-
Jimmy Wray, R.I.P.
May 25, 2013 | 1 comment
-
BBC World Survey Ranks Israel Near Bottom in Global Popularity
May 24, 2013 | 14 comments
-
Muslim, Er, Youth Riots in Sweden
May 24, 2013 | 10 comments
-
Good Luck Quin
May 24, 2013 | 6 comments
-
One of The London Soldier Beheading Suspects British Born
May 23, 2013 | 9 comments
The Spectacle Blog
Reid Smith has expressed skepticism over the plausiblity of the Iranian plot to launch attacks against the United States. John Tabin has taken Smith to task for relying on the likes of Hillary Mann Leverett to support his arguments. Smith responds by citing other Iran “experts” like Gary Sick and Stephen Walt much to the dismay of Tabin.
Although there’s nothing wrong with a healthy dose of skepticism, I’m with Tabin on this one. I would be strongly disinclined to rely on the word of Sick and Walt. Let us remember that it was Sick who advanced the discredited conspiracy theory that the Reagan-Bush campaign was in kahootz with the Khomeini regime to keep the American hostages in Iran until they were sworn into office. As for Walt, well, he doesn’t think Iran poses any threat to the United States whatsoever. So it should not come as any surprise that he wouldn’t put much stock into this plot.
I understand Smith’s skepticism but such skepticism should be based on hard evidence, not on the words of those who have an axe to grind against the United States or act as apologists for the Iranian regime.
View all comments (18) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Aaron Goldstein
http://spectator.org/blog/2011/10/17/a-sick-feeling-about-the-irani
Follow us:
ADVERTISEMENT
The Spectacle Blog
The #FreeKate Narrative Melts Down: Lies Exposed in Florida Teen Sex Case
Robert Stacy McCain | 5.25.13
SPONSORED LINKS
FLASHBACK TO: 1995
-
Pope Culture
A man of faith in a godless age is hitting Americans where it hurts.
-
Why the GOP Does Not, Like, Totally Suck
Mr. and Mrs. American Spectator Reader, let P.J. O’Rourke talk sense to your kids.
-
Dames at Sea
-
In the Absence of Guns
In Britain, defending your property can get you life.
-
The Metaphysical Martini
-
Counting the Costs of Clintonism
The debacle of this president’s administration is both a cause and a symptom of the decline of American values. Unless Congress impeaches him, that decline will go on unchecked. An eminent jurist surveys the damage and assesses the chances for the recovery of our culture.
-
Chuck McHagel
It won’t take long for conservatives to scratch this presidential wannabe off their 2008 scorecard.
-
The Legacy of Old John and Mother Fresh-Roasted
-
It’s the Best Time of the Year
The American Christmas, like the songs that celebrate it, makes room for everybody under the rainbow. Is that why so many people seem to be hostile to it?
-
The Bush Crack-Up
Was the President done in by the economy, or by the politics of the economy?
Clip of the Day
H/T to National Review Online
ADVERTISEMENT
Dixie Pixie| 10.17.11 @ 8:37PM
I am of the opinion that the plot was conceptually flawed from the start.
It took the professional services of the FBI to advance the plot to the indictable stage.
The Mexican Drug Cartels would never be involved in such a moon-bat plot for good reasons.
For further details, see my post in::::
http://spectator.org/blog/2011.....a-leverett
The whole plot was announced to place Obama to the right on the military / political spectrum from Mittens Romney.
Obama knows Romney has no military credentials an thus can be outmaneuvered by placing himself as the proven military protector of America by publicly busting terrorist plots and killing their operatives.
JimH| 10.18.11 @ 8:24AM
I agree with Dixie Pixie that this does not pass the smell test. The parties involved are not particularly capable and the targets quite difficult. The money trail back to Tehran seems real enough though. So I can think of some alternatives, there may be others:
This was a genuine though incompetent plot.
A bit of entrapment on our part with money sent from Iran by someone who did not know what was going on.
One faction of the Iranian government trying to embarrass another, possibly Saudi inspired.
Some sort of feint by Iran in order to distract us while something real and more dangerous is going on elsewhere.
Maurine | 10.17.11 @ 10:24PM
http://www.cheapuggbootoutlet.co.uk/
Occam's Tool| 10.18.11 @ 12:49AM
Well, the Iranians are 1) insane, and 2) going for nukes. I expect nothing good out of this.
aware| 10.18.11 @ 6:38AM
Yeah, Goldstein, and Fast and Furious was a "legitimate" Mexican drug cartel inspired operation too.
Tim the Enchanter| 10.18.11 @ 6:48AM
Sounds like a "Remember the Maine" moment.
Red Phillips | 10.18.11 @ 7:34AM
Aaron, the problem with this debate is that most of the fear Iran crowd has an axe to grind. I can't tell you how many times on this blog I've seen people write that we should all watch Iranium if we want to understand the threat posed by Iran, as if Iranium isn't made by axe grinders for the purpose of axe grinding. If anti-Iran drum beaters get to cite Iranium, the non-interventionist (not that Reid is one) get to cite Leverett and Walt.
WJ| 10.18.11 @ 8:18AM
What Red Phillips said - the neocon nuts have an agenda and that is war with Iran. Somehow this blogger thinks that a member of this corrupt administration's DOJ has any credibility in the face of simple common sense.
An alcoholic Iranian ex pat in Corpus Christi teaming up with the Zetas to kill a Saudi for God knows what reason. Yep, that has plausibility stamped all over it.
bsceptic| 10.18.11 @ 10:41AM
don't leave out the bill, 100,000 down
bsceptic| 10.18.11 @ 10:43AM
zetas charge 30000 for 1 mexican border cross
bsceptic| 10.18.11 @ 10:43AM
zetas charge 30000 for 1 mexican border cross
Aleck| 10.18.11 @ 8:38AM
Yes, Aaron, I have a sick feeling too -- that our government is trying to lie to us once again! It seems that rather than as you say, the burden of proof is really on those who assert the existence of this plot, not on those who are skeptical of it.
Con Chef (NB) | 10.18.11 @ 10:59AM
The reason this doesn't pass the smell test is simple. WHY, in G*d's name, would the IRG/Quds guys outsource this to Los Zetas? Los Zetas can shoot up a barrio or casino, not blow up buildings in DC. The IRG/Hezbos/Quds guys have OPERATIONAL EXPERIENCE doing such things. That they would outsource it to the barrio thugs defies all logic about such issues.
james wilson| 10.18.11 @ 12:58PM
If Gunwalker is possible, anything is possible.
albert constantine jr| 10.18.11 @ 1:48PM
I trust little that comes from this administration, particularly the DOJ, but I'm not willing to dismiss outright the thought that Iran is plotting against us, and the Revolutionary Guard will go to ridiculous lengths to try to hurt or embarass us. Most importantly, though, I believe the traditional spelling is "cahoots", not "kahootz", but I am willing to review any evidence to the contrary.
TLR| 10.19.11 @ 9:27AM
The thing to be more concerned about is that the Obama administration is behind this. Either 1) they are working to make it appear that we are under attack by Iran, so that he can start a war, thereby, upping his poll numbers (He saw that killing Bin Laden gave him a bump.), or 2) this happened because Obama has so weakened our national image that the Iranians think they can now come onto our soil and kill someone, as a slap in our face. The first could be true, knowing the evils of the Obama administration. The second is almost certainly true, knowing how much he has undermined our standing in the world. We once were the big, strong defenders of liberty, the policemen of the world. Now, thansk to Obama's apologies, kissing up to Muslim regimes and dictators, and horrid policies, we are viewed as a laughingstock, as a weak, hesitant, conflicted nation with no real power. Obama and his "progressive" (AKA Marxist) pals have practically ruined this great nation. We MUST vote him and them out of office, or become another weak, socialist (or worse) nation, easy prey for our enemies, of whom we have many.
yiso| 10.24.11 @ 11:46PM
slewing ring can also bear the larger axial load, radial load and overturning, can replace several sets of ordinary bearing combination to use function. http://www.1stbearing.com