Former American and European bigwigs lobby for Iranian terror group. Why?
Historians have concluded that history is cyclic. Unless one learns from its mistakes, we will be doomed to endure an endless repetition of the cause and effects of poor management systems.
French author Charles Pinot Duclos, observed: “We see on the theater of the world a certain number of scenes which succeed each other in endless repetition: where we see, the same faults followed regularly by the same misfortunes, we may reasonably think that if we could have known the first we might have avoided the others. The past should enlighten us on the future.”
The People’s Mujahedeen of Iran, commonly known as the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq or MEK, is a notorious Iranian resistance group; it was once listed as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) by the United States for its alleged killing of U.S. personnel in Iran during the 1970s, and for its ties to former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. This group receives funds from many sources, including Saudi Arabia.
MEK also began a multiyear, multimillion-dollar lobbying campaign to remove itself from the terrorist list, including possibly offering financial rewards to American political figures like Rudy Giuliani, Newt Gingrich, Howard Dean, MG Paul E. Vallely, John Bolton and others.
Recognizing the group’s rejection of violence, the State Department delisted the MEK in late 2012, but voiced ongoing concerns about its alleged mistreatment of members.
Former high-ranking US officials – who represent the full political spectrum – seem to have been paid tens of thousands of dollars to speak in support of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) or MEK. Ironically, these heavy weight politicians never talk about MEK’s violent and anti-American past history, but refer to them as ‘freedom fighters’ with “values just like us,” as democrats-in-waiting ready to serve as a vanguard of regime change in Iran. Why?
Some argue that the MEK has provided invaluable information to the US about the Iranian nuclear sites. OK, good work. But does this automatically make them freedom fighters, ready to switch places with current mass murderers who have been holding onto power with their fists? Hardly!! Exchanging one Islamist group with another is not a change at all: it’s lunacy!
The number of fees being paid to these officials is vague, but judging by the money handed to certain individuals, the total could well be worth checking. For example, former governor of Pennsylvania, Edward G. Rendell was allegedly paid $150,000 for seven or eight speeches, Elaine Chao (confirmed) as President Trump’s transportation secretary, received $50,000 in 2015 for a five-minute speech according to reports. Giuliani, who spoke at a conference in Paris, France on behalf of Iranian resistance figures alongside 18 other international guests, has been known to charge up to $100,000 for a single appearance.
MEK Supporters
Generals Tom McInerney and Paul Valley, former CIA officer, Clare Lopez, former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Jim Atkins, Senators Ileana Ros Lehtinen, Former Governor of Kansas, Sam Brownback and former Congressman Bob Filner, Congressmen Tom Tancredo, former Senator Jim Talent and Kay Bailey Hutchinson and scholar, former Congressman, Patrick J. Kennedy, who on this video says he is getting paid, Daniel Pipes. John Bolton, the current advisor to President Trump, former presidential candidate, John Dean, Victoria Toensing of DiGenova & Toensing, retired general, Wesley Clark and even AIPAC, have also supported the group and several of the aforementioned officials have been the recipients of speaking fees.
Giuliani’s relationship with the MEK, a bizarre terrorist organization that has killed Americans, is especially inexplicable.
Saudi Arabia has been on the forefront supplying the MEK with limitless financial resources in an attempt to topple the Iranian regime.
MEK Opponents
These oppoinents include cholar Michael Ledeen, bestselling author and Iran expert, Ken Timmerman, CSP founder and CEO, Frank Gaffney and Iranian activist, Manda Ervin and the entire Iranian people.
“Iranians are both bitter about American pressure and their own government,” said Suzanne Maloney of the Brookings Institution, who added, however, that, “one way or another the regime will try to discredit and taint those who dissent as somehow driven by outside support or orchestration.”
Karim Sadjadpour, an expert on Iran at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said: “They’re widely viewed as a backward and intolerant cult by their opposition peers in Iran,” he said. “After the terrorist label is dropped, Mr. Sadjadpour said, “I don’t think the world really looks that much different. U.S.-Iran relations will remain hostile, and the M.E.K. will remain a fringe cult with very limited appeal among Iranians.”
Like a chameleon, the MEK has adopted a new name to fool politicians. But a cult can’t change its spots. They can’t even bring themselves to admit their founder (Massoud Rajavi) is dead. For now, they are enjoying support from the usual suspects — the Arab “royal” petro states, some elements in Israel, of American and European politicians.
American establishment figures who support the cult of Rajavi will have lot of explaining to do someday. Ignoring the lessons of history, which will ultimately backfire on them. No wonder why people around the world are suspicious when it comes to American foreign policy.
The MEK is almost universally denounced by Iranians around the world and still is regarded as a terrorist group. After aiding in the Islamic Revolution in 1979, bloody street battles took place against Iran’s eventual leadership. As a result, the MEK literally waged war against Iranians. The group took refuge in Ashraf, Iraq, where they aided Saddam Hussein in the Iran-Iraq War. Saddam Hussein went on to employ this special brigade in his deadly operations against Kurds and in repressing the Iraqi Shia.
Conclusion
Supporting the MEK, a most dangerous terrorist group is tantamount to betraying the ideals of America — the flag holder of freedom in the world. The motives for the strange bedfellows rallying in support of the MEK are difficult to decipher given the overwhelming evidence exposing the evils of this gang of Islamist cultists. The politicians supporting this cult shouldl be warned. Whatever their motives, they are repeating President Jimmy Carter’s monumental folly that brought the infamous Ayatollah Khomeini to power and birthed Islamist jihadism of both Shite and Sunni varieties.
This time around, those circling Massoud and Maryam Rajavi will most assuredly be disgraced and disappointed. The Iranian people shall, for a certainty, frustrate and defeat the cultist schemers and their cohorts. The Iranian people have suffered for four decades under the yoke of Islamic tyranny and will in no way allow its re-placement by a refurbished edition blessed by unknowing politicians.
In this case, history shall not repeat itself. Freedom shall prevail.
Yawn. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Boyscouts won’t get the job done. However, we should bear in mind, that there should be no permanent alliances of any kind, just temporary adhoc coalitions for common goals of the moment. That goes, as well, for NATO, SEATO, the UN, the World Bank, the EU, the ICC, organizations of Islamic and non-aligned states etc. It should all be decentralized. All of these groups should be undermined and dismantled. And no permanent or unconditional treaties.