AUSTIN -- The faces were grim, the testimony grimmer at a hearing led by U.S Congressman Michael McCaul Wednesday morning in Washington, D.C.
McCaul led a joint subcommittee hearing to address Iranian terror operations on American soil. The hearing comes two weeks after federal agents arrested Manssor Arbabsiar of Round Rock in an alleged plot to assassinate a Saudi ambassador.
During three hours of heated testimony, military experts labeled Iran a strategic enemy of the United States, and argued it should be treated as such. Retired Army General John Keane was one of five witnesses who raised concerns over a perceived increase in Iranian hostility.
"If we don't take measures, serious measures, and introduce fear to them, they are going to keep killing us until they eventually get a weapon that can truly hurt us," said Keane.
Arbabsiar allegedly told a DEA informant the Iranian government wanted him to kill Saudi Ambassador Adel al-Jubeir with the help of the Zetas, a Mexican drug cartel. His arrest stirred fears over Iran's cooperation with cartels to move weapons and terrorists in order to stage attacks on American soil.
McCaul also called attention to a possible airborne uranium exchange between Iran and Venezuela, part of what intelligence experts believe is Tehran's goal to continue nuclear weapon development.
"The international community cannot check these flights," McCaul said. "I've had Bolivian lawmakers tell me that there's uranium on those flights going to Iran."
Panelists argue sanctions have done little to stop Iran's aggression and nuclear pursuits. Their recommendations included targeting Iranian business interests abroad, along with cyber attacks on the Iranian economic system.
Panelists also recommended engaging in covert operations and espionage against the Iranian government -- in particular, against leaders of Iran's Quds force. The special unit, which reports directly to Iran's spiritual leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is believed to be behind the foiled assassination plot.
"We kill other people who are running terrorist organizations against the United States," said Keane. "These guys have killed almost a thousand of us. Why don't we kill them?"
Talk stopped short of recommending direct, conventional military action.
"I don't think anyone wants to go to war with Iran, but I do think we need a tougher response," McCaul summarized.
A summary of the hearing along with its recommendations will be sent to White House where leaders and lawmakers will have to decide just how tough is enough.
