The Iranian-backed terror plot targeting the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the United States, along with multiple targets throughout South and Central America, should come as no surprise. Iran has always sought measures to jeopardize U.S., Israeli, and Saudi interests. U.S. authorities should be praised for their interdiction of this activity. This was not the first, nor will it be the last, attempt that the Iranians undertake to kill Americans and our allies through terrorism.
Below are just a handful of the more significant atrocities perpetrated by Iran against the U.S. and our allies:
1979—U.S. diplomats were taken hostage in Tehran held for more than one year.
1983–Iranian supported Hezbollah detonated a VBIED killing over 241 U.S. service members in Lebanon.
1984—William Buckley was taken hostage by Iranian terrorists and was later killed by the Revolutionary Guard Corp.
1985—U.S. Navy Underwater Diver Robert Stethem was brutally murdered on TWA flight 727.
1992—Israeli embassy in Argentina was attacked by Iranian operatives leaving more than 250 injured and 20 killed.
1995—The Amia Jewish Center was targeted with an explosive killing 85 leaving over 230 injured—Al Quds force commander Vahidi was behind the execution of the attack.
1996—Iranian supported Hezbollah in Hijaz detonated a VBIED at Khobar Towers killing 19 service members.
2003—Reports that Al Qaeda was operating in Iran through protection of Al Quds forces to engage in operations throughout Iraq and Afghanistan against U.S. service members.
20010—Substantial signs of Iranian infiltration into the United States were identified on the U.S. southern border—Congresswoman Sue Myrick cried for investigations with no resolve.
2011—Iran threatens U.S. coastal waters through articulating its desires to send its naval vessels on patrol around North America.
Evidence proves Iran’s hatred towards the United States, Israel, and its Sunni rival Saudi Arabia. U.S. politicians have known for several years that Iran has engaged in a very unique proxy war in Iraq. Such activities fuels Iraqi Shiite insurgents threatening U.S. forces with advanced shape charged IED’s yet very little has been done against the Shiite nation state.
Sanctions have been enforced on Iran due to its nuclear program yet they continue to laugh in our face. Today, the threat has become a reality on our own U.S. soil. Arrests have been made but that does not mean the threat has vanished. Iran’s behavior has a pattern—a pattern that can only change with austere corrective measures.
Kerry Patton is the Co-Founder of the National Security Leadership Foundation, a non-profit organization pending 501c (3) status. He has worked in South America, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Europe, focusing on intelligence and security interviewing current and former terrorists, including members of the Taliban. He is the author of “Sociocultural Intelligence: The New Discipline of Intelligence Studies” and the children’s book “American Patriotism.” You can follow him on Facebook.
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