There’s no indication that Shihab Ahmed Shihab was associated with any designated terrorist organization
Iraqi Immigrant’s Plot to Assassinate Former President George W. Bush Revealed According to court documents, an Ohio resident of Iraqi descent had planned to assassinate former President George W. Bush, highlighting the discovery of an unsettling conspiracy. Finding Roots in Extremism Shihab Ahmed Shihab, with a background linked to extremist beliefs, was identified as the mastermind behind a scheme to bring ISIS supporters into the United States.
The Vengeful Spark Shihab’s radicalization can be traced back to his involvement as an arms smuggler for al Qaeda during the Iraq War. His experiences in transporting weapons and planting explosives fueled a deep resentment against Bush, holding him accountable for the suffering of the Iraqi people. The Elaborate Assassination Scheme Shihab carefully orchestrated a plan involving former Iraqi intelligence agents and meticulous strategies.
He conducted surveillance on Bush’s Texas residence and coordinated the logistics for a perilous border crossing. An Unanticipated Betrayal Unbeknownst to Shihab, one of his co-conspirators in the assassination plot was a confidential informant referred to as “CS1” in legal documents. Shihab expressed his willingness to play an active role in the assassination, declaring he would be “proud” to sacrifice himself.
Orchestrating the Infiltration Shihab devised a covert operation to smuggle at least seven Iraqis across the U.S.-Mexican border, demanding substantial fees per person, with the intention of carrying out the assassination plan against the former president. Foiling the Plans Contrary to Shihab’s beliefs, his purported successful smuggling of an ISIS member was part of an FBI-coordinated sting operation. The exact surveillance techniques employed by federal authorities were not disclosed.
Reconnaissance Mission in Dallas Shihab, during a documented meeting, traveled to Dallas to gather intelligence on the ex-president’s residence, recording video footage. However, he was dissuaded from transmitting the videos to the potential assassins by the FBI informant. Bush’s Unwavering Composure Despite the gravity of the threat, former President Bush displayed unwavering confidence in the protective measures implemented by the U.S. Secret Service and intelligence agencies.
Shihab’s American Journey Shihab arrived in the U.S. on a visitor visa, held various jobs, and applied for asylum in March 2021, a request that was pending review at the time of his apprehension. Deceptive Marriage Ploy Shihab’s arrest also brought to light his attempts to secure immigration status through a sham marriage, utilizing falsified divorce documents from his spouse in Iraq. The Conclusion of a Sinister Scheme Shihab’s apprehension by the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force in May 2022 marked the culmination of his assassination plot. Subsequently, he admitted guilt and received a 178-month prison sentence.
