TORRICELLI'S TERROR PAL$

New York Post ^ | 17 September 2002 | Sam Dealey

[kcvl]

Despite its inclusion on the State Department's select list of global terrorist organizations for the last six years, a spokeswoman for Torricelli claims the senator still fully supports the group.

Nor is Torricelli alone. Other members of Congress have also been strong advocates of the People's Mujahedin. Indeed, at least two congressmen — James Traficant, an Ohio Democrat, and William "Lacy" Clay, a Missouri Democrat — wrote to Secretary of State Colin Powell on the group's behalf after September 11.

How has a terrorist group managed to win the support of mainstream U.S. politicians? Simple: Its political representatives in the U.S. have worked hard to repackage the group as a legitimate dissident organization fighting for democracy in Iran — whitewashing its record and duping our leaders.

In its early years, the People's Mujahedin was devoted to reading Marx, Ho Chi Minh, and Che Guevara, and adapting their principles to a Shiite society. Trained in terror tactics by the PLO, the group was devoted to the violent overthrow of the shah, whom it perceived as a CIA puppet. But soon after Ayatollah Khomeini deposed the shah, the People's Mujahedin found itself on the outside of Iran's new power structure. The group had always been more Marxist than Muslim, and the clerical forces in the new regime turned against their former comrades.

In 1981, the Mujahedin's leaders fled to Paris and threw their support behind Iraq's Saddam Hussein in his war against Iran and the ayatollah. In 1986, they moved to Baghdad — where, with Saddam's assistance, they started another military wing known as the National Liberation Army. A 1994 State Department report indicates that the Mujahedin has trained and fought alongside Iraqi troops on a number of occasions, and that "Saddam Hussein has been one of [its] primary financiers, providing weapons and cash totaling an estimated hundreds of millions of dollars."

"They're a very, very bad bunch," says an official with the anti-Saddam Iraqi National Congress. "They take direct orders from Saddam, and they've hoodwinked people on Capitol Hill." A spokesman for Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the former shah who advocates Iranian democracy, offers a more diplomatic assessment. "We do consider that the democratic movement in Iran should be all inclusive," he says. "However, we cannot accept those groups that resort to violence and terrorism as a means of bringing democracy to Iran."

Despite its violent history, the People's Mujahedin would like to gain international legitimacy as Iran's "government in exile." Its immediate goal is to get its name off the State Department's list of terrorist organizations; to that end, it now purports to support a host of democratic ideals, from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to freedom of religion and the free market. It has even abandoned its revolutionary flag — composed of a Koran verse, a sickle, and a Kalashnikov assault rifle — for that of the former shah, whom they worked to depose.

But there's little evidence of real change. The group's leaders are the same ones who led it during its anti-shah days, and the U.S. front group's website openly admits its affiliation with the Iraq-based Mujahedin military force.

The Mujahedin's Washington spokesman, Alireza Jafarzadeh, attempts — unconvincingly — to distance the group from its past. He says, for example, that the group assassinated Americans in the 1970s because it had been taken over by radicals; in fact, U.S. intelligence indicates that Massoud Rajavi, the group's leader, was in firm control at the time. Jafarzadeh also claims that the 1979 U.S.-embassy takeover was a Khomeini scheme to test his supporters, and that the Mujahedin had to either "endorse [it] entirely" or take a vague and "very calculated" decision to sign on; Jafarzadeh claims the group took the latter.

But in fact, on the day of the takeover, the Mujahedin issued a statement: "After the shah, it's America's turn." And when the hostages were released, the group boasted that it was "the first force who rose unequivocally to the support of the occupation of the American spy center."

Still, the group continues to find naïve supporters like Congressman Edolphus Towns, Democrat of New York. He says, "I think they could replace [Iran's mullahs], I really do." Experts on Iran scoff at this claim.

Congressman Gary Ackerman, also a New York Democrat, acknowledges that the Mujahedin's ties with Iraq are "disturbing," but he brushes them off as an acceptable tradeoff: "I think it would help if people understand that when you're trying to get rid of a terrorist regime, you use who you can." According to Iran Brief, an independent watchdog publication, Ackerman received more than $32,000 from People's Mujahedin sympathizers in his 1998 race.

But the Mujahedin's strongest congressional ally is Torricelli, a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; Iran Brief says he has received more than $140,000 in Mujahedin-related contributions. Over the past decade, Torricelli has written a slew of letters to administration officials and participated in several of the U.S. front group's events. In his most recent letter, dated August 27, 2001, he urged the State Department not to redesignate the People's Mujahedin as a terrorist group. On October 5, the group was again listed among State's 28 targeted organizations. "Our position remains the same," a Torricelli spokeswoman says, "and that is that the [group] is a political organization advocating democracy in Iran

[Grampa Dave]

This is a great strategy:

FREEPERS, BE READY T0 DO THIS: The minute that Drudge or anyone else breaks the embargo (at about 3:30 p.m., EST) on the exit poll results and it's known that Torricelli is toast, get the word out immediately. Get it on FreeRepublic. Get it on all possible major chat rooms. And urge everyone who hears the news to GET IT ON AFTERNOON TALK RADIO.

That will help the Democrats lose in Missouri, Minnesota, and South Dakota, where the dinnertime voters will know the news from New Jersey before they vote. It is time for Torricelli to step up and be a leader for the Democrats -- a leader into Senate defeats.

Congressman Billybob

[Grampa Dave]

No wonder the Senate is such a cess pool of anti America/American Bravo Sierra.

There are a whole lot weeds that need to be weeded out of our Senate. This list would be a good road map.

[Grampa Dave]

That whole terrible mess that the Clintoons and his fellow al Qaeda rats did against Yugoslavia was an outrage.

The KLA was a band of thugs, terrorists, drug pushers and now we find out big time supporters of al Qaeda, which the Clintoon and his senate rats probably knew about.

[Grampa Dave]

In spite of the left wing mediots and those phoney conservatives who live to savage Simon, Simon has a good chance.

Davis may be even more dangerous than the Torch. He is a true Fascist just like old Benito was.

[Grampa Dave]

This data needs to be a separate thread in extended news. That way more people can read it, and we can bookmark it.

If you post it as separate thread, pleas ping me! Thanks!

[Freemeorkillme]

CB has delineated a sound strategy here. As soon as the exit poll numbers showing Torch's defeat and Doug's victory are posted, we would be well advised to do just as CB said:

"get the word out immediately. Get it on FreeRepublic. Get it on all possible major chat rooms. And urge everyone who hears the news to GET IT ON AFTERNOON TALK RADIO."

Thanks CB for mentioning this important course of action. it deserves another BUMP.

Onward, Upward!

[Grampa Dave]

Here is a new thread that ties right into this thread.

One of my biggest concerns has been the rapid mobilization of the Pro Islamakazis here in America. They have to be funded by the Islamo Fascists in Iran, Iraq and other anti America countries.

This link shows how deep the Iraq Islamo Fascists are tied into a so called Peace Group in America: (Tracking Down A Fifth Column Front )

The long time and rapid supporters of Saddam and other Islamo Fascists have a common link. That link is blood money given for decades to these groups by the Islamo Fascists.

[Grampa Dave]

Okay Good Freepers on the East Coast and particuliarly in the traitor Torch's state, mark on your calendars an important task.

As soon as the exit polls show the defeat of the Traitor Torch, get on FR and post the good news.

Then we can fax/email this those friends and relatives in time zones west of you to get off their butts and to vote.

I'm one of those broken glass conservative republicans. You would have to fatally shoot me to keep me from voting this November. However, I have a lot of relatives/friends living west of the East Coast who might not vote if the tv shows us losing.

[Clovis_Skeptic]

If only the "rule of law" prevailed in the great country, so traitors like Torch, would be torched!

[Grampa Dave]

It is amazing what the libs have forced on America in the name of tolerance, diversity and political correctness.

All of this bravo sierra stuff enables traitors like the Torch and others to remain senators or congressits.

They should be investigated for treason, charge with treason by a grand jury, tried and convicted. If they are found to be connected offering support or abetting the mass murders of 9/11, they should be shot as traitors on live tv.

I blame their ability to skate by justice on the left wing media in America. Instead of investigating and nailing these traitors, they make those who investigate them the bad guys!

The continuing collapse of the left wing media will eventually save America.

[b4its2late]

Absolutely correct!

[Grampa Dave]

Demo al Qaedao cRats!

[Freemeorkillme]

Emailed Sean Hannity today. Attempting to call in right now.

[Grampa Dave]

Great!

I have pinged some freepers via free mail who have some links with west coast conservative talk show hosts.

[Freemeorkillme]

As I partly mentioned at the NJ locale, I was on hold forever and just after doug from upland got on the air, Sean was attempting to get me in and accidentally disconnected me. Apparently, Flipper wasn't present so Sean was in over his head at that moment in time.

So I waited and waited until his three hrs were coming to an end and then he threw me on the "Trash the Lines" segment where he takes 5 second calls from callers who wish to rant. While not a great segment to be thrown into, I said my peace.

I'm urging FReepers to read the NYP article http://www.nypost.com/postopinion/opedcolumnists/57142.htm concerning contributions accepted from a State Department-known terror group, get mad, and call in to the Hannity show.

800-941-SEAN

More people need to try and get in there tomorrow as he may not take my call two days in a row.

Out the Alquedacrats!

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks for doing what you did.

The other freepers in Jersey need to call on a regular basis to let Sean know that we know about the traitor Torch.

[Freemeorkillme]

Ping the senate list. Aside from the initial article posted, check out kcvl's post #80 and 81. They include more details to this treasonous collusion.

[PhiKapMom]

This is one area that definitely deserves a look. Follow the money! With Torch it has to be suspect!