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Pompeo limits US diplomats' contact with Iranian opposition groups
The Hill ^ | Jan. 7, 2020

Posted on 01/08/2020 5:46:23 AM PST by nuconvert

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is limiting U.S. diplomats' contact with Iranian opposition groups, according to a cable sent to all U.S. diplomatic outposts Tuesday.

Pompeo’s order says diplomats should not meet with Mujahedeen-e-Khalq (MEK) or five other groups because it could damage the United States' chances to negotiate with Iran,...

“Direct U.S. government engagement with these groups could prove counterproductive to our policy goal of seeking a comprehensive deal with the Iranian regime that addresses its destabilizing behavior,” the cable said, according to Bloomberg. It also added that these groups “try to engage U.S. officials regularly to gain at least the appearance of tacit support and enhance their visibility and clout.”

(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: giuliani; hyperventilatinglibs; iran; jcpoa; mek; ncri; pompeo; rop; soleimani; statedept; worldwar3
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To: nuconvert

“Do you imply that the “attack” was more theater than anything else? That it was pre-arranged so Iran could save face?”

You never know, but it could serve that purpose, in the end.


21 posted on 01/08/2020 6:04:27 AM PST by BobL (I eat at McDonald's and shop at Walmart - I just don't don't tell anyone.)
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To: nuconvert
Please note: This was before the Iranian attack last night.

Wouldn't it be interesting to learn that Iran had permission to drop a few poorly placed missiles into the Iraqi desert to save face internally. The cost to the regime would be pretty high... what would they have to give up?

If there is an announcement of unilateral suspension of nuclear development in Iran, you can bet that something like that has happened.

Armchair speculation is pretty worthless but CNN has built an empire on it...

22 posted on 01/08/2020 6:05:34 AM PST by Damifino (The true measure of a man is found in what he would do if he knew no one would ever find out.)
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To: BobL

That would mean that Iran was in contact with Trump and some kind of negotiating has already occurred.


23 posted on 01/08/2020 6:06:38 AM PST by nuconvert ( Warning: Accused of being a radical militarist. Approach with caution.)
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To: Damifino

“Armchair speculation is pretty worthless but CNN has built an empire on it... “

Ha. True.
However, it’s what we do here on FR. So, speculate away.


24 posted on 01/08/2020 6:10:16 AM PST by nuconvert ( Warning: Accused of being a radical militarist. Approach with caution.)
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To: BobL

You don’t kill 30 people in a State funeral stampede without a State attack on the other enemy. Yes saving face with some SCUDS is in order. And yes waiting is in order. And yes CNN should be based outside America. Preferably Damascus, Syria.


25 posted on 01/08/2020 6:11:58 AM PST by blackdog (Making wine cave appearances upon request.)
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To: Alberta's Child
Thanks.

Just ran a StartPage search on "MEK Iran, Bolton."
  Several hits on Bolton and MEK.

26 posted on 01/08/2020 6:14:54 AM PST by ptsal
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To: blackdog

True, but a bunch of people killed at a state funeral is nothing new for Iran. They kind of work themselves into a lather and don’t realize they’re crunching their own people.


27 posted on 01/08/2020 6:19:59 AM PST by BobL (I eat at McDonald's and shop at Walmart - I just don't don't tell anyone.)
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To: nuconvert

“That would mean that Iran was in contact with Trump and some kind of negotiating has already occurred.”

Through third parties, if at all. Just funny stuff happening, and, as you say, we can speculate away - we’re just the masses here!


28 posted on 01/08/2020 6:21:15 AM PST by BobL (I eat at McDonald's and shop at Walmart - I just don't don't tell anyone.)
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To: BobL

Yeah, AND one can bet Iranians are willing to have even more of a severe crackdown on opposition groups, so any contact with them would give them the go ahead.


29 posted on 01/08/2020 6:24:20 AM PST by KC_Conspirator
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To: KC_Conspirator

I don’t suppose there was a dissidents flight outbound from Tehran last night was there? What a great way to clean house.


30 posted on 01/08/2020 6:28:42 AM PST by blackdog (Making wine cave appearances upon request.)
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To: ptsal
Here is a link to an excerpted video of John Bolton's speech to MEK back in 2017:

Click Here

Make no mistake about it, folks. This guy is an absolute 'effing lunatic ... and his M.O. of selling out to foreign interests in between his U.S. government jobs has been going on for years.

It's also worth noting that MEK (the People's Mujahedin of Iran) is a Marxist Islamic group. They were actually designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government for years. After the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 the U.S. "eradicated" this terrorist group -- not by destroying it, but by simply declaring that they were no longer terrorists. And this was done only because MEK has been buying prominent U.S. political and diplomatic leaders for years.

31 posted on 01/08/2020 6:29:46 AM PST by Alberta's Child (In the time of chimpanzees I was a monkey.)
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To: Alberta's Child; ptsal

Wasn’t just Bolton. Rudy Giuliani is just as guilty


32 posted on 01/08/2020 6:40:09 AM PST by nuconvert ( Warning: Accused of being a radical militarist. Approach with caution.)
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To: Alberta's Child

Agreed. Yes, MEK is anti-Iranian regime but that’s because they are anti-everyone. They are hardcore communist weirdos. Not the kind of people we want to side with.


33 posted on 01/08/2020 7:14:22 AM PST by ksm1
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To: blackdog

Would not surprise me.


34 posted on 01/08/2020 7:59:52 AM PST by KC_Conspirator
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To: nuconvert
Yes, I think that is what happened. If they had killed an American last night, they knew Trump would bomb something and taking the chance he would bomb their ports where they distribute their measly oil supply, destroying any chance of export, was too great a risk.

I believe it is over for now, Trump will not retaliate, no one was killed, it will end for now until they blow up a car or lob missiles on another day. So far they have survived to fight that "another day", albeit without Salamie!

35 posted on 01/08/2020 8:09:57 AM PST by thirst4truth (America, What difference does it make?)
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To: nuconvert

John Kerry Reportedly Spotted Meeting Iranian Diplomats in Paris, Trash-Talking Trump

MAY 12, 2018

https://pjmedia.com/trending/john-kerry-reportedly-spotted-meeting-iranian-diplomats-in-paris-trash-talking-trump/

36 posted on 01/08/2020 8:12:55 AM PST by maggief
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Arthur Wildfire! March; Berosus; Bockscar; cardinal4; ColdOne; ...
“Direct U.S. government engagement with these groups could prove counterproductive to our policy goal of seeking a comprehensive deal with the Iranian regime that addresses its destabilizing behavior,” the cable said, according to Bloomberg. It also added that these groups “try to engage U.S. officials regularly to gain at least the appearance of tacit support and enhance their visibility and clout.”
And we all know Bloomberg's always on the ball.

37 posted on 01/08/2020 8:32:47 AM PST by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
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To: nuconvert

The Mullah’s in Tehran are not going to pay (give up any objective) for any deal that requires a change in their behavior that pushes to extend their influence and hold in any area in the Middle East, by means of the Quds Force or any other tools they have.

They will no more “reform” their ways than will the dictators in North Korea.

Iran will go the way of North Korea, let their people starve and still keep control of them, without ever reforming.

Why? What they formed the Quds Force for is an existential part of their foundation and their purpose, their basis of existence. They can be overthrown, eventually, but they cannot really reform because any true reform will foster the ability of a new revolution to kick them out, and the Mullahs know it.


38 posted on 01/08/2020 8:41:05 AM PST by Wuli
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To: nuconvert

Screw Iran. Recognize Khuzestan as an independent state, make sure they can enforce their own sovereignty, and Iran will have almost no oil, and thus no means to finance their bad actions.


39 posted on 01/08/2020 9:04:06 AM PST by Eleutheria5 ("SHUT UP!" he explained.)
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To: Fido969

40 posted on 01/08/2020 10:12:47 AM PST by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change with out notice.)
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