Suspect in Saudi ambassador assassination plot pleads guilty

[alp227]

Source: CNN

An Iranian-American man from Texas on Wednesday pleaded guilty in Manhattan federal court to participating in a plot meant to kill the Saudi ambassador to the United States.

Prosecutors said Manssor Arbabsiar, 57, tried to recruit a Mexican drug cartel to bomb a Washington restaurant where Saudi Ambassador Adel Al-Jubeir dined. But the scheme unraveled when Arbabsiar's cartel contact turned out to be an undercover agent.

Arbabsiar acknowledged in court to conspiring with members of the Iranian military in the formulation of the plot and is expected to be sentenced in January.

Federal officials say Arbabsiar met "on a number of occasions in Mexico with a Drug Enforcement Administration confidential source."

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/17/justice/new-york-saudi-assassination-plot/index.html

[leveymg]

1. The defendant was diagnosed as bipolar, and has been for a number of years.

Last edited Wed Oct 17, 2012, 07:40 PM - Edit history (5)

Here's the diagnosis: http://www.emptywheel.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/120716-Bipolar-Diagnosis.pdf

This is typical of the targets of many sting operations we've seen in recent years in terrorism cases who lack the resources to try to carry out their delusions were it not for the essential role played by government informants and agents.

The man's guilty plea does not establish this was an on-the-books Iranian assassination operation, or even anything remotely close.

This case originated with the Treasury Dept. which claimed a year ago that there were four al Quds operatives involved and a $5 million budget for the alleged operation http://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/tg1320.aspx , but the indictment only named two persons and alleged a single transfer of $100,000 from an account outside Iran held by the cousin to the defendant -- http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/assassinationcomplaint1011.pdf. It is not clear what authority, if any, the second figure named in the indictment ever had to carry out the scheme.

The defendant, a former used car salesman with a history of psychiatric problems, was in no position to carry out the plot and the "Mexican drug figure" he communicated with was actually an FBI informant. This case did not pan out to be what was originally claimed.