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October 13, 2011

Experts Question Validity of Iran Allegations 
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As the Obama administration pushes for new sanctions on Iran, widespread
doubts are emerging about the plot and the U.S. claims of Iranian
government involvement. According to the Washington Post, the scheme was
so poorly organized that investigators had major doubts from the
beginning of their probe. One U.S. official said the transparent actions
of the suspects, including a $100,000 wire transfer from Iran, were
"inconsistent with the high [Iranian intelligence] standards we’ve
seen in the past." Gary Sick, an Iran expert and former National
Security Council official, said: "It is difficult to believe that [Iran]
would rely on a non-Islamic criminal gang to carry out this most
sensitive of all possible missions. In this instance, they allegedly
relied on at least one amateur and a Mexican criminal drug gang that is
known to be riddled with both Mexican and U.S. intelligence agents. …
Whatever else may be Iran’s failings, they are not noted for utter
disregard of the most basic intelligence tradecraft." Some experts have
speculated the plot was staged by opponents of the Iranian government in
order to frame Tehran.



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