Monsters of the Left: The Mujahedin al-Khalq

This group has no support among us

must read

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee wants to know if the Astronauts will find the moon rock on Mars.:)

Thanks for the ping - I read this on Frontpagemag last night and I am still thinking about it. France sure isn't fussy about whom it gives sanctuary...but after Hamas becoming a bona fide political party it wouldn't surprise me one bit if this group don't end up taking part in the future election process in Iran.

After the current mess is cleaned up.

That's Democracy!

WOW!!!
What an EXCELLENT piece!

"Maryam Rajavi and her husband Masud are adept at public relations and adroit at reinvention, but the organization over which they preside eschews democracy and embraces terrorism, autocracy, and Marxism."

"What little support the group had once enjoyed in Iran evaporated, as Iranians saw the MKO rally in support of a dictator who launched a war that, by its conclusion in 1988, killed several hundred thousand Iranians. Ordinary Iranians are quite vocal in their hatred of the Islamic Republic and ridicule its current Supreme Leader ‘Ali Khamene‘i. Many ask about Reza Pahlavi, the U.S.-based son of the late Shah. Others speak of other opposition groups, and many more rally to the names of the Islamic Republic’s own dissidents. But, without exception, all spew venom toward the MKO. The group violence and its betrayal of Iranian nationalism lost it all popular support in Iran."

"The MKO are masters of propaganda"
"They are slick"

"" Many “monsters of the left” use the rhetoric of democracy to realize their ambition. Masud and Maryam Rajavi, and the organization over which they exert dictatorial control, are no exception.""

After she does a 360 degree 'change of mind' like Maximum Muddy Waters of Kalifornicate.

Bump for later

I wonder what the "MKO speaker on FR" has to say about all this?

sorry, I forgot to say I was being sarcastic!

paging humint, paging humint...

Good post!
A must read!

He would say most olikely that the MEK (MKO) are useful tools, not genuine desireable allies

Well, this is an article that was just written. And I dare say, well researched. I don't see any untruth in it. Do you?
I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but "a good number of neocons" do NOT see MEK differently, which is exactly one of the points made in the article. And people trying to spread that rumor is another tactic of MEK.

The fact that your reply the other day to MEK being on FTO list, was that it isn't "fair", shows where your sympathies lie. Hard to take it back now.
How about denouncing Maryam Rajavi for us here? That would be a first step in helping convince people what your motives are.

MEK/NCRI/MKO/PMOI are not a solution but another problem.

"Judging what is fair or not about Mujahedin is something beyond me."

You can read. Judging MEK/NCRI isn't beyond you. Do research on the people you put forward as "a practical solution" before supporting them. Doesn't that make more sense than just spouting their talking points? How can you put them forth as a "key element in a practical solution" if you are ignorant about them?

Several times, you have echoed the arguing points of NCRI.
Stop pushing their agenda.

Where did you get these lines from if you aren't familiar with MEK?

" a good number of neo-cons close to the President who are very realistic and object oriented view them differenly." ".... these kinds of articles came out during Clinton administration when Clinton, Kerry, etc. were trying to rebuild US relations with Khatami.
But the reality, beyond what this article represents, is that a good number of neo-cons close to the President who are very realistic and object oriented view them differenly."

Those are all NCRI arguments and talking points.

Your arguments are not credible or convincing.
And you haven't denounced Maryam Rajavi.

I am waiting ...............

Thanks for the ping…

There are a lot of points in this piece to consider but instead of getting bogged down in all of the hearsay history that relates far more to the Cold War than it does today, I’m going to respond to your ping and to the article by expanding the scope of Michael’s work to focus on the here and now.

The subject of U.S. policy toward Iran is fascinating. The MeK are indeed a part of that policy. While Michael seems to believe the MeK are masters of propaganda, I disagree. If they were, then why would they stop with democratically elected officials and U.S. Generals? If they were masters, they’d be able to trick all of us too, right? But Michael is too smart for the MeK’s propaganda, whatever that may be… Granted, Michael knows a thing or two about Iran and you guys obviously follow the news… But I think Michael is absolutly wrong to imply U.S. Representatives and U.S. Army Generals are “morons” when it comes to propaganda. They're not, I can assure you!

Unfortunately Michael knocks his own reputation with this piece. What has distinguished Michael’s career is his willingness to go out into the field and speak to locals, but his jaunts and the massive ego he derives from them cannot undo the experiences of a U.S. Army General and a team of American Lawyers who negotiated with the MeK leadership for several days. Or the experiences of U.S. Army personel who were stationed at Camp Ashraf for months. That info came from a congressional event and was my first post on FR...

Another thing that is fascinating about the MeK is that ANTIWAR.COM claims they are a tool for the NEOCONS agenda and now a NEOCON is calling the MeK “Monsters of the Left”. So which is it? Are they LEFT or RIGHT? I think, more than anything, Michael’s peice demonstrates the Iran problem is a bipartisan issue. I know for a fact it is! I am fortunate enough to have the opportunity to attend events in DC and when available I try to post the transcripts here on FR. Not because I’m a spokesperson for anyone but because I want to hear what freepers think about them. Michael's hearsay in this peice extends to a Democrat, Lee, who is well informed on Iran. I happen to have the full transcript of her speech, not just the Financial Times quote Michael used… Lee knows her stuff on Iran and I believe she’s on the right track. But just because I agree with Lee on Iran, it doesn't make me a spokesperson for her or anyone else. Is that clear to everyone?

CONGRESSIONAL EVENT HC5 – 20OCT2005

I now have the honor to introduce Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee who represents the eighteenth congressional district of Texas [APPLAUSE].
Congresswoman Lee serves on the House Committee on the Judiciary and Homeland Security, a Committee that was made permanent in 2005 by Congress. On the Committee for the Judiciary she sits as the ranking Democrat on the subcommittee for immigration and border security and claims, the only female ranking Democrat on the Committee. She also sits on the Subcommittee for Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security. In the Committee on homeland security she sits on three subcommittees, economic security, infrastructure and protection and cyber security intelligence information sharing and terrorism risk assessment and management integration and oversight. She is a long-term advocate of women’s rights and human rights in Iran. Congresswoman Lee.
Sheila Jackson Lee: [STANDING OVATION, APPLAUSE] Wow, there is power in this room, there is power in this room, whenever we can be free in a democratic nation in the United States Capitol, the government, by the people, for the people and we’re here to speak for a free and democratic Iran, there is power in this room. Thank you very much.
Thank you Madam Professor and to all of the very distinguished panelists and to all of you who are gathered, I will not take much of your time because you have been so honored. Mr Solani, thank you so very much my friend, please stand, my leader, my friend, my leader, my friend from Texas, we appreciate your leadership very much. [APPLAUSE}
I think we can mix cultures. Might I say first… Salam a-lakam for those of you who would wish to share that with me and the hellos and greetings for those of you who would wish to share that with me. Peace be unto all of you. We are united under one umbrella, no matter what language or faith we have, we want democracy and freedom and justice in Iran. And so I offer to say to you that I have had the honor and privilege of standing in solidarity with Maryam who was just here, my sister… [APPLAUSE]
I must tell you a story that we have walked a long journey together and I believe that there is opportunity and hope for Iran. I know that because a woman, someone who I will call my sister, Wanez… if I said her name right… stood together just a few short years ago when she was incarcerated here because of the actions that were misinterpreted. We would not allow her to remain incarcerated because of her views and because she was a person who spoke to the issue of democracy and she is now safe I believe in one of our great states, California and why don’t we think are for her bravery and the fact that she is still fighting for what is right [APPLAUSE]
I just want to recount for you even though we know that the government of Iran has been elected and in this country even as we work hard to count every vote we do believe in one person one vote and so there was an election, but we also believe in truth and what I would say to you is that I know that there were thousands who could not find their way to the poll, many were confused, many might’ve been intimidated away from the polls. So we don’t want this election to be the singular defining in Iran’s history. It will be up to you.
It will be up to you to be part of the advocacy in this body of policymakers and with the administration that Iran can change. It can be an internal change. It need not be a violent change and it need not be a change with war but it can change and the people of Iran can change the government and bring democracy to Iran. I hope you believe in that. [APPLAUSE]
Let me share with you some of the indictable offenses that should motivate all of us. Iran’s military threatens to hit U.S. with suicide raids. Senior Iran cleric, “Prostitutes must be hanged”. And might I simply say to you, for those of us who, in the United States, some of you may say while getting a little frown on your face “prostitutes?” Remember, that when you are all powerful you can define any one as a prostitute, a criminal, a drug addict, a drug perpetrator, so remember our definitions and be careful.
So when we hear these words we must ask the question, even a prostitute must have justice. Even a prostitute must be able to have a day in court. Isn’t that the kind of Iran that we want? Yes. And so when we hear Iran says “women are not fit to manage restaurants” what else are women unfit to do? Be professors, doctors, lawyers, leaders of government, able to teach their children freely, to inspire them to ascend like eagles, to accept democracy and to realize that they too can be free leaders to make decisions, the best decisions for the Iranian people.
“Iran’s judiciary chief orders harsher prison terms singularly done without due process or the right to appeal”. Certainly these are Western terms but we all know the privileges of being an individual and having the rights to be able to be heard. Our cultures and our fate is intertwined on those issues. What about, “the deputy urges greater crackdown on women”. I think this one warrants further elaboration. One of the parliamentarian deputies from the central city of Esfahan, if I have said that right, told reporters that there was “an urgent need to act against corruption. Mal-veiling by women, state media reported, in recent years we’ve seen a great number of violations of the dress code. How much longer should we witness such behavior? In recent years much of the Islamic customs in offices, hospitals, organizations, universities and schools have not been adhered to” the mid-ranking cleric added.
And so I assume it his way of doing so is to crack down on women. In what way? What dangers will women be facing? What independence today have? And I am a great respect are of faith…I really believe that we are a country better because we have Rabbis here, because we have Priests here, because we have Muslim clerics here, because we have Sikhs here, because we have many different people and the role that we have when we have such diversity of faith is to affirm and to appreciate and to allow this distinction to be heard and as long as the woman is within the laws of a secular land, I hope that I do not bring shame to this body in this room, my hope that she will be given the respect and the dignity that she warrants.
So you have had a day of hearing from a range of members of Congress, though we may have different party labels, when we walked into this room we had a common concept, to embrace and to be free with you. Now I am not one to spend a lot of time with the indicting aspect of our work all though some may say so as I rise to the floor of the house. I am not shy about challenging and correcting and demanding, but I am also prepared to use the diplomatic arm.
[LOUDER TONE] I wonder if the government of Iran can here us now? Sit down at the table, understand that we do not want to accept the oppressive actions of your government. If you are prepared to govern in a way that embraces all and allows the people of Iran to rise up, the working class, the middle class, the intelligentsia and the young people, the political dissidents, then you’ll be a part of the world family and in Iran can be a strong and beautiful nation of its history.
[QUITER TONE] But if we are speaking too low, or no mater how loud we shout they cannot hear us, then we will continue to press and press and under the weight of our voice, our words and our unity I do believe that we will have a new and prosperous government in Iran. [APPLAUSE]
I would simply like to thank my colleagues who organized this effort and my friend Bill Clay who I know that I just missed. There were a number of senators who I know were present and other members of the house of representatives and might I say that they were in fact individuals who are both Democratic and Republican members of this congress however disparate views we may have in recent debates on the floor of the house, how interesting it is that you are the unifying factor that brought us together in HC5.
So I will close by hopefully keeping the ever present vision and roadmap that is, the cause of the people that must be heard. It is the engine, the churning, the churning that must move the political wheels that move this government out or move it to the level of representation that is warranted and if any of you feel that the pressures of the people do not work you can watch a myriad of governmental episodes across the world to see how governments have crumbled by the sheer power of will.
Oh yes, violence does occur but we hope and pray for that not to be the call of the movement that will change Iran. I’ve heard from so many of you who truly believe that you can do, that we can do together and I call up on my government to keep the pressure on. I call up on those of us in Congress to keep the pressure on and not to lose one moment because as I have just read to you while we sleep, female students clash with police in Iran and Iran sentences woman it to death by stoning for adultery will we sleep and so I hope that that will not be our answer. The answer of sleep that it will be an answer of linking arms, of study, of understanding the theoretical theory of governmental change, it will be the design of a road map.
I am calling on our government and I look forward to working with you. As you know we had a roadmap in the Middle East. I do realize that there are those who agreed and disagreed but there is something about a road map, measuring steps that you take and I do now believe that Iran is now postured for a definitive roadmap to be announced by this government.
A thoughtful roadmap measuring stick that we must adhere to and that we steadily work toward and that we will not stop until there is peace and democracy, until there is freedom. Until all of you who were maybe once born or certainly with your own links can go marching back home. Thank you very much for your presence here today and thank you for the spirit and the light ant the future that you give to Iran [APPLAUSE]

Are you sh!tting me!??!
You are putting forth an address by Sheila Jackson Lee to STRENGTHEN your position?
LOOOOLLLLLLL!!
Man, you are REALLY on another planet and definitely on the Wrong Forum!
LOOLLL!

Yeah, I have a lot of respect for Sheila's knowledge and point of view. LOOOLL!!
I'm convinced now!! LOOOLLL

By the way, how about denouncing Maryam Rajavi for us?

I'm convinced now!

What do you suppose I am trying to convince you of? My position is that Valeyat E-Faqhee is a dangerous ideology that feeds terrorism. The imperialist Iranian regime, guilty of indictable offences and attempting to acquire nuclear weapons subscribes to this ideology. I believe there are legitimate ways to confront the oppressive Iranian regime and for more than five years the MeK has pursued those ways. I also believe that taking up arms against an oppressive Iranian state is the duty of oppressed Iranians. The Iranian people, if they see fit, have the blessing of President Bush to “stand up for their own liberty” and I stand with them exactly as my President described, albeit in cyberspace. The MeK are Iranians who are not a threat to Americans, the United States or the Iranian people so I believe they should be removed from the FTO and see no reason to denounce their leadership. In the same light, I see no reason to denounce any other leader of any other Iranian opposition group whose goal is democracy because opposition to the Iranian regime is my definition of justice. My denunciations are never vague, never hearsay and require effort. In the interest of the limited time I have to achieve my varied goals, I’ll save my denunciations for those that deserve it most, the Iranian regime, those who would rewrite history to suit their agenda and anyone who has designs to limit liberty.