticking a stick in his own eyes. President Clinton's Gutting of the US Intelligence Agencies made it so that the US had to rely on Hostile Intelligence Sources that were non credible and not verifiable. (US Congressional 9/11 2001 Commission). The US still is suffering from the Gutting of the US Intelligence Agencies and the RIF of the US Military as it takes Decades (twenty years or more) to implace "Intelligence Assets" that are credible and verifiable and train US Military Asymmetric Warfare Forces (also US Congressional 9/11 2001 Commission and Congressional Intelligence Committee that recommended ODNI).
Thankfully the US doesn't kill people on foreign soil.
The Murder rate in Washington is higher than the murder rate for the country of Mexico.
That sounds unbelievable, but is fact.
Corpus Christi (where this guy lived) isn't far from Mexico (4 hours). And if he claimed he knew cartel members, why would the Iranians doubt their capacity to murder an ambassador?
I keep hearing people on the left say they don't trust our Gov't. They say they don't believe this plot.
Yet they want more Gov't. They want the Gov't they don't trust to regulate us more.
You can't have it both ways. You can't be against the Gov't but want more of it.
I've heard Liberalism called a mental disorder.
I think it's more of an addiction to Gov't. Just like the addict can hate the drug they are hooked on - but still want more of it.
The far right is beyond ridiculous with their conspiracy theories on this one. Just plain stupid. I no more believe Obama is trying to start a war in Iran than I ever believed Iraq had WMD's. Stupid - just stupid.
And, Ryan in Texas - not even close to true. And the only mental disorder here would be for anyone that would have people believe the garbage you're posting.
W. Goin - If you can point out one factual error in my post, I will be surprised.
You have to admit that at minimum, the left's distrust of Gov't while at the same time wanting it to be bigger and have more control over our lives is at best contradictory. Since it is at the basis of their beliefs, a contradiction like that can be described as a mental disorder.
As I stated, I think it's more of a addiction.
As far as the murder rate in our Capital being higher than the country of Mexico - I dare you to look it up.
Just because something seems unbelievable, doesn't make it untrue. Mexico homicides per 100,000 - 18. Washington DC homicides per 100,000 - 23.8.
And I won't even get into how Washington has our nations most restrictive gun laws.
Nahidian claim is for the cause of islam to kill Tabatabai because he supported the shah, what is that he does to islam anyway. Most muslim will use islam as an excuse to commit crime or to kill, both are muslim. To kill an opposing view opponent is furthering the cause of islam? give me a break of using your cultist believe nothing is islam about it , is plain assasination.
Which protests are those?
Sono laughably posts, "I can't remember a time where it felt like the US government was any less trustworthy in regards to foreign affairs."
WMDs, anyone? Do you remember Rumsfeld saying that Iraq was going to be "Big on tourism" once the security situation got squared away? I guess. he might have meant terrorism
So, if your memory only goes back three years your post wold make sense.
david-475776
White paper accepts any type and color of ink.
It is of course change the diversion, nothing else. Why will Iran murder a @!$%#ing saudi zionist?? What will it achieve ? All know, how Iran is progressing towards and USA Government falling apart what has remained in USA Government is drones which dropped everywhere in poor states of Islamic Countries what a terrorism? The bitch clinton has not spared a single moment for her American fellow sufferers!!
I hope US intelligence agencies have your IP address, I think you should take up residence at Guantanamo, and although I'm generally against torture- I tink in your case a little water-boarding would be good
Which could be because she is the Secretary of State, a post whose focus is, by design, foreign affairs.
As to the rest of your post, all I can gather from it is that you are truly a product of our decaying educational system. Apparently neither logic or grammar are taught in any of the schools you attended.
dman-353357, I am an English Language teacher and translator, and I am almost certain that the poster above is a foreign-speaker of English, so he (or she) is probably not a product of our educational system, but may really be a security threat- I will seriously forward the above post to the FBI
@haskes. First, learn some gramer. It was almost imposible to follow what it was you were trying to say. Second, Saudi- zionist?? Really?? Third, do you really think you are the first to predict the collaps of the American government/ economy/ society? Let me give you a clue- WE ARE STILL HERE!!
haskes, have you ever in your life considered the possibility that you may be wrong?
Oh, and incidentally, what do you have to say about the treatment of Coptic Christians in Egypt?
Report his post? For what? The FBI isn't the grammar police, you geniuses. Though his post may lack coherent sense, there's nothing threatening of his post.
I disagree with him 100% , but I see no threat of pysical violence by Haskes. So let's support the 1st Admendment. And DON"T FORGET the Second Admendment also.
"And The Beat Goes On......"
A major mistake of American Foreign Policy was allowing the Overthrow of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, The Shaw of Iran in 1980 ... One of the United States biggest foreign policy errors in our history!
One of the enduring myths or recent world history is that we, meaning the United States, were in a position to prevent the overthrow of the Shah. That revolution, just like the one which rocked Egypt, had its own, internal dynamic. All we did was withdraw our diplomatic support in the later stages of the civil uprising, but short of sending troops the Shah was finished in 1979, with or without any action by the U.S.
I am thoroughly disgusted with the press playing 'moral interpreter' about these stories with the over-use of the term "alleged." It implies an accusation of "maybe-true-maybe-not." The word the media should be using is "suspected." In this story, the headline
might as well read "... was an alleged success."
The media is responsible for making the differences between sincere citizens appear to be death-fights. Shame on you media... all of you, right and left.
Awesome keep the border open for all of these people and let holder sell them some more guns!!!
They want a war with the U.S. then when they die they will get their virgins. Nuke 'em now or nuke 'em later. THOSE are the options.
Sorry, but no nukes today, it's bad for our health.
I say we drop a nuke over your residential area and see how you feel about nuclear war afterwards.
So if a U.S. ambassador is killed in, lets say Turkey, by the Chinese government, Turkey will be responsible for a War with China. This story is completely stupid as is your comment.
Any country that tries to assassinate a Saudi, probably is trying to assassinate a terrorist anyways. Saudi Arabia is the country that helped cause 9/11 to happen, who cares about Saudi Arabia anyways, besides the US politicians that are in their pockets.
What I really want to know is... When he goes through 'em all (virgins) does he get a new supply, or is he like all the rest of us mere mortals, stuck?
2012? War with Iran? hmmmm, makes ya wanna check those Biblical prophecies again
Not really.
Some one else step up to the plate. Tick tock tick tock, most of my men and women (and myself) will be "Too Old" to be involuntarily recalled to Active Duty to deal with this in 1.1 years; since we have been dealing with the "Middle East" (including Islamic Africa and Islamic Asia) since the Iran Iraq Wars and the US Military Training Teams to train the 1980s Pro US Afghan Muhajeen (not the 1990s Fundamentalist Islamic Taliban nor OBL and Al Quada) to defeat the USSR 40th Army Occupation.
david-475776 would you for God sakes shut up your usual long diatribes? Jeez, you think because you copy and paste long paragraphs you are somehow smart.
Hey, how about instead of name calling DISPUTE THE FACTS. How about taking your pills for Attention Deficit Disorder.
As far as copying and pasting, wrong. Notice the mispellings and sometimes new information.
Instead of your failed attempts to belittle or denegrate my posts how about you either gaining first hand experience (like what my posts are based on) or get off your lazy arse and do the real research. As instead of your emotive opinions that belong on a personal blog, post facts here on Newsvine Forums as Newsvine is "Get Smarter Here". Of course if you do not like what I post, just do not come on these Newsvine Forums so that you will not have to take responsibility for the uninformed uneducated non factual emotive opinions that you post and be critized for.
The US wants the war. It is good for business. Tax payer goes further into debt for money that banks create out of nothing and defence contrators hit the jackpot. Oil price shoots up and oil company profits sky rocket. Yes, yes, let's kill a few million people. Because only USA is allowed to assasinate people on foreign soil.
I don't think a country should be allowed to meddle in another countries affairs but before we go to war with Iran over oil, oh I mean this alleged plot, I would like the US gov to explain similar past actions(including assassinations) in these countries;
Iran-Tibet-Guatemala-Cuba-Congo-Iran-Brazil-Ghana-Chile-Afganistan-Argentina-Nicaragua-El Salvador-Angola-Philippines-Serbia-Venezuela-Haiti.
Let's bring everyone accountable to justice, starting with the biggest perpetrator-the US.
Yeah, I know- the world should have let Milosvich do what he wanted, and if there's genocide in Darfur that's there business- right?
While I generally agree with your sentiments about US hypocrisy in criticizing political assasinations, the fact is Iran is bad-intentioned, dangerous actor that warrants close and scrutiny, regardless of what the US or countries have done. They are a regime led by a presidently that openly advocates wiping another country off the map, and not-so coincidentally is developing nuclear capabilities. After seeing how they hadle dissent in their own country, against their own citizens, I have little confidence in their ambitions
Those arguments aren't strong enough to support an Intervention of any sort.
Actualy Mike if it is shown that genocide or acts of genocide are taking place in a particular place the Convention on Preventing and Punishing Genocide (wich we are a party too) requires that action is taken to preven/ stop/ punish those action. Why do you think no one wanted to use the term during those horible 100 days in Rawanda.
The US is selective in it's intervention eh?
Seem to me that the US has two standards for countries, those with oil and those without.
Serbia has oil?
And why aren't you going after the Soviets for basically doing the same thing during the Cold War?
Damn straight. We're in enough pointless, pathetic quagmires as it is.
JohninBrazil - you blew your cover. You might be an English translator, but you are no English teacher. If you are, then that explains why most people in this country can't write a coherent sentence.
Banaschar,
How about reading this:
Assassination Policy Under International Law
http://hir.harvard.edu/leadership/on-the-offensive
The President of Fundamentalist Islamic Iran (aka Islamic Republic of Iran) is just a puppet (sock puppet comes to mind), the Real Rulers of Iran is the Fundamentalist Islamic Council, that control everything (Iranian Military, President, Economy, Politics, Law Enforcement, Courts, Relations with Chinese and Russian Federation, Laws, etc..). It is the Fundamentalist Islamic Council that strongly believes in the 109 Suras of the 114 Suras of the Holy Koran (Quran) that Calls All Islamic Believers to War Against the Christians, Jews, Unbelievers (you Atheists too) for those Death Penalty Crimes Against Allah and His Prophet as well as the current Islamic Laws.
Of course the Elite are worried about OWS! We are sharpening the guillotine as we speak!
Gabrielle Giffords, please call your office...
With all the talk I'm hearing about guillotines and taking out elites, I'm predicting an upsurge in justifiable homicide in the near future. Storm their gates at your peril bub!
That's pretty much the same as what Gaddafi said about 6 months ago ; didn't help his situation much did it?
I know this is off-topic, but comments like B. Todd's really get my goat. For all the talk about a "new era of civility" post-Tuscon, particularly from the Left, I still see these calls to violence. If you truly believe that crosshairs on Sarah Palin's website caused the Tuscon shooting, then comments like B. Todd's shouldn't elicit updings, but red flags and warning klaxons.
I really want to know: doesn't anyone notice this?
I made my comment already! The left's idea of civility has been: they say whatever they want while anything said from the opposing side is made out as incendiary, racist or bigotted. I've never seen such hypocrisy. I don't agree with everything the Republican side does, but hearing these lefties speak really un nerves me. Those red flags and klaxons are going off at my end. It's all due to them. I recently read a book about the Russian Revolution; these liberals actions parallel those the bolsheviks and mensheviks used. Many of these liberals remind me of mensheviks; when they served their purpose, they too were locked away or executed for "crimes against the people!" I cringe when I read a posting mentioning "the people!"
The enemy within. It isn't wall street.
No intervention. The Iranian theocracy may be evil but we're not going to fix it, full stop.
Iran has playing in the major legues of politics for over thirty years now, and I am suppose to believe kindergaten fabricated plan is the best they can do? Please, be serious. If I was the secretary of state I would lauch an all investigation all the US agencies until I do know who faricated this scheme and get them all fired for being inept to the point of sillyness. Frankly, USA, I sure was expecting something like this, but my fifteen years grandson could have done better.
horacio moronta
It's all a sham. The government wants an excuse to go to war with Iran. Don't believe the propaganda.
"reads like a spy novel"
They keep repeating this line.
Are your kids ready for the draft ?
Simply stated, I don't want medievel Islamic warlord tribalism for my children. Arabs and Iranians are welcome as far as I'm concerned, but leave you Islamic pride behind. Enjoy your holidays, your gatherings and food, but avoid the imeratives of the "prophet". When you start to engage the true tenets of Islam you become a threat to the way of life, and freedoms I hold dear.
.
MSNBC's method of telling a story from decades ago while asking us to believe it is relevant sophomoric and insulting to American intelligence.
Listen, MSNBC. We're not letting media get away with facilitating crimes done in our name this time. Your failure at real journalism will be something we will hold you accountable to. Propagandizing the lead up to a war built on lies, or even drum-beating for an unjust war that you refuse to question, will make you partially responsible for that war. It isn't going to happen this time.
fred - the problem is that MSNBC is no worse than all the other media, and there seems to be nothing that we can do about it. All sense of truth has vanished from the media, if it ever existed in the first place. A prime example is the fact that the media control our presidential elections. January 1, 2012, has not yet passed, but they are already bombarding us with daily polls on who is ahead in the Republican nomination process, all in the name of profit. It's pathetic and disgusting, but what can we do?
Rather a coincidence that this happens right at the start of the 2012 election cycle.
Mexican drug lords cannot operate without political protection, they are slaves to their protectors and will maim or murder upon orders. Iran is aware of this situation and may have used the drug lords in an attempt to assassinate the Saudi ambassador.
While I am very tired of the US trying to be the World's Police Force, I am also getting tired of hearing about oil. The number one country we get oil from is Canada. I had a friend who told me the Iraq war was all about oil. I disagreed. So when we took over Iraq, where did our oil go? We could have shipped every barrel out of that country for free. (not including shipping) Right now the people in Iraq pay 17 cents for a gallon of gas, and this is in a war-torn country. So please be assured if we do go to war with Iran, which I hope we don't, it won't be about oil. It will be about stopping an evil regime bent on a world political takeover. Yes I also know that the US seems to be heading in the same direction, but I would rather have the world ruled by a Democracy than a vile, barbaric, illogical, archaic, women hating Theocracy. The Iranian government has said that the first two nukes they make, the first one will be for Israel and the second will be for the US. Do you really want to wait until they drop one on New York or Washington and then retaliate? Walk softly but carry a big stick! Every educated person knows that the best defense is a great offense.
Pretty hard to be afraid of a country with two nukes and no delivery mechanism capable of reaching the US. But even if they do manage to get their nuke a booking on a commercial airliner to the US, that's 50% of their nuclear capacity gone. We have tens of thousand of nuclear weapons, many of which are still loaded up and ready to launch to any destination in the world. I grew up in the 70s and 80s, and every day I expected the headlines to announce the beginning of a nuclear WWIII. One lousy nuke made by a bunch of camel herders doesn't frighten me in the least.
I'm pretty sure Iran knows if they launch a nuclear weapon opening the door to a nuclear exchange, they'll be wiped off the map with absolutely no chance of any retaliation, and there isn't much the rest of the world can or will do to stop it. Just like the 80's it's in their best interest to sit on their two lousy nuclear warheads and keep whining.
You don't find the loss of NYC to an Iranian bomb frightening?
The concept of mutually assured destruction only works if all sides are rational. If and when Iran gets the bomb, the concept would the thrown out the window. I mean, what can you call a government whose leaders have no compunction about starting a nuclear war because it would bring the 12th Imam out of a well other than irrational?
And WHY haven't we secured the Mexican borders YET? We WANT terrorist and drug cartels coming in unimpeded? Why is Holder cracking down illegally against Cali medicinal pot growers? Are they cuttin into the profit margins of corrupt politicians and Big Pharmaceuticals? LOL!
President Obama's Policy, April 2009, Guadalajara Mexico, Meeting with Mexican President, as stated by President Obama, "US Military Will Not Be Used to Secure US Borders". (National Guard is not the same as Federal Active US Military).
President Obama's Policy, August 2009, Meeting with Canadian Prime Minister, President Obama, ""US Military Will Not Be Used to Secure US Borders".
Associated Press, August 10, 2009, President Obama's intent to Legalize the over 23 Million Illegal Aliens (Loyal Citizens of another Nation) at the US:
President Obama, 2011, circumvents the US Congress with his Backdoor Legalization of Illegal Aliens Policy of "Only Criminal Illegal Immigrants will be deported".
Illegal Aliens as a previously known Threat to National Security:
President Eisenhower's Operation Wetback, including the legal precedent of deporting "Those Little Frauds" (aka Anchor Babies, upheld by US Supreme Court as a Fraud against the Citizens of the US and US Constitution and Amendments (intent)). Note: There were US Laws that specifically Legalized the children of Slaves (African Americans), Chinese, Japanese, Fillipinos, etc.; but nothing regarding Mexicans (A Nationality NOT a Race, so do not scream "Racist", unless you are that uneducated).
US Taxpayer Funded La Raza's Lawyers defeat California Proposition 187, US Economy is listed as a Threat to National Security by US Intelligence Agencies.
President Bush's attempt to stop this National Security Threat with US Congress chickening out fearing for their lives (definition of Terrorism) in passage of US Law, President Bush's 2006 Illegal Alien Act, after the 2006 Nationwide Demonstrations of over 23 Million Illegal Aliens. Aka "Illegal Immigration Crisis Response Act of 2006".
Islamic Terrorist Organizations start coordination, cooperation, with Illegal Aliens.
Al Qaeda Bombers Learn from Drug Smugglers
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/09/28/eveningnews/main5347847.shtml?tag=pop
Illegal Alien Advocacy Groups like US Taxpayer Funded La Raza, M.E.Ch.A, etc. state their end goals of the overthrow of US State's Governments to create Aztlan. Similar to the end goal of the Islamic Terrorists, defeat the US Government, US becomes a Islamic Nation.
The Mexican Drug Lords, Russian Mob, Eastern European Mobs, provide for money from the Islamic Terrorists their sideline Businesses of Smuggling, Human Trafficking, Money Laundrying, Weapons, Forged Documents, Identity Theft, Intelligence (information), Safe Locations within the US (residences of Illegal Aliens), etc. to Islamic Terrorists.
Demand that we get out of the United Nations:
Iraq, UN Mission Nation Building.
Afghanistan, UN Mission Nation Building.
Try again the Canadians are using the expensive process of Oil Shale and Oil Sand, similar to strip mining, to extract Oil. Previously most of the US Oil was depleted during the 1900s "Black Gold" Oil Rushes at Texas, California, Oklahoma, etc. leaving the Oil at the US mostly being low grade (more barrels require to make gasoline) high sulfur content (acid rain) Oil. This is why the US Oil Corporations are pushing Natural Gas (Methane more damaging to the ozone layer than CO2), including fracking causing pollution to underground drinking water, to squeeze out something saleable from the empty US Oil wells. Prior to the First Gulf War, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, etc. were "Oil Laundrying" Iraqis High Grade Oil (buying Iraqis Oil thru the Kuwaitis, and selling the Iraqis Oil to the US as their own for enormous profits) to get around the Sanctions and Embargoes.
President Obama lost the Northern and Southern Oil Fields to Fundamentalist Islamic Iran. See post# 1.13 as to who got the Iraqis Oil.
Educated does not mean smart or having common sense. Go tell President Obama about his chops of the USAF and USN with his April 2009 Defense Budget Cuts, and his upcoming (already announced to us) Reduction In Forces of the US Military of 27,000 (plus the xxx,xxx US Civilians that provide support for the 27,000 US Military) all thrown on Unemployment.
Fred- You really think this was MSNBC's doing? I once trusted our gov't to do the right thing. As I have aged, my skepticism has grown. Show me, don't tell me.
There were no Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq and we are still there-it was to profit the 1%. Now , warmongering and fearmongering about Iran. How can anybody believe your lies anymore. We are sick of endless wars that are banckrupting the 99% and the 1% profit from .
Something that happened in 1980 is big news now?
he left america for iran because he saw the police beating civil rights activists. so where is he going now that he has surely seen the iranian police killing, torturing and intimidating civil rights activists over there ? it amazes me how once duped the justifications for dupidity can take over someones conscience. i think he liked something else about islam that doesnt stand for good or justice or he wouldnt still be there. maybe he likes the part where women are partial if not completely slaves. i think a lot of men like that. i think that is the part of islam that they least want to change. i doubt very much that he is fighting for civil rights over there.
@allison-
"i think a lot of men like that."
That kind of generalization gets us all in trouble.
just can't fight the idiots,,,I'm talking about most of the obsurd comments,,,America is doomed unless we stop fighting each other and turn our anger to those who deserve it,,,the filthy rich who run the world,,,greedy bastards that they are!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This so called united country deserves the death that is coming to it and this plot is the USA governing bodies- greedy politicians trying to justify their warmongering and oil investments again, lets have three, oh four wars now for these greedy politicians and their warmongering. I hope this makes Nukes hit our shores, we need a wake up call on this @!$%# hole and it would get rid of lots of maggots. Our cities need to see the Nukes, just to get rid of maggots and the cockroach infestation that has taken over , oh hit the White house too please while you are at it, maggot infestation ,,bye,,
...
I bet you're a real charmer with the ladies.
...
Chuck, I don't know what kind of fever swamp conspiracy websites you visit, or what's going on in your life, but you're calling for genocide.
If you hate this country so much, you are welcome to leave. Faults aside, there are plenty of people who would love to take your place.
Imagine what you would have thought if 9/11 was foiled, and all you had to hear about was the planning of it. You people quick to point the finger at "distraction" wouldn't have believed that either. American citizens take over a plane with a box cutter and fly into the pentagon, NO WAY!!! AMERICAN CONSPIRACY I SAY!
I haven't forgotten about cookey wall st protestors, I haven't frogotten about Fast and Furious, I haven't forgotten about the economy. HAVE YOU? NO! So get off the this distraction conspiracy theory against your own country.
Iran is a rogue state. If any of us knew half the intelligence that is hidden from the public about what Iran is doing, you wouldn't be quick to drag the red herring fallacy all over the topic.
Don't be naive enough to think Iran has no agenda, and what they do is contained within thier borders.
"If any of us knew half the intelligence that is hidden from the public about what Iran is doing, you wouldn't be quick to drag the red herring fallacy all over the topic."
This statement completely contradicts your stated stance on the issue.
Well I definitely believe Iran is up to no good. I also believe there is intelligence corroborating Iran's actions to circumvent our efforts to combat the threat of islamic extremism. I'll believe my government before I believe Irans.
Its ok for the public to not know all military intelligence to protect operatives in the field and protect national security. Thats a given.
So no it does not contradict my stance. I have confidence that my country is doing the right things to protect freedom and our way of life.
Are you one of those who thinks they need to know every bit of military intelligence because its your right?
I believe Iran is doing a lot more to destablilize the free world than we all know!
No, as a matter of fact, I don't believe I have a right to every bit of military intelligence. That would completely undermine national security wouldn't it? You believe Iran is doing more to destabilize the world than we know... What do they have to gain from assassinating a Saudi diplomat? Please tell me your theory on that. What would Iran's gain be in provoking a conflict with Saudi Arabia?
That is indeed a good question. I suspect a play to show that the US is not a safe haven for freedom. Perhaps to prove to the Saudi's that they aren't any safer in the US than they are in Iran. Iran and many other islamic extremists have always had much animosity for our relationship with Saudi, and the SAudi's 0 tolerance crack down on islamic terrorism inside their country.