MidnightWatcher – Prophecy in Motion

“WASHINGTON – The nation’s top intelligence adviser told Congress on Thursday that Al Qaeda ‘is extending its reach into Syria’ — possibly with Iran’s help.

In a rare public admission, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said Al Qaeda and the Iranian regime have a ‘shotgun marriage, or marriage of convenience.’ More significantly, given the series of attacks this week linked to Iran, Clapper said Tehran appears to see Al Qaeda as an insurance policy — a ‘surrogate or proxy’ — against future Western aggression.

This public confirmation comes as U.S. officials investigate the release of five Al Qaeda members after ‘years of house arrest’ in Iran. The men include Saif al-Adel, who was tipped as the likely replacement for Usama bin Laden.

The release of Al Qaeda leaders is not confined to Iran. U.S. officials are also investigating whether the Syrians released Abu Musab al-Suri, seen as one of the terror network’s most important strategists. Al-Suri was captured in Pakistan 2005 and was in CIA custody until he was sent back to Syria as part of the controversial rendition program. Until recently, US officials were confident he would not be released by the Syrian government.

Clapper also confirmed that U.S. officials believe an Al Qaeda affiliate was responsible for a series of blast in Syria because the car bombs ‘bore the earmarks’ of Al Qaeda in Iraq. The affiliate, written off by some members of the U.S. intelligence community, has made a comeback according to Clapper.

Al Qaeda of Iraq is one of Al Qaeda’s largest regional affiliates, and it ‘is extending its reach into Syria’ by infiltrating opposition groups, likely without their knowledge. Clapper said the lack of a unified opposition group could leave a power vacuum that extremists could fill if the Syrian government falls, a potential development he called ‘troubling,’ because Syria has an extensive network of chemical weapons sites.” Read more.

General Assembly Votes to Condemn Syrian Leader – “In a powerful rebuke to Syria’s government, the United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly on Thursday to approve a resolution that condemned President Bashar al-Assad’s unbridled crackdown on an 11-month-old uprising and called for his resignation under an Arab League peace proposal to resolve the conflict.” Read more.

If sanctions are not working and containing a nuclear Iran is not an option, only one possibility remains, unfortunately …

By Adam Kredo – “A bipartisan slate of senators announced this afternoon they would reject ‘any United States policy that would rely on efforts to contain a nuclear weapons-capable Iran.’

Drawing a clear line in the sand, the senators – among them Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) – demanded that President Obama reject ‘any policy that would rely on containment as an option in response to the Iranian nuclear threat,’ according to a new Senate resolution set to be unveiled later today.

The resolution ‘warns that time is limited to prevent the Iranian government from acquiring a nuclear weapon’ and demands that the hostile regime immediately suspend all uranium enrichment activities.

Most noteworthy, perhaps, is the resolution’s thorough accounting of the Iranian regime’s hostile behavior. It details, for example, Iran’s connections to terror groups and its various efforts to harm U.S. interests across the Middle East.” Read more.

Netanyahu: Iran sanctions not working – “While in Nicosia, Netanyahu also addressed the Iranian nuclear threat, saying the sanctions imposed by the international community on the Islamic Republic ‘are not working.’ Iran is the most irresponsible force in the world, he said, claiming the sactions imposed on the Islamic Republic have not had an effect so far. According to Netanyahu, the regime in Tehran violates every resolution and has no respect for international norms. He added that Iran’s race towards nuclear weapons should concern the US and every other country.” Read more.

Here’s an update on this story. Thai police have confirmed what we’ve already suspected: It was a Gharqad tree …

“A group of Iranians detained after explosions in Thailand’s capital Bangkok were intending to target two Israeli diplomats, Thai police say.

There were no further details of the individual targets, but planning was said to be at an advanced stage.

Officials have linked Tuesday’s Bangkok blasts to attacks on Israeli diplomats in Georgia and India on Monday.

Israel has accused Tehran of being behind all three attacks. Tehran has denied any involvement.

Two men are in custody in Bangkok over Tuesday’s explosions, a third man was arrested in Malaysia trying to board a flight to Iran, and a fourth suspect is still at large, believed by immigration officials to be back in Iran.

‘Their targets were individuals, Israeli diplomats, not the Thai people,’ said national police chief Priewpan Damapong.

There had been widespread speculation of a plot aiming at Israelis, but Mr Priewpan is the first Thai official elaborate on the target.

He said the suspects are likely to be charged with possession of explosive devices and attempted murder.” Read more.

SKY NEWS/NEWSCORE – “LONDON — Iran and al Qaeda’s core leadership under Ayman al Zawahiri have established an operational relationship amid fears the terror group is planning an attack against the West.

There are concerns such an attack, possibly targeting the London Olympics later this year, would be in revenge for the killing of Osama bin Laden by the US last year.

Intelligence sources said Iran has been supplying al Qaeda with training in the use of advanced explosives, ‘some funding and a safe haven’ as part of a deal first worked out in 2009 which has now led to ‘operational capacity.’

The US is so concerned about the close relationship that late last year it issued a $10 million reward for information leading to the whereabouts of a Syrian al Qaeda leader in Iran, Ezedin Abdel Aziz Khalil, better known as Yasin al Suri.

The reward offered for Suri, 30, puts him on the same level as Mullah Omar, the leader of the Taliban in Afghanistan. Only Zawahiri, who replaced bin Laden, has a higher price on his head.

Sources said Iran has reacted to the publication of Suri’s name by taking him into ‘protective custody.’

‘If someone got hold of him, he would have the most incredible amount of intelligence and so it makes sense to make sure that he is protected,’ said a source.

But Suri has been swiftly replaced — a sign that the al Qaeda relationship with Iran is of great mutual importance.” Read more.

Flashback: US Officials: Iran May Be Aiding Al-Qaida (Again) – “U.S. officials say they believe Iran recently gave new freedoms to as many as five top Al Qaeda operatives who have been under house arrest, including the option to leave the country, and may have provided some material aid to the terrorist group… Adding to the U.S. pressure on Iran, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper told senators in an annual intelligence assessment that U.S. agencies believe the Iranian regime is now more willing to conduct an attack in the U.S.” Read more.

Flashback: Iran Planning US Attack ‘Worse Than The World Trade Center’ From Latin American Countries (Video):

I can’t make this stuff up. And I just so happen to agree with the government’s position in this case. Apparently, President Obama didn’t get involved. It’s actually reasonable …

Update: Life …

By Tresa Baldas – “DETROIT — Confessed underwear bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab is challenging his mandatory life in prison sentence, arguing in court documents filed Monday that a life sentence is ‘cruel and unusual punishment’ and unconstitutional.

Abdulmutallab, who is scheduled to be sentenced Thursday, is facing a mandatory life in prison sentence after pleading guilty in October to trying to blow up a Detroit-bound airliner carrying nearly 300 people with a bomb hidden in his underwear. He pleaded guilty to numerous criminal charges, including attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction, and conspiracy to commit terrorism.

The plot was foiled when his bomb malfunctioned.

‘Given the circumstances and what did NOT occur in the instant matter it is fair to say that the mandatory minimum sentence of life is excessive and grossly disproportionate to the conduct,’ Abdulmutallab wrote in court documents Monday. ‘Aside from the defendant no passengers suffered any serious injuries and there were no casualties.’

The government strongly disagrees, and has asked U.S. District Judge Nancy Edmunds to give him the maximum punishment.

‘Defendant is an unrepentant, would-be mass murderer, who views his crimes as divinely inspired and blessed, and who views himself as under a continuing obligation to carry out such crimes,’ prosecutors wrote Friday in a sentencing memo. ‘He attempted to murder 289 individuals, no sentence other than life. … Could possibly reflect the seriousness of defendant’s conduct.'” Read more.