Reports on the millions of dollars the terrorist organization the Mujahiden-e Khalq has spread around in an effort to buy its way off the State Department’s terror list have added to scrutiny of its paid advocates. They haven’t, however, slowed the flow of advocacy.
Fresh off of hawkish British MP David Amess lauding the group on TheHill.com yesterday, his US equivalent, Rep. Ted Poe (R – TX) is in TheHill.com today cheering the group as a ticket to regime change in Iran.
Perhaps the most noteworthy aspect of the Amess and Poe pieces are not their differences, but their massive similarities. Both seem to be working off the same script, using the same list of talking points. Both praise the group as the only “real” opposition in Iran, while lashing the existing political opposition movement and accusing all critics of the MeK of a “policy of appeasement.”
Poe’s slavishly pro-MeK comments go yet farther, however, as he praises the cultish Marxist-Islamist group as “freedom fighters” that deserve American support. It is unclear if either MP Amess or Rep. Poe are among the hundreds of top officials who have been paid for their endorsements, or if they simply see the MeK as the surest road to a US war with Iran, which both also support.
Poe, however, has a long history of shilling for the group, sponsoring the bill pushing their removal from the State Department’s list while terming Camp Ashraf, an MeK camp in Iraq left over from the long-standing support for Saddam Hussein, a “bastion of freedom” that the US had to protect from Iran’s “proxies in Iraq.”
The MeK’s history of terrorist attacks includes repeated attacks on US businessmen and military personnel in pre-revolution Iran, and the group was one of the founding members of the “Foreign Terrorist Organization” list when it was created by the US State Department in 1997. The group is typified by its harsh reaction to any criticism, and was reported by Human Rights Watch to have run a private system of detention centers inside Iraq to detain (and in many cases torture) dissident members.
Which only proves the premise that one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter. Or is that one man's freedom fighter is another man's terrorist? Oh dang, it gets confusing. Especially when there are bags of cash flying hither and yon…
Poe would be using the Peter King motif for congressional profitability in servility to hypocrisy.
being paid large amounts of cash clears up the issues for most politicians, it seems.
I personally know MEK members and as a Iranian student i can tell you with 100 % certainty that these people are the most compassionate people who only wants freedom and democracy for their people even if it costs there very lives…
There is no legal accusation except the "friendly gesture to the Iranian regime" made back in 1997 to put them on the FTO list….Europe took them of the list because it was based on false accusations from the Iranian regime….NOTHING justifies MEK being on the FTO list…
So Instead of slowing down the process of bringing freedom not only for Iranians but for the whole region (since the Iranian regime act beyond its borders) we should cooperate with this main opposition….I still believe that Mrs. Hillary Clinton will do the right thing soon….before moore innocent blood is sheed in Camp Ashraf…Thank you!
Shill
Jason,
Instead of recycling the "same list of talking points" against MEK and "working off the same script" provided to you by the Iranian lobby, go research MEK.
MEK never advocates war with Iran. They promote the third option i.e. democratic change by the Iranian people. As for your other accusations, read the facts in http://www.delistmek.com/
Over period of 8 years judicial battle in EU, MEK won in 20 courts. French government had over 100,000 pages of allegation against MEK. They dropped all charges against MEK couple of months ago. Because of all them were similar to the lies you have recycled here.
Jason, read the truth about MEK.
Mullahs tremble, NIAC weeps, regime apologists hysterical, and the MEK finally gets justice. Recycling the same ayatollah ministry of intelligence propaganda will no longer suffice. But you can go ahead and regurgitate the same tired old anti mek disinformation if it makes you feel better!
To all the MEK fans, even it's an organization made up of holy man, why on earth should we care about regime change in Iran? If you think it's a worthwhile goal, go for it and duke it out with the Mullahs, go get bubu netenyahoo's and aipacs support, but leave America out of it, we've got plenty of problems and don't care about yours.
This is what MEK is asking for many years i.e. foreign powers stay out of Iran. MEK want to be de-listed from the FTO list.
Imposing limitation on MEK via the "FTP list" in favor of brutal dictator in Tehran is interference in Iranian affairs.
Get the facts: http://www.delistmek.com/
Mr Rick you should care when your government keeps meddling in other countrys policy and gavernment. it has a very long history of getting ride of democratic governments and replacing them with dictators. like 60 years ago US and British planed and executed a coup against our national hero and prime minister dr Mosadegh. http://www.mohammadmossadegh.com/
go read and then make a comment. the reason Mojahedin are on the list and being killed is because of your government so you and your government should care.
@RickR30 I agree about the US staying out of it. However, the State Department and Tehrans apologists those whose economic interests are aligned with the ayatollahs have stuck their noses in the business of the Iranian people in favor of the mullahs by listing the MEK as an FTO. Delisting the MEK is the right thing to do.
Listing the MEK as an FTO has probably nothing to do with sticking our noses in the business Iranian people but with their anti-American activities.
Jason,
Please do more research before recycling Iranian regime (and its apologists’) garbage about MEK. All MEK and their supporters want is a free Iran, and all they want from US is to let them work towards that goal unhindered. They are not asking for US to invade Iran.
I recommend the following articles:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/allan-gerson/post_2…
Thank you Congressman poe,
We need more people like you in this country that will not bow down to Mullahs of Iran.
Sadi
The fact of the matter is that the MeK, for whatever reason, is ON the list of Terrorist(tm) groups. That alone makes them untouchable until they come off the list- and who has the authority to take them off the list?
Hezbollah has done nothing to the United States, yet if I go on television or in print and advocate for them, can I do so and expect no legal repercussions from the USG? Can I advocate for Al-Qaeda to be taken off of the list and not expect any repercussion? Can I advocate for the old-school Weather Underground?
Both Hamas and Hezbollah operate great social programs, but that doesn't make a hill of beans' difference to the government- Terrorist is Terrorist- and so it goes with the MeK. That they will turn their guns on Iran in terrorist attacks makes no difference- if we're in a war against Terrorism(tm) we need to be in it against ALL Terrorists- otherwise we lose even more credibility in the world community.
Just so the Al-Qaeda leaders will know- just what IS the going price for US politicians and lobbyists to speak for them to get them off the blacklist? Or will they just speak if they are 'our' terrorists paying them?
John, this is your line of reasoning: "The fact of the matter is, this is the way it is, for whatever reason, and so we have to accept it."
If this is truly what you believe, then you are very mistaken about what it means to live in a democracy. If what you're saying were right, then Nelson Mandela should still be on the US terrorist list.
What you're saying is that we, as citizens, don't have the right to speak up for what is right if it goes against what is legal. So, in effect, let's undo the Civil Rights movement, let's undo women's suffrage. In fact, let's undo the American Revolution.
Thankfully, many people feel entitled to more in the US than just to accept whatever the government says.
The fact of the matter is that the MEK is ON the FTO list.
The fact of the matter is that they DON'T belong on that list, and their place on the list is being used as justification to kill them. The fact of the matter, Mr. John_Muhammad, is that the District Columbia Court of Appeals gave the US State Dept. 180 days to review their terrorist designation, saying that the group wasn't given due process in the first place. And the fact of the matter is that it has been more than 1 year since this court order, and the US State Dept. has done nothing.
These are the facts, and there are many more of these facts should you care to look.
When politicians speak in public, they are almost always paid. That doesn't mean they express views that they don't believe in. You're mistaken if you think former CIA and FBI directors, former attorney generals and chiefs of staff, etc, will come and say just anything for money. They are paid for their time, not for their thoughts, and this debate about them being paid is a foolish one that shouldn't be getting as much attention as it is. The MEK don't belong on the FTO list, and they will not remain on it for long.
Mr.Ditz and the accusitions that he throws toward Mojahedin and our brave congressman Judge Poe is nothing new.The #1 SATAN of our time,Khomaini,was always ordring his followers to destroy Mojahedin's name before sending them for mass excecution.What Mr.Ditz accuses our ressistance of doing is the continuation of that time which is still going on.According to Khomaini,Mojahedin were the agent of US,Russia,Europe and Iraq.At the same time he was receivig assistance from US,Russia,and Europe in 80's.We all remember the "Colt and Cake" time during Reagan administration.So,my message to Jude Poe and his friends who support the right against the wrong and atand for human values is "WE DEARLY LOVE YOU AND APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO FOR HUMANITY AND AMERICA. GOD BLESS YOU."
You really want to know what Iraqis, Sunni and Shiite think of MEK, read the following;
“we would like to ask why Maliki has turned himself into a carrier of the orders of a foreign country, meaning Iran, and kills MEK members and physically eliminates them despite the fact that they have been the guests of Iraqis for a quarter of a century.” (Official website of Dr. Allawi, the Head of Al-Iraqia (the winner of Iraq’s elections, August 6th 2011- read complete text)
• Comments by Dr. Saleh Mutlaq, (head of Iraqi Front for National Dialogue, the fifth largest political list in Iraq's parliament. Since 21 December 2010, he has been one of the three deputy prime ministers of Iraq. (Boston Globe, April 23, 2008)
• Here is what 5,2 million Iraqis including social groups, 700,000 women, 14,000 lawyers and jurists, 19,000 … tribal sheikhs and 300 local officials said of the MEK.
• “Shiites in S. Iraq Rebuke Tehran” by the Washington Post chronicles support of 300,000 Shiite Muslims for the MEK.
And so are a few of the many realities about the MEK the author so irresponsibly neglects and Mr. Poe so honorably defends
LINKS to documents: http://www.ncr-iran.org/en/news/ashraf/11095-why-… http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraqi_Front_for_Nati… http://www.ncpdaus.org/files/Towns_Congressional_… http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/arti…
Thank you Congressman poe, I am a mother and understand filling of ashrafs family.
We need more people like you in this country that will not bow down to Mullahs of Iran.
Fahimeh
The author’s assessment of MEK and Mr. Poe’s related article published on the Hill appears at the very least uninformed but is more likely disingenuous. Considering the breath of available evidence to the contrary, one might even surmise that the article is entirely influenced by what the Iranian government has been propagating about the MEK for decades. The facts about the MEK and its relationship with the Iranian people and Iraq notwithstanding, what the writer asserts is in direct contradiction with testimonies of some of the most distinguished American military heroes, terrorism experts, homeland security officials, political leaders, and law enforcement officials
The reader should not that in testimonies before congress last month, many American heroes invalidated the garbage noted in this article on Camp Ashraf and the MEK.
They included Judge Michael B. Mukasey; appointed to United States District Court by none other than President Ronald Reagan and who served as the 81st Attorney General of the United States from 2007-2009. Here is what this honorable conservative said of the MEK in his testimony before congress on July 07, 2011: “Make no mistake about it, the events at Camp Ashraf and the continued designation of MEK go hand in hand. So long as MEK remains mistakenly designated as a foreign terrorist organization, the forces in the Iraqi government that favor accommodation with Iran, as well as the Iranian mullahs themselves, can use the designation to support their violence against the group and, as to the mullahs, the execution within the last year alone of more than 150 MEK members [within Iran].”
Or maybe we should consider the testimony of Colonel Wesley Martin who testified in the same hearing on his “experience and knowledge of Camp Ashraf, the People’s Mojahein of Iran (PMOI/MEK), and the history of Iraq from a variety of sources, to include as the Antiterrorism/Force Protection Officer for all coalition forces in Iraq, as J-3 (Operations officer) for Task Force 134 (Detention Operations), as the first colonel to command Forward Operating Base Iraq, from Iraqi citizens, and from [his] own research.” One reading his testimony finds an unequivocal renunciation of the many rumors against the MEK. He and others such General Shelton, General Peter Pace, Howard Dean, Bill Richardson, James L. Jones, and other have rejected the notion that the MEK is a terrorist organization. In testimony before congress , the Battalion Surgeon at Camp Ashraf and for a period Commander of the Forward Operation Base Ashraf, Colonel Dr. Gary Morsch said this of the MEK: “the spirit of friendship, respect, and cooperation was profound. I felt a common bond with the MEK members, knowing of their passion and commitment to establish a free and democratic Iran.
The author should mention that nearly 100,000 Iranian Diaspora gathered in Paris in June of this year to hear Patrick Kennedy introduce the Keynote speaker – Ms. Maryam Rajavi. Instead of regurgitating Iranian regime spy agency's info, the author would best read some of the following information on the views of the Iraqi population about the MEK:
· “we would like to ask why Maliki has turned himself into a carrier of the orders of a foreign country, meaning Iran, and kills MEK members and physically eliminates them despite the fact that they have been the guests of Iraqis for a quarter of a century.” (Official website of Dr. Allawi, the Head of Al-Iraqia (the winner of Iraq’s elections, August 6th 2011- read complete text)
· Comments by Dr. Saleh Mutlaq, (head of Iraqi Front for National Dialogue
, the fifth largest political list in Iraq's parliament. Since 21 December 2010, he has been one of the three deputy prime ministers of Iraq. (Boston Globe, April 23, 2008)
· Here is what 5,2 million Iraqis including social groups, 700,000 women, 14,000 lawyers and jurists, 19,000 … tribal sheikhs and 300 local officials said of the MEK.
. “Shiites in S. Iraq Rebuke Tehran ” by the Washington Post chronicles support of 300,000 Shiite Muslims for the MEK.
And so are a few of the many realities about the MEK the author so irresponsibly neglects and Mr. Poe and Ames so honorably defend.
I as Iranian/American support MEK, because they are the only hope for freedom and Democracy in Iran,
Congerssman Ted Poe is not afraid the tell the truth because he is from Texas and I love him.
Ti Rick R 30..
Believe me my friend this will be your problem too, as soon as this medival regime of Iran get access to Nuclear power. Then it will be too late.
The biggest and the most dangerous terrorist group is the regime of Iran and has to be overthrown by Iranian people with the help of its freedom fighter like MEK. Thank you Congressman poe for understanding this important issue. This is not just Iranian issue this involves the whole world. The regime of Iran has their hands in every terrorist activities around the world and will not le t people around the world have peace while they on on power.
Thank you Congressman poe for supporting the true resistance against terrorist, incapable, murderer, criminal, atomic mullahs. This detestable regime of lies/destruction/crisis must be dealth with firmness and allow Iraninan Resistance to fairly fight with these criminals to completley get ride of them. That is all Iranians are asking, De-list MEK & stop the unfair/illogical policy of appeasing these backward murderers & Resistance will free Iran to bring peace, democracy and traquility to Iran, region and the world.
I as an Iranian/american suport MEK because they are on the right side of the history, Thank you congressman for your suport, Thank you,
as an Artist along majority of my friends i strongly believe that as Mr poe mentioned that before the MEK are FREEDOM FIGHTERS indeed and never been deserved to designate as FTO list and should be delist as soon as immediately. how about that !
Very bad article …
Thank you Congressman poe, iranian people need more support from good people like you !
PMOI / MEK is not a terrorist organization, as was said by the British and
European high courts total of seven times, by the U.S. court of justice
last year and recently by the French court in June 2011 which denied all
charges of terrorism about this organization.
How many time will US appease the dictatorship in Tehran !?
MEK in the FTO List = Appeasement with iranian regime, help iranian regime !!!!!!
MEK off the FTO List = a Big hope for democracy in Iran !!!!
Thank you mr Poe – to the – Writer , do some research please before writing !! Bullshit Article – you listen to much to NIAC http://bonfiresblog.wordpress.com/2011/02/12/rise…
mek is the only hope for freedom and Democracy in Iran, thank you Mr. Poe we support you and i as an iranian love you and your courage….
I highly respect Congressman Poe. He stand for what is right. The unjust label of terrorism for an organization that deeply believes in freedom and democracy is wrong. The fact is the regime of ayatollahs are benefiting from this unfair label of terrorism more than anybody else. Congressman Ted Poe is a judge and he understands the whole situation. MEK won the case in the UK and EU. So there is no justification for this label any more, unless somebody wants to save the regime of Ayatollahs. Thank you Congressman Ted Poe for fighting for human rights and justice.
thank you congressman Poe. you are a true man of law. when the propaganda of regime has gone so far, http://www.intellectualconservative.com/2007/04/2… need people like you to bring back justice. Very well said Congressman Poe. Iran's right policy effect’s whole reign, Iran is the god father of all terrorist attacks on American soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq. It is funding Hezbollah and smuggling arms, road side bombs and drugs all over the world from Africa, Europe and Middle East. It has silently taken over Iraqi’s government and Maliki got to second term regardless the fact that he lost the election to Ayad Alavi. Maliki is attacking Mujahidin at behest of Mullahs, and recently has given 10 milliard dollars to Bashar Assad by order of Khamenei. All Iranians need is that United States stop appeasing with their murderess and side with them. Let’s not forget the slogan that was chanted many times in Iran’s 2009 uprising was “Obama are you with us or with them”. It is time for state department to delist Mojahedin and make sure that they don’t say or do what Mullahs are asking them.
Mr Ditz Now tell me why state department is keeping the enemy of this brutal regime in their list and is very quiet about the murderess of American soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. it is all over the news everyday.
I know the answer, dirty policy, appeasement and making deals with Iran behind closed doors.
Mojahedin were investigated, interviewed finger printed by CIA, FBI, pentagon and another 4 major intelligence services in 2003 and they found nothing about them being terrorist, that’s why united states gave the status of protected people based on Geneva convention, that’s why they gave them an ID card and signed a contract with every Ashraf’s resident that United States will protect them till final resolution and they did till 2009. Ask State Department if Mojahedin are terrorist and they were at their control? how come Mojahedin were not arrested and tried as terrorist and instead were given protection? I answer you Mr. confuse,
THEY DID NOT FOUND ANYTHING AGAINST MOJAHEDIN TO BE TERRORIST.
They were put in the list to bribe and work with Iranian dictators and kept them in the list because of Iranian lobbyist like you lobbied for Iran to keep their opposition in the list. Shame on people like you.
To article writer Jason diaz, what you accusing MEK is exactly what the spy and torture ministry of iran is saying ,green and gray and other colors in and out of islamic republic of iran,you writing is in favor of listing MEK as terrorist organization which is the demand of terror iranian regime ,can I can accuse you of being in iranian regime pay list. If the answer is positive,please say HOW MUCH?
I amazed that an american wirtes articles like this under anti-war.com If you are truly anti-war then why do you not write about the massacre the Iraqi Malkei is doing under Terrorist Iranian regime?? NO matter what the crime of MEK is or was, anti-war is and means against vilonce, then why are you not protesting the killings of innicent people in Ashraf??? I think we all kno why, because your site is not only anti-war it is very much pro Iranian terrorist becaus eall you are doing is promoting hate and vilonce agianst unarmed people. Shame on you and shame on your anti war message that is full of hate and war.