In prepared remarks to the Senate Intelligence Committee, Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper reviewed “global threats to the United States.” He covered a number of things, one of which was the alleged Iranian plot to kill a Saudi Ambassador in Washington, DC back in October. New York Times:
Mr. Clapper also addressed possible threats from Iran as tensions with that country over its nuclear program escalate. He said that the alleged Iranian plot last year to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the United States “shows that some Iranian officials — probably including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei — have changed their calculus and are now more willing to conduct an attack in the United States in response to real or perceived US actions that threaten the regime.”
…He also said the United States is concerned about Iranian plotting against American or allied interests overseas, adding that “Iran’s willingness to sponsor future attacks in the United States or against our interests abroad probably will be shaped by Tehran’s evaluation of the costs it bears for the plot against the Ambassador as well as Iranian leaders’ perceptions of US threats against the regime.”
I think this was the very first mention of that case since the dust settled in the days following its initial publicity. What was true then is still true now – that is, no evidence has been made public which substantiates the claim that this was an Iranian plot. And the evidence that is public puts the “Iranian plot” scenario into serious question. As I wrote at the time, practically every Iran expert poked holes in the official story and most of the plot was hatched by U.S. law enforcement as opposed to the disgruntled Texas-based Iranian-American accused.
Clapper’s other claim that America needs to be on alert for Iranian attacks “against our interests abroad” is a perfect example of an Orwellian inversion of the truth.
First of all, much of what he means by “our interests abroad” is “our ability to attack Iran.” The U.S. has garrisoned Iran’s surroundings with the most provocative militarism on the globe. U.S. troops and bases in the region are used as strategic locations from which to launch a military attack on Iran. As the New York Times reported in October:
The Obama administration plans to bolster the American military presence in the Persian Gulf after it withdraws the remaining troops from Iraq this year, according to officials and diplomats. That repositioning could include new combat forces in Kuwait able to respond to a collapse of security in Iraq or a military confrontation with Iran.
…In addition to negotiations over maintaining a ground combat presence in Kuwait, the United States is considering sending more naval warships through international waters in the region.
With an eye on the threat of a belligerent Iran, the administration is also seeking to expand military ties with the six nations in the Gulf Cooperation Council — Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman. While the United States has close bilateral military relationships with each, the administration and the military are trying to foster a new “security architecture” for the Persian Gulf that would integrate air and naval patrols and missile defense.
Far be it from Iran to view that as a security threat.
Secondly, Iran is weak and inept. Their military capabilities are so meager compared to the United States that it’s a wonder Americans buy into Washington’s warnings that they’re a threat. They are also not building a nuclear weapon, which makes them defenseless against the U.S. Iran is now also suffering from some of the harshest economic sanctions in the world that are now beginning to cripple their economy. Yet, this is the country we need to worry about attacking us (not, of course, the other way around, which is far more likely).
'Clap on', Clapper off his freaking trolley. The Clap-meister is tedious to the point of banal.
USA warcriminals are all rant about IRAN yet they give weapons to nations like Lebanon & Pakistan knowing full Pakistans ISI paid 9/11 terrorists,they protected Osama Bin Laden for well over a decade,they were behind the terrorist attacks in Afganistan(US Embassy,Kabul,2011) & India (Mumbai,2008),they support the Taliban murdering US soldiers with Afghanistan,that the US allowed Pakistan to safely airlift senior members of the Taliban & Al Qaeda from Tora Bora to Pakistan in late 2001 & that Lebanon has strong links to terrorists Hezbollah.
Corrupt evil warcriminals USA support terrorists to keep its sectarian wars like Afghanistan ongoing & its corrupt over spending warmachine rolling on.
WORLD WAR III is coming.
Sigh…
Yes…thank you Mr. Clapper for reminding everyone the Iranian Government, all the way up to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, backed a used car salesman from Corpus Christie, Tx–entrusting him to hire a member of the Zeta Mexican drug cartel and mastermine an international assassination campaign of Saudi Arabian Ambassadors… Suspending disbelief for a second, and pretending any of this is 'true', and without comment on the numerous other inherent absurdities of this 'story'; I just have a question: why was it decided to kick off this "campaign" at a public restaurant in downtown Washington DC where allegedly 'US civilians' and even 'Senators' may be? Why didn't the Quds plan to start out assassinations of Saudi Ambassadors in Mexico…you know, the 'territory' of the hired gun…rather than the US? Doing so would seem a bit more logical.
(…)
Also, thanks for reminded me we here in the USA live in a society where a significant population, even (and particularly) US lawmakers, will initially blindly trust and believe (or at least pretend to believe–which is worse) virtually anything their Government masters tell them when it comes to 'National Security' and 'Defense' issues; regardless of how patently absurd the invented and/or parroted talking points are. I'd also like to thank you for making an ass of yourself and shedding light on the fact: what passes as 'mainstream' ‘debate’ these days on these important issues, has now reached a unimaginable level of absurdity.
(…)
I, as a US citizen, may as well rely on the North Korean media, rather than the "truth" emanating from the White House press office or Administration officials, to get up to speed on the "facts"–since the absurdity and reliability of them all now seem to be comparable…"facts" which, btw, for the most part, are not even seriously questioned and later disseminated to the general public by the navel gazing WH Press corps as they blindly lap up the Kool-Aid they're being severed at the same time they 'sext' and organize happy hour on their Blackberries and Smartphones; instead of doing what they're actually supposed to do… I maybe sentimental and imagining a past which never existed, but it seems to me the US Government used to at least put some sort of effort into propaganda and lies; now they don’t even seem to be trying anymore. I guess it’s been decided by the ‘powers that be’ that even lying correctly to the American people, much less critical thinking, is too much of a ‘burden’ and ultimately waste of time.
It is astounding that Clapper gets paid for his nonsense. Even more astounding that anyone takes him seriously.—Dan Domoff
Still, this is really scary.and alarming.
I am hoping that Mr. Clapper will just be secured.
Its really hard to be in politics, that's my opinion.
Carla from peindre du lambris
They are also not building a nuclear weapon, which makes them defenseless against the U.S. Iran is now also suffering from some of the harshest economic sanctions in the world that are now beginning to cripple their economy.
I hope that war is over some day in every part of the world!