Homeland Security Event Research Paper

Homeland Security Event
Over the last ten years, Homeland Security has been focused on dealing with a wide variety of terrorist attacks. In most cases, these incidents usually involve some kind of intelligence indicating that a terrorist related incident was about to occur. One recent example of this happened in October 2011, with a failed assassination attempt on the Saudi Arabian Ambassador. When the news was first announced, this seemed somewhat surreal based on the fact that Iran was behind the plot (with two suspects charged for their involvement). However, the relationship that Iran has with the West during the last few years has been strained. This is an indication of how the Islamic Republic was lashing out against these nations with one of their only tools (terrorism). (Miller, 2012, pp. 20 — 30) To fully understand this event, we will look at how this attempted terrorist attack unfolded. This will be accomplished by examining: what went right, wrong, areas of improvement and federal policies. Together, these different elements will provide the greatest insights as to how this event helped to redefine the way the federal government looked at terrorist related activities.
The Attempted Attack
On October 11, 2011 U.S. law enforcement officials arrested an Iranian national (Gholam Shakuri) and an Iranian — American holding a dual citizenship (Manssor Arbabsiar) in New York. They were charged with the attempted assassination of the Saudi Arabian Ambassador in Washington. At the time, the Iranians denied any involvement in the plot. However, prior to and after an intense investigation their role was obvious. This is following series of disputes that Iran has with the United States regarding its nuclear related activities. (Miller, 2012, pp. 20 — 30)
Evidence of this can be seen with observations from Michael Rubin of the American Enterprise Institute. He believes that this action is Iran’s way of defying the West by lashing out against them. If the assassination were to take place, this would have made Iran look as if they could attack their enemies anywhere around the world. This is significant, because it is showing how this event was designed to create fear and intimidate anyone who was allied with the United States. (Miller, 2012, pp. 20 — 30)
What went Right?
What went right during the investigation is law enforcement has increased powers to go after terrorist related activities. The way that this was achieved is through using different tools that were provided under the U.S.A. Patriot Act (most notably the monitoring of financial transactions and the reduction in legal barriers). In this particular case, Iran had met with an undercover DEA operative in Mexico (in May 2011). The agent was posing as someone from one of Mexico’s drug gangs, who were meeting with the Iranians about conducting an assassination (and possibly terrorism in the future) for the Qods Force. This is an arm of the Iranian military focusing on conducting terrorism and assassinations abroad. (“Two Men Charged in Alleged Plot,” 2011)
At this meeting and others prior to October 2011, is when it was agreed that $1.5 million fee would be paid to the undercover agent. This took place by wiring a $100 thousand down payment to a bank account in the United States. The plan was to kill the Saudi Arabian Ambassador through some kind of explosion in a public place such as a restaurant. This would assassinate the intended target and it would murder American civilians in the process. When pressed about possible civilian casualties during one conversation is when Arbabsiar said, “They want that guy [the Ambassador] done [killed], if the hundred go with him *!