The Long Arm of Iran

The title of this post comes directly from a description used by Benjamin Netanyahu to characterize a suspected Iranian influence in the Bulgarian terrorist attack.  Part of a worldwide pattern, he claims.  The New York Times seems to confirm:

A senior American official confirmed Israel’s assertions on Thursday that the suicide bomber who killed five Israelis in an attack here on Wednesday was a member of a Hezbollah cell operating in Bulgaria. The official said the current American intelligence assessment is that the bomber was “acting under broad guidance” to hit Israeli targets when the opportunity presented itself. That guidance was given to Hezbollah, a Lebanese militant group, by its primary sponsor, Iran, he said.

The video/picture of the purported idiot (they claim he might have been an unwitting suicider) makes him look apropos for California or other American cities.  He's being described as Caucasian.  Bottom line, he doesn't look like an Arab or south Asian. Was that intentional?

The "fake" Michigan ID is also intriguing. The Times' source downplays it--for obvious reasons--but the question must be asked as to whether it was a calling card.  Such a thing has been done before.  If indeed the bomber was hapless and made a mistake then it would be reasonable to assume the ID had no deeper meaning.  But if it was meant to be found there are plenty of messages it could be sending.

Michigan has a high population of Muslim immigrants.  The underwear bomber was heading for Detroit.   What about Louisiana? Why would someone go to the trouble of creating a fake Michigan ID and put a Louisiana address on it?  Michigan would never allow such a document.  So what's the message? 

The address is clear on this site: 103 France St. Baton Rogue, LA.  That's a Casino.  Think sin. Din of iniquity.  And France.  The address, coupled with the name of the driver--"Jacque Felipe Martin"--suggests even more of a connection to France.  Yeah, possibly a tie to Cajun country; local authorities there are investigating, but the name sounds made up. 

The driver's date of birth, 5/12/87, does not appear to correlate with any significant events in history but the attack itself occurred on July 18, which was the anniversary of an attack on a Jewish Center in Buenos-Aires in 1994 generally blamed on the Iranian Revolutionary Guard via Shia-Hizballah terror chieftain Imad Mughniyah.  As to the driver's picture, it appears to be a character off "That 70s Show", ie, perhaps the way some still see American youth.

Making a lot of assumptions of course (this is a blog) but if it was a message then it was likely intended to speak to France (who is currently highly involved in the UNIFIL force in South Lebanon) and the United States (ie, Hizballah has operatives in America who look American) as to the "long arm" of our Persian foes in Tehran.  The State Department already has international travel warnings in effect.  With Syria crumbling and France and the United States pushing for sanctions what's a cornered animal to do?