MKO Leader & Saddam
Posted on 11/02/2005 2:54:16 PM PST by F14 Pilot
No news is at hand in recent days on the fate of 250 members of the terrorist Mujahideen Khalq Organization (MKO/MEK/NCR-Iran.org/Iranfocus.com and many more phony names by MKO, the most hated people among Iranians) who have been urging to leave Iraq and return to Iran as a priority, according to former MKO officials who have fled to Europe from Iraq.
The former MKO officials believe that probably the group might have either been trapped in MKO detention camps inside the US army protected garrisons in Iraq or might have been subject to organizational duels and been killed.
The commander of the dissolved Raad terrorist group, affiliated to the military wing of the MKO, identified only as Masood Gh. told reporters here on Tuesday that he was seriously concerned about the fate of his former friends in Iraq.
The dissolved Raad terrorist Group used to be involved in sabotage operations in Abulkhasib region south of Iraq.
Masood said that alike many other former military structures of the MKO in Iraq, Raad terrorist Group lost its identity as he and a large number of other members of the group left Iraq.
The International Red Cross has in an official report said recently that former MKO members had on several occasions voluntarily returned to Iran over recent months -- 328 of whom were accompanied with their families -- and received amnesty.
Masood said that he had managed to flee Iraq one year ago, finally succeeding in receiving conditional residential permit after a long uncertainty in different countries.
From the standpoint of European Union, with Sweden being one of its members, the MKO is a dreadful terrorist organization. The US however, in a double-standard approach and despite recognizing MKO as a terrorist group, has very close links with it.
Masood further told reporters that there is yet one more possibility, that is the 250 missing MKO members might have been transferred to the US army camps in Iraq for possible use in terrorist operations inside Iran and other parts of the world.
MKO Leader & Saddam
"...Masood further told reporters that there is yet one more possibility, that is the 250 missing MKO members might have been transferred to the US army camps in Iraq for possible use in terrorist operations inside Iran and other parts of the world."
BS ALERT!!
Interesting way to grab a readers attention. Or not!
Terrorist Group Profiles
Other Names
The National Liberation Army of Iran
The People's Mujahedin of Iran (PMOI)
National Council of Resistance (NCR)
National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI)
Muslim Iranian Student's Society
Description
The MEK philosophy mixes Marxism and Islam. Formed in the 1960s, the organization was expelled from Iran after the Islamic Revolution in 1979, and its primary support came from the former Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein starting in the late 1980s. The MEK conducted anti-West-ern attacks prior to the Islamic Revolution. Since then, it has conducted terrorist attacks against the interests of the clerical regime in Iran and abroad. The MEK advocates the overthrow of the Iranian regime and its replacement with the group’s own leadership.
Activities
The group’s worldwide campaign against the Iranian Government stresses propaganda and occasionally uses terrorism. During the 1970s, the MEK killed US military personnel and US civilians working on defense projects in Tehran and supported the takeover in 1979 of the US Embassy in Tehran. In 1981, the MEK detonated bombs in the head office of the Islamic Republic Party and the Premier’s office, killing some 70 high-ranking Iranian officials, including Chief Justice Ayatollah Mohammad Beheshti, President Mohammad-Ali Rajaei, and Premier Mohammad-Javad Bahonar. Near the end of the 19801988 war with Iran, Baghdad armed the MEK with military equipment and sent it into action against Iranian forces. In 1991, the MEK assisted the Government of Iraq in suppressing the Shia and Kurdish uprisings in southern Iraq and the Kurdish uprisings in the north. In April 1992, the MEK conducted near-simultaneous attacks on Iranian embassies and installations in 13 countries, demonstrating the group’s ability to mount large-scale operations overseas. In April 1999, the MEK targeted key military officers and assassinated the deputy chief of the Iranian Armed Forces General Staff. In April 2000, the MEK attempted to assassinate the commander of the Nasr Headquarters, Tehran’s interagency board responsible for coordinating policies on Iraq. The normal pace of anti-Iranian operations increased during "Operation Great Bahman" in February 2000, when the group launched a dozen attacks against Iran. One of those attacks included a mortar attack against the leadership complex in Tehran that housed the offices of the Supreme Leader and the President. In 2000 and 2001, the MEK was involved regularly in mortar attacks and hit-and-run raids on Iranian military and law enforcement units and Government buildings near the Iran-Iraq border, although MEK terrorism in Iran declined toward the end of 2001. After Coalition aircraft bombed MEK bases at the outset of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the MEK leadership ordered its members not to resist Coalition forces, and a formal cease-fire arrangement was reached in May 2003.
Strength
Over 3,000 MEK members are currently confined to Camp Ashraf, the MEK’s main compound north of Baghdad, where they remain under the Geneva Convention’s "protected person" status and Coalition control. As a condition of the cease-fire agreement, the group relinquished its weapons, including tanks, armored vehicles, and heavy artillery. A significant number of MEK personnel have "defected" from the Ashraf group, and several dozen of them have been voluntarily repatriated to Iran.
Location/Area of Operation
In the 1980s, the MEK’s leaders were forced by Iranian security forces to flee to France. On resettling in Iraq in 1987, almost all of its armed units were stationed in fortified bases near the border with Iran. Since Operation Iraqi Freedom, the bulk of the group is limited to Camp Ashraf, although an overseas support structure remains with associates and supporters scattered throughout Europe and North America.
External Aid
Before Operation Iraqi Freedom, the group received all of its military assistance, and most of its financial support, from the former Iraqi regime. The MEK also has used front organizations to solicit contributions from expatriate Iranian communities.
Yes!
the most hated group among Iranians
The most hated among monarchists and mullahs maybe... But there is so much more to Iran than these two, small groups... Iran has a wonderfully diverse citezenry, most of whom appreciate freedom and would take to democracy like ducks to water... but not monarchists and mullahs, no friend to democracy are they.
Here's some info you may have missed F14...
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[MEK, MKO] Supporting the Takeover of the American Embassy in Tehran in 1979
Independent academic research by an Iran Policy Committee, IPC Task Force uncovered primary source documents of the period that cast serious doubt on the likelihood that MEK members supported the U.S. Embassy takeover or subsequent seizure of Americans. Understanding of the political situation was so limited that many groups were easily confused and mistaken for rival and even hostile organizations. In particular, the American Embassy was confused about the identity and role of the MEK during this period of the Iranian Revolution.
To illustrate this puzzlement, consider one example of IPC Task Force material, a declassified document, originally classified “Secret.” The document comes from the Office of Security of the U.S. Department of State, titled, “Threat Assessment: Iran,” dated June 14, 1979. The 22-page report states that when the American Embassy was first attacked on February 14, 1979, it was the forces of the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK) “that came to the aid of the Americans.” In fact, the Khomeini elements ostensibly “protecting” the U.S. Embassy in June 1979 were actually special Komiteh security forces of the Iranian government, led by Mashallah Kashani. By this time, these forces were in open conflict with the MEK and brutally attacked MEK members on the street. The historical record and recollections of those actually involved make clear that the MEK neither supported nor benefited from the American Embassy crisis.
The adversarial position in which the MEK found itself vis-à-vis the faction of Ayatollah Khomeini at the time of the takeover was described in very clear terms by Massoumeh Ebtekar, spokesperson for the student group that took over the Embassy and later Vice President for the Department of the Environment in the administration of President Khatami. Her book, Takeover in Tehran, provides an eyewitness account of the crisis. She states that they had completely excluded the MEK and its members from participation in the embassy takeover.
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THREAT ANALYSIS GROUP: DEPARTMENT OF STATE OFFICE OF SECURITY
Secret
THREAT ASSESSMENT: IRAN
Prepared by: Stephanie C. Stuaffer, 632-1864
Approved by: Bowman H. Miller, Sid T. Telford, 632-2412
June 14, 1979
WARNING NOTICE – INTELLIGENCE SOURCES AND METHODS INVOLVED
NOT RELEASABLE TO FOREIGN NATIONALS// NOT RELEASE TO CONTRACTORS OR CONTRACTOR/CONSULTANTS
Secret
…has been engaged in training activities, you can also act as a spearhead for an assault on the embassy for U.S. personnel off the compound. Such a force, trained and disciplined, would pose a more serious threat than the elements that attacked the embassy on February 14.
(U) The Chariks and the Mujahedin operated clandestinely until the demise of the Peacock Throne. Both groups continue to be viable terrorist groups; however, both have, to some extent, changed their directions of interest in recent months.
(LOU) on February 14, 1979 the U.S. embassy in Tehran was attacked and overrun by the Chariks, an organization which had previously not focused on American targets because they felt such incidents would bring too strong a response from the Iranian security agencies. However, with the Iranian government in internal chaos, they struck and were quite successful, taking control of the embassy compound and nearly 100 Americans including then Ambassador Sullivan. To add and even more disconcerting note, the forces that came to the aid of the Americans and were at the time acting as the provisional police, were members of the Mujahedin. The Mujahedin since 1972 have assassinated six Americans ( three military personnel and three Rockwell International employees). They also attempted the bombing assassination of a U.S. Air Force brigadier general, the kidnapping of an American ambassador, and mistakenly assassinated non-Iranian employee of the U.S. Embassy (the actual target was a U.S. consular official at the present time, and element of the Mujahedin protects the embassy compound ( see section titled “ security of the compound” for a more detailed explanation).
(U) among the gravest problems for the Khomeini government is the capability of restive tribes and regional groups demanding autonomy to harass the beleaguered central authorities. The government is trying to rebuild the armed forces to a capability similar to that which existed under the Shah. Iran’s guerrilla groups are resisting this, trying instead to create a “people’s army” run by soldier committees and elected officers. Several government atempts to dissolve these groups and sees their arsenals of weapons have failed. The guerrillas’…
… Americans. Private vehicles were set on fire, fire bombs tossed through private residence windows, a number of restaurants in Tehran, Isfahan, and Shiraz which catered to foreigners were attacked, bombed, and set afire.
(S) Anti-U.S. feelings, which appeared to have abated several months ago following the evacuation of most Americans, are on the increase. The fractionalization of the Islamic movement and the many political groups competing for public favor may once again find the U.S. an attractive target for propaganda and aggression. Recent demonstrations protesting Senator Jacob Javits’ resolution on Iran point out the fact that any political decision which Iranians in general consider disadvantageous to them could trigger anti U.S. demonstrations and or incidents. In this regard, a decision to allow the deposed Shah and or family members to visit or settle in the United States could have serious consequences. The Iranian reaction would probably be immediate and possibly violent. Such a decision would probably be the one cohesive and unifying factor in the entire Iranian political spectrum.
Security of the Compund
(S) At present the compound is protected by an element of the Mujahedin led by Mashallah Kashani who claims to hold credentials directly from Khomeini. His forces, which supposedly number approximately 40 with a reserve located in two mosques in the area, are untrained, lack discipline, and are armed with a variety of weapons (some stolen from the U.S. embassy) as well as radio equipment removed from the Chancery net February 14, 1979. Foreign Service personnel report that only five to ten of these guards are on the compound during daylight hours. During evening hours the forces increase to fifteen or twenty. Periodic checks at night usually find most, if not all, the troops asleep.
(S) Of definite concern is the Embassy’s lack of control over the after-hour activities of Mashallah and his troops. He has used the Embassy compound to run his own revolutionary and intelligence operations. He has brought SAVAK agents on the compound and used the motor pool office for interrogation purposes. Upon learning of the possibility that Mashallah may have tortured a prisoner on the compound, the Charge ordered these activities stopped. It is believed that this activity ceased; however, Mashallah has found other ways to amuse himself. He has run an operation against the Soviets and also some Iranians from the compound. An embassy vehicle was used in the seizure of three Soviets, and the safe house was located off the rear of the compound. Indiscriminate shooting at each other and at unknown persons firing at the compound during darkness is another inherent problem with Mashallah and his Mujahedin. Lastly, Mashallah and his forces control access to the compound. Attempts are being made for police forces to gradually take over some of the security responsibilities of the Mujahedin.
Tribal Unrest in the Provinces
(C) Nationalist groups, who were active underground until the downfall of the show, are now openly demanding full autonomy for their ethnic groups. This includes the Kurds in the west, the Baluchis in the southwest and the Azeris in the northwest. The most recent Hope and expansion of hostility occurred in Khorramshar on May 30, 1979 following an incident in which a Revolutionary Guards-man killed two Arabs in the course of a labor dispute at the port. The air and community attacked the port in public…
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Facts are your friend... :)
MEK is a terrorist group!
Washington, DC, Oct. 21 – A bipartisan meeting on Capitol Hill heard speeches by several members of the United States Congress calling on the administration of President George W. Bush to back democratic change in Iran by supporting the Iranian opposition and by removing the terror tag on the Mojahedin-e Khalq (MeK) opposition group.
“Iran's ongoing efforts to secure nuclear-weapons capability present a unique and troublesome challenge to the civilised world”, said the group of three Democrats and three Republicans who organised the meeting, titled “Growing Strategic Threat from Iran; Support for Democratic Change”. They included Republican Reps. John Boozman of Arkansas, Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida and Tom Tancredo of Colorado; and Democratic Reps. William Lacy Clay of Missouri, Bob Filner of California and Ed Towns of New York.
The speakers, who included members of Congress, Iran experts, and women activists, took turns to denounce the radical Islamist rulers of Iran for their violation of human rights and sponsorship of terrorism.
“In Iran today, we have a regime that threatens the United States and threatens the interests of world peace and freedom in a number of ways”, Missouri’s Senator Jim Talent, a prominent Republican, told the meeting.
“It is a regime that supports terror throughout the Middle East and around the world. It is a regime that is actively seeking a nuclear weapon and it is a regime that is oppressing its own people”, Talent said, adding that the United States had an obligation to support the Iranian people as they seek freedom and democracy.
Rep. John Boozman, an Arkansas Republican who sits on the International Relations Committee of the House of Representatives, noted that he and 323 of his congressional colleagues had co-sponsored the Iran Freedom and Support Act.
“I am concerned that under the new President, the country’s nuclear program is under the control of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps”, Rep. Boozman said. “Iran has a terrible human rights record. A recent report said their human rights record is even worse than it was before, which is hard to imagine”.
Iranian opposition leader Maryam Rajavi addressed the meeting via a live satellite link-up from her home north of Paris. “Any firm policy against the mullahs’ regime must have three components”, she said. These included referral of Iran’s nuclear program to the Security Council; putting an end to Tehran’s meddling in Iraq; and removing the MeK from the list of terrorist groups.
Rep. William Lacy Clay, who chaired the meeting, said Iran’s sponsorship of Islamist terrorism posed a serious challenge to the international community, particularly as it was targeting Iraq.
“We have reached the point where the fate of Iraq has become inextricably linked with the future of Iran and democracy in that country”, he said.
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas agreed, and underlined the need to support the Iranian people in their efforts to achieve democracy, while praising the role of Maryam Rajavi.
“We in the U.S. Congress have widely differing, and sometimes contradictory, views on many things, but we all agree on the need to support the Iranian Resistance”, she said.
Raymond Tanter, a former National Security Council staff member who co-chairs the Washington-based Iran Policy Committee, noted that an IPC study showed that Iran’s government-owned media devoted by far more attention to the MeK than any other opposition group. He said it was necessary to remove the MeK from the list of terrorist groups, if the U.S. wanted to adopt a firm, forward-leaning policy on Iran.
Professor Donna Hughes, a recognised authority on women’s studies, said the Iranian regime’s misogynous policies have spread to other countries in the region. Another academic, Carol Fontaine, praised the role that women play in the opposition movement to Iran’s theocratic regime.
The congressional meeting came at a time when there are growing calls in the United States for a more proactive policy on Iran. Earlier in the week, experts on foreign affairs told a meeting organised by the U.S. Congress Sub-committee on Middle East and Central Asia that time was of the essence if the international community were to prevent the Iranian regime from arming itself with nuclear weapons.
Ilan Berman, vice president for policy at the Washington-based American Foreign Policy Council and the author of “Tehran Rising, Iran’s Challenge to the United States,” told the committee that Iran was spending huge sums of money in Iraq to turn the country into another Islamic Republic under its domination.
MEK is a terrorist group!
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