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Mujahedin Khalq Organization as a terrorist group

Beware of Violence Provocation by Mojahedin Khalq

Mr. Kobler is providing an advance warning of MKO’s potentiality in provoking and waging violence

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq, Mr. Martin Kobler, has recently Beware of Violence Provocation by Mojahedin Khalq expressed his concern about the delay in the relocation of the residents of Camp New Iraq (Ashraf) to the Temporary Transit Location TTL. The relocation process has been stalled since the arrival of the fifth group of residents on 5 May. But it is not the delay and prolongation of the transfer that frets. What is really disturbing Mr. Kobler is a possible eruption of violence;

“I urge the remaining residents of Camp Ashraf to relocate to Camp Hurriya without delay. The relocation process should not be stalled. I am concerned that there will be violence if the relocation doesn’t recommence. Any violence would be unacceptable. I call on the Government of Iraq to avoid any forceful relocation. Each relocation must be voluntary. The United Nations supports only a peaceful, humanitarian solution and stands ready to facilitate.”

Mr. Kobler has a well understanding of the concerned sides, the Iraqi government and MKO, when he expresses his concern. The Iraqi government is ultimately decisive to close Camp Ashraf and expel the members of the designated terrorist group to the last one. It is a constitutional right for the state and the nation to be accomplished. But the other side is a cult with an ideology rooted in violence. MKO has no appreciation for art of peace and has never developed any skill in the field. In fact, the term peace and its derivations are unknown to it and the group has no definition for them in its literature. But when it comes to talk about blood, war, violence and the like, it is an unbeaten interpreter.

Obviously enough, except MKO, the UN, Iraqi government and all concerned bodies will to find a peaceful solution to the problem. It has been, from the very beginning, the antagonist side and the main impediment to the process of relocation. While there are hundreds of insiders with special needs, suffering from disabilities and serious medical conditions among the residents both in Ashraf and TTL, and of course it must be a responsibility on MKO to care about its members and follow a peaceful, humanitarian solution, not only it prevents the process but also threatens to stand ready for any violent confrontation.

Mr. Kobler’s words are a warning; he is sounding the alarm that MKO is already prepared for any violence. It is not a rough, personal calculation but based on facts. He is conscious of Rajavi’s instructions given to residents in his message delivered on May 23. In his message, Rajavi repeatedly calls the remainders of the group at Camp Ashraf the devoted warriors who have to be determined in repelling any resolution inconsistent with group’s demands:

“That would be better if they [the UN and Iraqi government] come in a peaceful fashion and accept the minimum human rights. Otherwise, if they resort to craft and deceptive words, do not grieve; go forward as God suffices you, He is the One Who helps you with that of the believers. … Then, do not be scared of the battle you have to confront, strike. Strike and go forward with confidence. … I want others to know, friends and foes, that today, the power of one thousand Mojahed is beyond that of the regime’s nuclear power they have gathered here in Iraq to negotiate about.“

Mr. Kobler is providing an advance warning of the group’s potentiality in provoking and waging violence. Unless precautionary measures are taken by the UN and the Iraqi government, there might be another human tragedy as occurred in two previous violence provocations by MKO.

June 14, 2012 0 comments

Mujahedin Khalq Organization as a terrorist group

Simple Answer to MKO’s Financial Resources Puzzle

It was about 3 months ago that US Treasury department appeared to begin an investigation to figure out the sources of payments offered to prominent former American officials over their speeches in support of the Mujahedin Khalq Organization . Americans are prohibited by law from doing business with designated terrorist groups.[1]

Besides, Security Council of the United Nations on September 28, 2001, issued Resolution 1373 calling on “all states to combat international terrorism". By resolution 1373 the council established a committee of the council "to monitor the resolution’s implementation and called an all States to report on actions they had taken to that end.”[2]

“the council also decided that States should prohibited their nationals and persons or entities in their territories from making funds, financial assets, economic resources, financial or other related services available to persons commit or attempt to commit, facilitate or participate in the commission of terrorist acts”, according to the resolution." States should also refrain from providing any form of support to entities or persons involved in terrorist acts; take the necessary steps to prevent the commission of terrorist acts, deny safe haven to those who finance, plan, support, commit terrorist acts and provide safe havens as well.”[3]

The resolution also calls on the states to intensify and accelerate the exchange of information regarding terror acts and forged or falsified documents made by terrorist groups. Thus, it doesn’t seem so difficult to figure out financial resources of the MKO if the US Treasury Department is truly concerned about them – and it must be concerned.

While the MKO’s spokesman Ali Safavi said the funds for the pro-MKO campaign come from Iranian Americans [4], there are various reports and testimonies on the group’s affluent resources.

According to the Guardian article, some US officials who suspect Safavi’s claim, say because of the amounts involved, money is coming from other sources, mostly likely Saudi Arabia and Israel.[5]

The report somehow confirms what former CIA official Philip Giraldi had previously revealed on the MKO-Israel relationship-both financial and military.”The group appear to have ample financial resources, and it is generally believed that at least some of the money comes from Mossad,” he writes.” the MEK is able to place full-page ads in major US newspapers and is also known to pay hefty speaker’s fees to major political figures who are willing to speak publicly on its behalf.”[6]

Justin Raimondo, the editor of antiwar.com finds it fair to ask where all this unaccounted for cash is coming from. "while the Rajavi-ites use the familiar methods employed by cults to strip their members of all their assets -see the AlJazeera video for a heart-rending account of how a major MEK spokesman ripped off his own elderly parents- it seems likely that, during their sojourn as Saddam Hussein’s favorite assassins, the MEK received compensation from the Iraqi dictator for slaughtering the Kurds and other regime opponents so efficiently and ruthlessly,” Raimondo asserts. He concludes that those former US officials are actually “recipients of Saddam’s gold.”[7]

It sounds that Saddam Hussein has been the group’s basic financial resource including funds illegally siphoned from the UN Oil-for-Food program until the fall of Iraqi dictator in 2003.[8] The report is confirmed by testimonies of former members of the group. Mrs. Maryam Sanjabi, a former member of the MKO’s elite council said that based on agreements held between MKO ringleaders and Iraq’s officials in 1987,saddam’s regime allocated the revenues gained from selling 50000 barrels per day of oil to the MEK in addition to arms and logistic, reported FNA.[9]

Sanjabi revealed that the group used to smuggle the Iraqi oil supplies to foreign markets after Kuwait war and the UN oil embargo against Saddam’s regime! the group used its front companies to sell Iraqi oil. Ali Hussein Nezhad who was Rajavi’s Private interpreter in the MKO, escaped the group in late April. Immediately after his defection, he published an announcement in which he denounces the “cult of Rajavi” . regarding the group’s financial resources, Hussein Nezhad writes:”As we see, Rajavi’s claims of Iranian’s financial support for the group and all his tricks in fundraising programs are shallow and just like a cover to hide the oil resources they plundered from Iraqi people; like a justification to whiten their multi-million operating cost.”[10]

He reveals facts of Saddam’s generosity towards Massoud Rajavi:”in his last visit with Saddam Hussein in August 2000, Rajavi asked Hussein to increase his oil share up to 100 thousand barrels a day (3 million barrels a month), according to documents and letters I translated or reports composed by his closest comrades that I could read.”

He explained how the MKO managed to turn Saddam’s gifts into dollars: ”Rajavi received his oil share in coupons which were then sent to Europe to be changed into dollars.”[11]
Rajavi’s quota from Iraqi oil also included other amounts of oil funneled to his cult by Saddam Hussein out of UN Oil for Food program, according to Hussein Nezhad.[12]
Naturally, the MKO revenue from oil resources was invested in European banks and industry, the former MKO member revealed.

Considering various reports and testimonies on the group’s financial resources, it actually seems simple to discover the origins of their funds. It won’t be so difficult to find the affiliated companies working with this terrorist designated group and definitely simple to prove the felony committed by their material supporters.

By Mazda Parsi

References:
[1] Shane, Scott, US Supporters of Iranian Group Face Scrutiny New York times,March13,2012
[2] Security Council, Press release SC/7158,4385th Meeting (night) Security Council unanimously Adopts Wide-ranging Anti-terrorism Resolution/September28,2001
[3] ibid
[4]McGreal, Chris, Banned Iranian Terror Group lobbies for legitimacy on capital Hill,Guardian,May22,2012
[5]ibid
[6]Giraldi, Philip. The MEK’s Useful Idiots, Antiwar.com, March 08,2012
[7]Raimondo, Justin, Hillary’s Terrorists, Antiwar.com , May16,2012.
[8]US Department of State, Country Reports on Terrorism 2009
[9]FNA, defected member unveils MKO’s major share in Saddam’s Oil Revenues, June5, 2012
[10] Sahar Family Foundation, Hidden sources of MKO funds revealed, Translated by Nejat Soceity,June02, 2012
[11]ibid
[12]ibid

June 13, 2012 0 comments

Human Rights Abuse in the MEK

The Rights of Terrorists in the Rule of Law

The rule of law has to be followed to safeguard human rights not the interests of the violators

People expect that men of law be alert to the possibility of dangers that threaten their society The rule of law has to be followed to safeguard human rights not the interests of the violators because there are always villains to interpret law in their own interests. But the worst part is when the lawyer collaborates to represent on behalf of the wrong parties to flout the law and to interpret it in the way that pleases them. Obviously enough, some lawyers care about the thickness of the bundles of dollars more than caring about promotion of justice and abating the possibility of threats posed by their clients. Allan Gerson is one among other attorneys involved in representing the terrorist MKO in its efforts to be removed from the State Department List of Foreign Terrorist Organizations.

In an attempt to justify the suit on behalf of MKO he said that in his presidential election Obama claimed, “… the rule of law would be followed, and followed strictly. Above all, human rights were to be safeguarded zealously. … The PMOI sued because it was fed up with the State Department’s persistent refusal to remove it from the Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) list despite a previous order of the same Court requiring that this be done unless the State Department demonstrated valid reasons to justify the contrary”.

The Secretary Hillary Clinton, a lawyer herself, had agreed to re-designation of MKO according to the rule of law and based on justifiable, classified and unclassified, evidences and reasons. However, it was not surprising to expect the terrorist group fill a law suit against the State Department, given that the defendant had reasonably dragged its heels to follow directives mandating due process to a designated terrorist group. No law is breached to its real concept. Nobody demurs that the rule of law has to be followed strictly, but a listed terrorist group is in no position to be frustrated by and fed up with the regulations of a legal body whose responsibility is to safeguard the interests of the nation. It is the gaps in the laws and the skill of lawyers that embolden a leashed violator of human rights to wage a law struggle to be unleashed.

It is not so bad a thing to hear a terrorist group renouncing terrorism and trying to prove its decisiveness. But it also has to prove that it respects the principles of human rights for the violation of which it has been repeatedly chastised. Majority of its members residing in two camps in Iraq, Camp Ashraf and Temporary Transit Location TTL, are living under the worst, sub human condition as it claims. The solution is easily provided; the group should, as already agreed, move all residents in Camp Ashraf to TTL to undergo refugee possess as a preliminary to be sent to other countries. The impediment to fulfill the process is MKO itself that well indicates another example of violating human rights. How can the State Department trust that the group will not return to terrorism as it fails to respect the least rights for its own insiders? It has already announced that the key factor to a review of MKO’s tagging is its cooperation in complete relocation of its members to the transit center. Then, when MKO pays huge sums of money and roams the courts of law to sue the State Department it means that neither it respects human rights and obligations nor it intends to fully cooperate with the concerned international bodies.

The rule of law has to be followed to safeguard human rights rather than the interests of the violators. Regardless of the struggles of the paid lawyers, and so far as the regulations warranty the priority of human rights, a lawyer should be observant of serious threat to the world security and peace, otherwise he is a collaborator with his clients.

June 13, 2012 0 comments

Mujahedin Khalq Organization's Propaganda System

The Truth Behind MKO Disinformation Campaign

MKO’s disinformation is based on the truth of its members’ sufferings in the camps in Iraq

Being professional in the art of disinformation, MKO tends to apply fairly well defined and The Truth Behind MKO Disinformation Campaign observable tools in this process. However, the public in general is not well informed about the manipulated tactics and is often easily led astray by them. Either the advocates of Mojahedin Khalq Organization (aka. MKO/MEK/MKI/PMOI/NCR) do not believe in what they state and comply for a variety of personal or political interests voice or it is MKO’s skill that pulls their strings in the profession of forging mediums to be manipulated in its art of disinformation. Remarkably, not even media and law enforcement feel obligation to deal with these issues and for the most part, only the players themselves understand the rules of the game.

The group is preparing for another political event to hold in Paris on June 23 and is channeling all its propaganda apparatus into convincing supporters and sympathizers to have their share in the gathering. Of course, the advertisements need to be carried out by particular personalities at the behest of MKO to sound something especial. In a statement published under the name of Alejo Vidal-Quadras, a vice President of the European Parliament, he plays the role of a broker inviting others to participate in the gathering and is also tasked with two assignments to carry out: to highlight a gained a judiciary victory against the State Department, and to draw attentions to the ends planned to be achieved in the event.

Concerning the former he states “This should be considered a great victory, not only for the PMOI, a member organization of the political coalition, National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), but also for justice all around the world. We congratulate this victory to PMOI and NCRI, specially their members, supporters, and families in Camps Ashraf and Liberty and inside Iranian prisons, those who have suffered the most from this listing. (Bold lettering provided in the version released by MKO). The objectives of the gathering as he refers to are two: “First – Defend the rights of the residents in Camps Ashraf and Liberty who are one of the biggest assets for democracy in Iran’s future and to take necessary steps for their protection. Second – Recognize NCRI as a democratic alternative to this regime”.

Mr. Alejo is acknowledged to be the Vice President of the European Parliament and the President of the International Committee In Search of Justice (ISJ). So high-profile a personality should know, and he does know, that congratulating a halfway, unpromising court ruling, as no decisive decision is proven, means offering Maryam Rajavi consolation of a probable victory rather than a gained victory. However, she has already gained an absolute but unproductive victory when Mr. Alejo’s colleagues and fellow parliamentarian de-proscribed MKO from the EU list. So far none of the EU country members have changed opinion concerning the terrorist and violent potentiality of the group to help just now that it is mired in the dire need of cooperation from their part to send its expelled member to any of those countries.

Then, if removal from any terrorist list fails to warranty prevention of a human tragedy, as asserted by the group’s American and European pro-MKO activists, what is the use of all these attempts to annul another listing? If Mr. Alejo is really concerned about the violated rights of MKO’s members in Iraq and believes them to be a group of pro-democratic campaigners, as asserted in his statement, the best way to act, instead of inviting others to support by words, is to encourage and convince the EU country members, if he is known an influential weight amongst them, to make an active, positive move to end the predicament and plight of a cult’s victims in both Camp Ashraf and Liberty. Otherwise, we have to believe that all these ado for an organizationally drafted event is nothing but a widespread disinformation.

Neither MKO is concerned about condition of its members in Iraq nor cares about the international moves to solve the problem; it desperately attempts to survive a bankrupt terrorist cult. In fact, MKO’s disinformation is based on the truth of its members’ sufferings in the camps in Iraq. The warrantied humanitarian options are just before it but it is the sole party that protests and meets them with outright refusal. The right thing for Mr. Alejo to do, if he thinks MKO has developed any capacity for democracy, is to jolly its leadership into respecting the rights of the group’s members as a road to democracy and move them all to Liberty to be processed for refugee status as their universal, democratic rights.

By N. Morgan

June 11, 2012 0 comments

The MEK Expulsion from Iraq

MKO Facing a Dilemma in Iraq

MKO will eventually yield to the universal demand of fully relocation to the temporary transit center

The problem with Mojahedin Khalq Organization MKO/MEK is that it defines any made gesture of MKO Facing a Dilemma in Iraq humanitarian, goodwill or sympathy towards it as a granted statutory right that has to be recognized and fought for universally. The relationship between the group’s American advocates and the leadership, now led by the Paris-based Maryam Rajavi, has led both to pursue strategies that neglect the dire risks of sabotaging the agreed move from Camp Ashraf to the temporary transit center near Baghdad.

In fact, the UN and the State Department’s efforts to peacefully solve the humanitarian crisis of Ashraf residents is made difficult due to the MKO’s strong base of support amongst the sympathetic American supporters whose words are seized as recognized rights. In recent weeks, some former officials and politicians, many of whom admit to being paid by MKO or one of its many affiliates, have mounted a sophisticated media campaign accusing the UN and the US of forcing dislocation of the group to live in subhuman conditions against its will at the temporary transit center, an accusation the group badly needs to feed its propaganda machine and to refuse sending the remaining groups as planned.

However, MKO is dragging its heels waiting for a miracle to happen, but he is also reluctant to assassinate the opportunity that seemingly opens up following the closure of Camp Ashraf. Probably MKO will yield to the universal demand of fully relocation to the temporary transit center. That is at least for three reasons.

Despite still being officially considered a terrorist group, the US has sort of taken MKO under its wing, first by opening up a former US base in Iraq for its members to be settled until they are sent to a third country that might receive them. But as they cannot stay at the base permanently, and as they may not be welcome by a third country because the group is on the US terror list, the US may de-list it, and will possibly interfere to be settled in an allied country. The Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has already given the green light:

“Given the ongoing efforts to relocate the residents, MeK cooperation in the successful and peaceful closure of Camp Ashraf, the MeK’s main paramilitary base, will be a key factor in any decision regarding the MEK’s FTO status”.

Second, an attorney for MKO urged a three-judge panel on the US Court of Appeals to compel the State Department to comply with a previous order, and to make a decision on de-listing of the group in a timely manner. Robert Loeb, the State Department’s lawyer, argued that lack of total unfettered access to MKO’s base demands more deliberation and time to reach a final decision. Loeb argued questions still remain whether the group harbor weapons inside the base and thus retain the “capacity” to launch attacks. Once the base is completely emptied, a decision on MKO’s status could be made within 60 days after relocation completes.

That is the point even the curt considered when it issued the latest order giving the Secretary of State four months to issue a final determination or it would grant MKO’s writ of mandamus setting aside the FTO designation. The final part of the ruling clearly states that:

“We arrive at the four-month deadline in part because four months should allow enough time for the completion of PMOI’s move from Camp Ashraf, the monitoring of which the Secretary claims will be exceptionally useful for its determination, id. at 20-21, as well as time to complete the process of analysis, judgment and explication.”

Thus, anything depends on vacation of Camp Ashraf and the golden opportunity that is the key to its survival is just lies within the walls of transit center. Will it lose it for prolongation of a situation stuck in limbo in Iraq?

June 9, 2012 0 comments

Iran

A nation that wants to live in peace

The story of the world power’s treatment with Iran in the contemporary era is a sad and heartbreaking one. The colonial powers have been all the time after imposing disgraceful A nation that wants to live in peace covenants and agreements on Iran to separate parts of the country’s soil and annex to that of theirs, attacking the country and killing its innocent citizens or depriving its people from their intrinsic rights and privileges.

Over the course past 100 years, Iran hasn’t invaded nor attacked any country. In such a turbulent and chaotic region as the Middle East, Iran has constantly been at the center of peacekeeping and peacemaking efforts and has regularly contributed to any genuine and legitimate peace initiative which the other countries in the region or other parts of the world have taken up.

Although it was attacked by the Ba’athist regime of the former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein who was unreservedly supported and financed by tens of European countries and the United States in 1980s, Iran has never resorted to violent and aggressive options to defend its territory and security. The Iranians who remember the unforgettable days of the 8-year "Holy Defense" know well that how pure and uncontaminated the defense of the young Iranians against the Saddam’s regime was. Saddam had used all kinds of illegal and forbidden war tactics against the defenseless nation of Iran, including illicit chemical weapons provided to him by the U.S., UK and other Western states which cost the lives of more than 100,000 Iranians, but in response, Iranians never turned to such inhumane, appalling and unconventional alternatives.

Robin Wright once revealed in his 2008 book "Dreams and Shadows: the Future of the Middle East" that the CIA estimated in 1991 that Iran had suffered more than 50,000 casualties from Iraq’s use of several chemical weapons, while today, the actual number of victims is estimated to more than 100,000, since the long term effects still cause casualties to this day.

It’s said that after the United States, the UK, Soviet Union, France and Italy were the most prominent procurers of weaponry, military training and financial assistance to Saddam Hussein in the years leading up to the Iran-Iraq war and during the years of war itself. In the same tough and intolerable years, there was nobody to assist Iran and they were simply the empty-handed Iranian youths who rushed up to the frontlines to defend the invaded soil of their country.

However, that war is ended now, and what remains in the memory of Iranians is the brutality of Saddam who massacred tens of thousands of innocent citizens with the complicity and connivance of the West.

Now, the United States and its client state, Israel, persistently accuse Iran of sponsoring terrorism, deliberately overlooking the fact that Iran has been continually at the forefront of fighting and countering terrorism and at the same time, a silent victim of the West’s state-sponsored terrorism.

The bloodthirsty terrorist gang, MKO, which has enjoyed the backing and patronage of the United States and its European cronies since the victory of Iran’s Islamic Revolution in 1979 is now seeking international support for finding a permanent residence after being sent away from the Camp Ashraf in Iraqi province of Diyala. The group is responsible for the lives of hundreds of Iranian citizens and tens of governmental officials and has proclaimed as its primary goal a regime change in Tehran with the support of Tel Aviv and Washington. The Western officials, for their part, have not hesitated to express support for the terrorist cult and in an effort which was an all-out declaration of war against Iran the European Union removed the name of MKO from its list of terrorist organizations in January 2009. Now, the U.S. officials are petitioning to persuade their government to do the same and give more room to MKO to carry out its anti-Iranian plans without being prosecuted as a terrorist organization.

And today, after the terrible years of war with Iraq and experiencing different plots and plans of the Westerners who seek to destabilize Iran at the expense of the life and security of Iranian nation, Tehran has come under escalating pressure over its nuclear program, being targeted with innumerable economic sanctions and war threats for simply trying to nationalize nuclear energy to be used for civilian purposes.

The United States and her allies, prompted by Israel are pressuring Tehran to give up its nuclear program or be penalized and even face graver consequences such as a military strike. And ironically, all of those who call on Iran to surrender its nuclear rights are owners of nuclear weapons who have used their atomic warheads on other nations or otherwise have threatened them that they’ll be doing so.

So, what’s the crime of Iranian nation who should be subject to all kinds of harassment and discrimination by the world powers and their allies? The answer is quite simple, while at the same time, thoroughly complicated and problematical.

Iran is a country whose history has been interwoven with peaceful coexistence with the other nations. Up to this day that you’re reading these lines, Iranians haven’t ever been considered a colonial power while in some junctures of the history they possessed the capabilities of becoming a colonial power. No country in the contemporary age can claim or testify that Iranians have plotted to undermine their security and stability. Iran hasn’t ever threatened any country with military expeditions to expand its ideology. The revolution of Iranians in 1979 was that of a kind of culture and religion. Iranians have always longed for living in peace and tranquility. It’s Iran’s independence and its non-alignment with the world’s superpowers that troubles them.

Today’s controversy over Iran’s nuclear program is an artificial and superfluous conflict on a dossier all aspects of which are clear and unambiguous. Iranians want to indigenize and nationalize nuclear technology, as they’re doing the same in other scientific fields such as astronomy and space, nano-technology, biotechnology, etc. That’s why the United States, Britain and Israel have mobilized all of their forces, including terrorist gangs such as MKO, to deliver a blow to Iran and bring the nation to its knees by derailing its economy, science, culture and history.

Iranians want to live in peace and this is what they have always called for. But, let’s judge fairly and equitably. How many enemies does Iran have, and what’s the reason behind these blind enmities? Isn’t it that Iran is becoming a peace-loving, peace-making superpower that’s challenging and rattling the bases of the Western powers’ supremacy and domination in the Persian Gulf and Middle East? Isn’t it that a nation with such a rich culture, civilization and history as that of Iran, threatens the pedestals and pillars of Western hegemony in the region and in the world?

by Kourosh Ziabari ,usa.mediamonitors.net

June 7, 2012 0 comments

The MEK Expulsion from Iraq

Procrastination, the Fancied Chance of MKO

There is no formula to banish MKO’s procrastination that has delayed the process of transfer

The best way to get something done as easy as possible is to begin it in due course, but if you want to make an easy job seem mighty hard, just keep putting off doing it. Everything is ready according to already reached agreements to relocate the sixth group of Mojahedin Khalq Organization MKO/MEK members residing at Camp Ashraf to the Temporary Transit Location TTL near Baghdad. But so far there has been found no magic formula to banish MKO’s procrastination excuses that has delayed the process of transfer. However, MKO has no other option but to get past procrastination founded on ungrounded excuses otherwise it will be swimming against the current it has already set running itself.

There is not plenty of time for MKO and it is well aware of the fact that despite it is procrastinating, it will eventually have to actually submit to the transfer of the reminders. Massoud Rajavi, the leader of the group, in his message addressed to residents before the transfer of the third group, asked them to abide by the promises to be relocated to TTL; however, he never terms it transfer or relocation but “battle”: “today you have fought your first and second battles and two groups have already gone to Liberty. Now we are getting ready to fire the third big shot to send the third group. Congratulations!”

Thus, MKO considers the peaceful and humanitarian issue of relocation another battle that has to be fought to the end. And of course, a battle is not an easy job to accomplish and must be made as hard as possible for those on the opposite front. Asserted by the US officials even before the relocation began, who testified before the House Foreign Affairs Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, that efforts to peacefully resolve the standoff are being rebuffed by MKO leadership. The US Special Adviser on Camp Ashraf Daniel Fried also said “MEK leadership has impeded a refugee resettlement process and interfered with the UN’s ability to conduct interviews with individuals at the encampment”.

Calling it a battle or anything else, Rajavi has no other option but to let it be accomplished and all the residents be fully relocated to TTL because. Even those the group expects protection from voice that relocation of residents it is a humanitarian issue that should be made as easy and peaceful as possible to accomplish. In December 2011, Ambassador Daniel Fried, Special Advisor for Camp Ashraf for the State Department, made the cause clear and promised to monitor the process of the transfer: “Embassy Baghdad will visit former Camp Liberty on a frequent basis to provide robust observation. The US seeks a safe, secure, humane resolution. Our interest is humanitarian”. And the promise has been kept so far both by the US and UN as well as by the Iraqi government.

Immediately after that announcement, however, MKO advocates argued that the group should be allowed to stay at Ashraf beyond the agreement. And now, it has become evident that MKO is obstructing the process. The big impediment to the process is the group itself that turns a humanitarian issue into a subject for dispute and battle. That is how MKO defines “good will gesture” when Maryam Rajavi, living far from the regional afflictions and hardships of Iraq in the cool, luxurious comfort of her residence in France, agreed to relocate residents as a goodwill gesture.

Some say Procrastination is opportunity’s assassin. That is true from the angle that by refusal of transferring Ashraf residents MKO is assassinating their granted opportunity of regaining their freedom. But the group will also lose the opportunity of the promised immediate post-relocation interests atop of which stands its removal from the terror list. But there is none if MKO is expecting for the better. Although it is acknowledged that the MKO leadership can be helpful in reaching a humanitarian resolution, which he completely disregards, he has unilaterally resisted de-politicization of Camp Ashraf and grabbed at a vague, faint hope that procrastination is the fancied chance to retard the progress of losing members. He just keeps putting off complying to make it hard both for the insiders and outsiders.

June 7, 2012 0 comments

Mujahedin Khalq Organization's Propaganda System

MKO’s New Row to Dodge Relocation

MKO announced refusal to be relocated until basic living conditions improved in TTL

As with the previous groups, anything is ready for the relocation of the sixth group of Aashraf residents to the Temporary Transit Location TTL near Baghdad but MKO’s leaders. Although MKO’s New Row to Dodge Relocation eccentric, it has become a typically expected behavior of MKO to make new excuses just on the threshold of a decided relocation. As expected, the group’s ringleaders and advocates have started a propaganda blitz announcing that they refuse to be relocated to the temporary facility until basic living conditions there improve. A number of current and former American officials have also joined the group calling for the U.S. government to push for those changes and improvements.

Gathered together in a conference organized by Global Initiative for Democracy (GID), another MKO-founded alias active under a pro-democratic cover, to voice their support for the group and to justify its refusal of relocation, some former officials seemed to be performing the role of partisans and lay figures more ardently than expected and beyond the commanding influence of the group, talking in the position of the ringleaders themselves.

The former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, for instance, stated that “Unless these demands (for improved living conditions) are met, we’re not sending” to Camp Liberty those that remain at Camp Ashraf. He also called on the United States, and the United Nations to inspect the camp for weapons now, “so they can record there are no weapons, so the Iraqis can’t come in and plant weapons after the fact”, a request Maryam Rajavi is already demanding to be accomplished.

The other to repeat ringleaders’ peevish complaints over the living conditions at TTL was Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) who in an attempt to justify the backlash against the relocation said “we should not continue transferring them until Camp Liberty is in a shape to accept them… I will be there with you side-by-side every step of the way to make sure that we finally get freedom for the residents.”

The predicament of residents in Ashraf and TTL has turned into a real problem since no country has yet accepted to receive them on its soil. That is why the concerns about the transformation of TTL into a permanent location have heightened. However, MKO’s American partisans are expected to be the first to solve the problem and a suggestion was offered in the arranged conference by the former State Department Spokesman P.J. Crowley who stressed on “the power of our example and the leadership of the United States,” saying, “We are in a much stronger position when we have opened our door, welcomed the first residents of Camp Ashraf to the United States and then say to the rest of the world, we are doing our share, now it’s your turn.”

But MKO will have to submit to relocation despite all the fuss it is making because its lawyers are expanding the struggle fronts to convince, or rather to force, the State Department remove it from the terror list of FTO. Regardless of a variety of court orders, the latest issued on Friday ordering the Secretary of State to decide within four months, the cooperation of MKO in “the successful and peaceful closure of Camp Ashraf will be a key factor in her decision regarding the MEK’s FTO status”. And Hilary Clinton’s words are more promising and legally liable to count on, notwithstanding the high-profile American partisans forge an influential front.

June 5, 2012 0 comments

Mujahedin Khalq Organization as a terrorist group

US to delist MEK/MKO? Who cares

So the Wall St Journal shook up some people with a report that the US will soon delist the MEK as a terrorist organization.

Question: so what? I mean, apart from the fact that the listing was never really enforced anyway, what with MEK members still strutting around in the halls of Congress and paying large sums of money to various officials to campaign for them, nevermind the MEK spokesmen who show up on Fox and HuffingtonPost to peddle their propaganda… apart from all that, the fact is that no one in Iran really gives a damn what the US State Department’s opinion on the matter is anyway. Iranians hate the MEK not because it is on the State Department’s terrorist list but because of the historical actions and agenda of the MEK, which isn’t going to change no matter how many times it gets added or removed from any lists.

Anyway, Laura Rozen reports that the Wall St Journal article about delisting the MEK "blindsided" the Iran experts in Washington. I think the true explanation is this: Lets not forget that the Wall St Journal is part of the far-right (just read their editorial pages) in the US that doesn’t want to see a peaceful resolution of the US-Iran standoff, and like other far-right anti-Iran organizations, it has been trying to do its part to scuttle the Iran nuclear talks.

Secretly, I suspect that the regime in Iran is quite happy to see the US remove the MEK from the terrorist list. After all, the MEK is the best opposition that the IRI could hope for. I mean, if you’re going to have activists opposing you, what better that these discredited, hated, and cultlike activists can you find?

Iranaffairs

June 2, 2012 0 comments

Mujahedin Khalq; A proxy force

The Attempt to Befriend an Enemy

MKO might be the promising option from amongst the terrorist enemies to be befriended

Some powers believe that enemies are not always as bad as they may seem, since in some occasions they are even much more profitable than the friends. It reminds Friedrich Nietzsche saying that “Whoever lives for the sake of combating an enemy has an interest in the enemy staying alive”. An imaginary enemy to combat is even more profitable because by tilting at windmills, it creates an opportunity of attempting to solve a pseudo-problem with a pseudo-solution by aiming at that enemy. Consider al-Qaeda terrorist group on the US State Department’s list of FTO for instance. Whoever they were and under whose protection and aiding they evolved and were commissioned, they occupied the place of an outright enemy to be antagonized and became the alibi for a verity of controversial invasions against other lands where they were suspected to have taken a safe haven.

Then, not all the terrorist groups on the United States’ FTO seem to be maintaining a potential threat against the US; in all probability there is an interest in their staying on the list. Now, what happen when a group on the list is removed or a disputable battle goes on to remove it? Some are of the opinion that such a move is precisely what America must do to turn foes into friends. But some others argue that it is not friends that America needs but enemies. But a third party believes that both enemies and friends are needed but those befriended from among the enemies are even more worthwhile as this new type of friends, once betraying the trust, are the trusted and loyal servants that have to be saved to be manipulated in malicious cold and soft wars against the adversary.

In the prolonged wrangle over the removal of Mojahedin Khalq Organization (a.k.a. MKO, MEK. PMOI, NCRI) between the group and its advocate on one side and the US State Department on the opposite, an attempt is made to prove that MKO has since long denounced terrorism and poses no threat against neither America nor any other party in the world. As three senior commanders of military operations in Iraq have recently argued while standing behind the group, “It is now time to recognize that the MEK are our friends and we must save them. The first step is for the State Department to de-list the MEK from the terrorist list”. Their pleading in favor of the group is a notification that it has served its time of militarism and has to be saved to be employed in covered fronts sometimes operating under a deceptive coat of democracy.

Looking at the controversy of MKO from a different angle, MKO must have verged on proving an unviable and incompetent enemy to occupy the terrorist list or maybe MKO lacks the needed weight and potentiality of a blatant terrorist group to be regarded a potential enemy to be utilized in its real and literal profile. When a terrorist group turns pro-democratic, as MKO claims, in fact it is preparing to leave the minority of the enemies to join the majority of the favorite friends. But it will not be a start from the scratch; MKO has already proved, by cooperating with American forces in Iraq, providing valuable intelligence and collaboration in soft-war and cyber terrorism, that it might be the promising option from amongst the enemies to be befriended.

By M. Nelson

May 31, 2012 0 comments

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