Warrab
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| 11 Oct 2011 02:30 PM |
The Atlantic Home Tuesday, October 11, 2011 Follow the Atlantic » Twitter Facebook RSS iPhone
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A big Atlantic welcome to Steve’s readers from The Washington Note! Steve Clemons
Steve Clemons - Steve Clemons is Washington editor at large for The Atlantic and editor in chief of Atlantic LIVE. He writes frequently about politics and foreign affairs. More
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Share Share « Previous Clemons Email Email Print Print U.S. Accuses Iran of Plotting to Assassinate Saudi Ambassador in D.C. By Steve Clemons
Oct 11 2011, 2:52 PM ET 1
adel-al-jubeir_4286.jpg
News is breaking now that senior officials of Iran's Revolutionary Guard/Quds force were attempting to orchestrate the assassination of Saudi Ambassador to the United States Adel al-Jubeir.
As I write this, Attorney General Eric Holder is speaking to the press -- and I am watching events from Abu Dhabi where I am attending the Global Council on Geopolitical Risk session of the World Economic Forum. Thus, my information is limited to that which I am hearing from US Department of Justice officials.
What is listed in an official complaint filed by the US government is that a bombing was allegedly planned, perhaps in a Washington, DC restaurant. The possibility that 100 to 150 people might be killed in the alleged plot was, according to FBI officials, waived off and of no concern to the Iranian interlocutor. According to statements at the news conference, $1.5 million was wired to the alleged perpetrators to finance the costs of the attack.
A couple of key things to consider as this story evolves.
First of all, Ambassador Adel al-Jubeir is not a member of the Saudi royal family, but he is widely considered to be the closest national security adviser and confidante to King Abdullah. Al-Jubeir is constantly flying to and from Riyadh and Washington and wherever the Saudi King is as the King constantly depends on him for counsel and advice -- and thus al-Jubeir is far more than just an Ambassador.
Secondly, one of the key themes that has frequently emerged here at the Abu Dhabi meetings of the World Economic Forum this week is that a more intense proxy struggle is taking place between Saudi Arabia and Iran throughout the Middle East as the perception of American strategic contraction grows.
This alleged assassination plot simultaneously may indicate both the intensity of anti-Saudi passion among Iran's senior leaders and a greater aggressiveness by Iran against the US.
This is a serious situation -- and this kind of assassination is the sort that could lead to an unexpected cascade of events that could draw the US and other powers into a consequential conflagration in the Middle East.
If Iran was indeed willing to attack a Saudi Ambassador and close confidante of the Saudi King on US soil and countenance the death of 100-150 Americans, then the US has reached a point where it must take action.
The President's National Security Council and intelligence teams led by Thomas Donilon must construct a response that is "more than reactive." This is time for a significant strategic response to the Iran challenge in the Middle East and globally -- and if the US does not take action, then the Saudis will most likely retaliate in ways that will escalate the stakes and tensions with Iran throughout the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia.
Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad denies any government involvement in this plot -- and there no doubt will be much more that surfaces in coming days. But Iran has officially denied any complicity in this plot and has accused the US of fabricating these claims. |
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Warrab
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| Joined: 17 Oct 2010 |
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| 11 Oct 2011 02:30 PM |
That'ssoannoying
News is breaking now that senior officials of Iran's Revolutionary Guard/Quds force were attempting to orchestrate the assassination of Saudi Ambassador to the United States Adel al-Jubeir.
As I write this, Attorney General Eric Holder is speaking to the press -- and I am watching events from Abu Dhabi where I am attending the Global Council on Geopolitical Risk session of the World Economic Forum. Thus, my information is limited to that which I am hearing from US Department of Justice officials.
What is listed in an official complaint filed by the US government is that a bombing was allegedly planned, perhaps in a Washington, DC restaurant. The possibility that 100 to 150 people might be killed in the alleged plot was, according to FBI officials, waived off and of no concern to the Iranian interlocutor. According to statements at the news conference, $1.5 million was wired to the alleged perpetrators to finance the costs of the attack.
A couple of key things to consider as this story evolves.
First of all, Ambassador Adel al-Jubeir is not a member of the Saudi royal family, but he is widely considered to be the closest national security adviser and confidante to King Abdullah. Al-Jubeir is constantly flying to and from Riyadh and Washington and wherever the Saudi King is as the King constantly depends on him for counsel and advice -- and thus al-Jubeir is far more than just an Ambassador.
Secondly, one of the key themes that has frequently emerged here at the Abu Dhabi meetings of the World Economic Forum this week is that a more intense proxy struggle is taking place between Saudi Arabia and Iran throughout the Middle East as the perception of American strategic contraction grows.
This alleged assassination plot simultaneously may indicate both the intensity of anti-Saudi passion among Iran's senior leaders and a greater aggressiveness by Iran against the US.
This is a serious situation -- and this kind of assassination is the sort that could lead to an unexpected cascade of events that could draw the US and other powers into a consequential conflagration in the Middle East.
If Iran was indeed willing to attack a Saudi Ambassador and close confidante of the Saudi King on US soil and countenance the death of 100-150 Americans, then the US has reached a point where it must take action.
The President's National Security Council and intelligence teams led by Thomas Donilon must construct a response that is "more than reactive." This is time for a significant strategic response to the Iran challenge in the Middle East and globally -- and if the US does not take action, then the Saudis will most likely retaliate in ways that will escalate the stakes and tensions with Iran throughout the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia.
Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad denies any government involvement in this plot -- and there no doubt will be much more that surfaces in coming days. But Iran has officially denied any complicity in this plot and has accused the US of fabricating these claims. |
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| 11 Oct 2011 02:43 PM |
CNN and other news sources say that too
when will Iran vs Arab world war occur? |
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Warrab
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| Joined: 17 Oct 2010 |
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| 11 Oct 2011 02:52 PM |
In a few days if we're lucky
(unlucky?) |
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| 11 Oct 2011 02:55 PM |
Iran denies
Well, I have no idea what will happen next
finally something unexpected and fun to follow |
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Warrab
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| 11 Oct 2011 02:59 PM |
I've been waiting for something shocking to happen.
I bet nothing will happen. |
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| 11 Oct 2011 03:03 PM |
I bet nothing will happen. __ typical adults
when something fun happens
they slows it down
and make nothing happen
one more reason why politicians should be kids
or why we need reagan |
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Warrab
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| Joined: 17 Oct 2010 |
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| 11 Oct 2011 03:04 PM |
Yeah
We would start a real good war and show them how its done |
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| 11 Oct 2011 03:09 PM |
west skorea and israel and arab world (except syria) vs iran north korea
omg fun fun fun
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pepper0
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Adiar
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| Joined: 17 Oct 2010 |
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| 11 Oct 2011 05:36 PM |
They were going to assassinate the Saudi ambassador, not the US ambassador.
Its war against the Saudis. |
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Warrab
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| 11 Oct 2011 05:45 PM |
| In an American restaurant, using a BOMB, which could have killed hundreds. And considering it's in a Washington D.C. restaurant that ambassadors eat at, it's likely that a few Congressmen or Senators would have been killed too. |
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Adiar
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| 11 Oct 2011 05:46 PM |
| But it was intended for the Saudi. |
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Warrab
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twigs187
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| Joined: 31 Aug 2011 |
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Adiar
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| 11 Oct 2011 05:49 PM |
YOU'RE an idiot.
Saudi=/=American
Whos fault is it if a few civilians are killed?
Can you not into war? |
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Warrab
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| 11 Oct 2011 05:49 PM |
>hundreds of American civilians killed >including senators and congressmen |
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Adiar
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| 11 Oct 2011 05:50 PM |
Too bad America is too reliant on drones to successfully win this war. _______
>Implying the US has a weak military
-10000 |
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Warrab
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| 11 Oct 2011 05:53 PM |
| It's obviously an attack @America because they are using a bomb. They could just use bullets if they didn't want to kill Americans. |
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Adiar
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| 11 Oct 2011 08:04 PM |
| Good point, I was wondering that at first. |
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Spade0
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| 12 Oct 2011 04:30 AM |
YOU'RE an idiot.
Saudi=/=American
Whos fault is it if a few civilians are killed?
Can you not into war? __ So you dont care if it was high ranked Saudi diplomat who was getting killed? Human life less for a saudi than for an american?
Whats the problem with you EWM? |
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Adiar
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| 12 Oct 2011 10:02 AM |
Just about everything you can think of.
But I am in shape and I have good grades, so thats really all I care about.
Im just looking for a major event, like Thorae. |
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| 12 Oct 2011 10:35 AM |
But I am in shape and I have good grades, so thats really all I care about. __ Well, I care about many other things, not good grades and outfit. How does this relate to the thread in anyway?
Im just looking for a major event, like Thorae. __ I see nothing in common between you and thorae. Except that you both are americans. |
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