Foiled Again By Those Pesky Americans

Hey folks,

Yes, yet another Islamo-fascist terror plot foiled by those pesky Americans. But there is something here that we need to watch. According to CNN - U.S. embassy terror plot uncovered

(CNN) -- Authorities in Azerbaijan recently uncovered a radical Islamic terror plot against the U.S. Embassy in the capital, Baku, prompting the facility to close its doors to the public Monday, Azerbaijan and U.S. officials told CNN.

As a precaution, Britain also shut its embassy in Baku to the public on Monday “following security concerns nearby,” Britain's Foreign Office said.

The terror plot was unraveled after a weekend raid outside Baku that netted several suspected members of the radical group, two U.S. officials who asked not to be identified and a spokesman for Azerbaijan's National Security Ministry told CNN.

U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack stressed that the details “are still unfolding,” and the threat "may or may not be" linked to the Saturday raid.

“There were some specific and credible threat information concerning the embassy and plans by militants to in some way do harm to individuals in and around the U.S. Embassy there,” McCormack said, noting that no specific individuals were targeted.

Several days ago, an Azerbaijani army officer who had connections to a radical Islamic group seized four assault rifles, a machine gun and 20 hand grenades from his military unit and hid them in the outskirts of Baku, the ministry spokesman and U.S. officials said.

Government security forces tracked down the group and arrested several members during a sweep on Saturday in the village of Mastaga, about 20 miles (32 km) northeast of Baku, the spokesman said.

One suspected member of the militant group resisted arrest and was killed in the sweep, the spokesman said. Several others are still at large, he added.

He said the terror plot also targeted Azerbaijani government buildings.

The U.S. Embassy in Baku issued a warden message warning Americans in Azerbaijan to take precautions.

“While there is no information at this time that other American or Western interests in Azerbaijan are being targeted, the U.S. Embassy encourages Americans to maintain a high level of vigilance and take appropriate steps to bolster their own personal security,” it said.

That is GREAT news. We win again. However, remember this little tidbit.

Azerbaijan is a former Soviet republic that borders the Caspian Sea, and lies just north of Iran.

McCormack said U.S. authorities are working closely with their counterparts in Baku and will determine when normal embassy operations will resume. He said he expects the embassy to limit its operations on Tuesday, as well.

So why am I telling you to remember that this village is a former Soviet republic ? We are all watching the New Russian President. He was part of the old Soviet Union, he is against American sanctions, and he seems to missing the old days of the Soviet Union. He needs watching to begin with. But then you add this. According to Reuters - Russia's Lavrov to meet Ahmadinejad on Tuesday

Russia's foreign minister is due to hold talks with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Tehran on Tuesday, less than a week after Moscow criticized new U.S. sanctions against the Islamic state over its nuclear work.

Iranian officials said Sergei Lavrov would meet Ahmadinejad at 1600 GMT.

In Moscow, Russian Foreign Ministry chief spokesman Mikhail Kamynin said the visit would discuss Iran's nuclear activities, which the West suspects are aimed at making bombs, as well as bilateral questions.

“A number of issues connected to the situation around Iran's nuclear program, and a number of questions of bilateral cooperation, will be discussed,” Interfax news agency quoted him as saying.

Iran rejects Western accusations it is seeking to build atom bombs and has refused to halt its nuclear program.

The United States last week imposed new sanctions on Iran and accused its Revolutionary Guards of spreading weapons of mass destruction. Russian President Vladimir Putin said such moves only forced Tehran into a corner.

It was not clear whether Lavrov and Ahmadinejad would hold a press conference after their discussions.

Their meeting coincides with a new round of talks in Tehran between officials from Iran and the U.N. nuclear agency watchdog on implementing an August agreement aimed at clearing up past suspicions about the country's nuclear ambitions.

Russia believes dialogue rather than more punishment or military action is the way forward. Visiting Tehran two weeks ago, Putin told Washington that Moscow would not accept military action against Iran.

Russia is building Iran's first atomic power plant in Bushehr. Western powers fear Tehran's pursuit of nuclear-generated electricity is a precursor to building an atom bomb. Iran says its program is for peaceful purposes.

This really needs to be looked into. I would like to think that those with the ability to do so, are. But we have to ignore Russia’s disapproval if need be, to make sure that Iran does not get nuclear weapons. We need to be ever so vigilant in making sure our friends remain our friends and that we, at the same time, do not lose our ability to protect ourselves and our allies. The next President, whomever that may be, needs to be able to handle a full plate. These are indeed, dangerous times.
Peter

Sources:
CNN - U.S. embassy terror plot uncovered
Reuters - Russia's Lavrov to meet Ahmadinejad on Tuesday